SPOTLIGHT RACE: Nikki McDonald for KS-HD49
Nikki was born the oldest of three daughters in the suburbs of Little Rock, AR, where her mom had a career working for the power company and her dad was a Little Rock fireman. She proudly hails from a patriotic, working-class family of veterans. Her grandfather served in WWII, her stepfather in the Arkansas National Guard and her dad in Vietnam and Germany.
She is also a proud product of the public school system, graduating with a Bachelors of Science in Education (Elementary Education) in 1997 and a Masters in the Art of Teaching (Early Childhood) in 1998 from the University of Arkansas. She went on to teach first grade for five years in Rogers, AR, before moving to Olathe and teaching ELL at Fairview Elementary. Her sons Wyatt and Owen attend Olathe public schools, starting at Green Springs and Frontier Trail before graduating from Olathe Northwest.
Nikki and her husband Patrick, a KSU grad with bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering, live in the same home where they first set down Olathe roots twenty years ago. They are long-time members of Shawnee Mission Unitarian Universalist Church in Lenexa and in her spare time Nikki enjoys quilting, reading, gardening and knitting.
Nikki spent many busy and worthwhile years out of the professional workforce, prioritizing being a caregiver for her aging in-laws and her children, one of which has special needs. She was elected by local precinct leaders in December of 2023 to fill the vacant seat in District 49 of the Kansas Legislature. She is a passionate advocate for public education and founder of Olathe Public Education Network, Inc., which is an organization that educates the public about issues pertaining to Olathe Public Schools. Additionally, she gives back to the community through volunteer work, including:
- Member of the Johnson County Mental Health Advisory Board
- Project 10/20 Emergency Cold Weather Shelter
https://mcdonaldforkansas.com