Leaders Across Our Community Agree: Strong Schools Start with Honest Leadership—for Every Student.

Years of Experience Lead to Sound Judgment

MMSD School Board Member Nicki Vander Meulen is honored to share the following initial list of endorsers supporting her candidacy in the Madison Metropolitan School District School Board election on April 7, 2026.

State & County Elected Leaders

  • Melissa Agard – Dane County Executive

  • Clinton Anderson – Wisconsin State Assembly, District 45

  • Mike Bare – Wisconsin State Assembly, District 80

  • Adam Gallagher – Dane County Treasurer

  • Dianne Hesselbein – Wisconsin State Senator, Minority Leader

  • Francesca Hong – Wisconsin State Assembly, District 76

  • Alex Joers – Wisconsin State Assembly, District 81

  • Barbara Lawton – Former Lieutenant Governor of Wisconsin

  • Dave Mahoney – Former Dane County Sheriff

  • Ismael Ozanne – Dane County District Attorney

  • Melissa Ratcliff – Wisconsin State Senator, District 16

  • Fred Risser – Retired Wisconsin State Senator

  • Shelia Stubbs – Wisconsin State Assembly, District 78

  • Lisa Subeck – Wisconsin State Assembly, District 79

Local Government & Municipal Leaders

  • Derek Fields – Madison City Council Alder, District 3

  • Carmella Glenn – Madison City Council Alder, District 18

  • Isadore Knox – Madison City Council Alder, District 14

  • Emily Kuhn – Mayor of Middleton

  • Dina Nina Martinez – Madison City Council Alder, District 15

  • Barbara McKinney – Madison City Council Alder, District 1

  • Sean O’Brien – Madison City Council Alder, District 16

  • Shawn Pfaff – Former Mayor of Fitchburg

  • Regina Vidaver – Madison City Council Alder, District 5

County & Regional Board Leaders

  • Colen Barushok – Dane County Board Supervisor, District 1

  • Michele Doolan – Dane County Board Supervisor, District 28

  • Elizabeth Doyle – Retired Dane County Board Supervisor, District 1

  • Anthony Gray – Dane County Board Supervisor, District 14

  • Richard Kelmer – Juneau County Board Supervisor, District 5

  • Kate McGinnity – Former Dane County Board Supervisor, District 37

  • David Peterson – Dane County Board Supervisor, District 36

  • Michele Ritt – Dane County Board Supervisor, District 18

  • Rick Rose – Dane County Board Supervisor, District 16

Education, School Board & Labor Leaders

  • Bill Clingan – Former MMSD School Board Member

  • Bill Keys – Former MMSD School Board Member

  • John Matthews – Retired Executive Director, Madison Teachers Inc. (MTI)

  • Marj Passman – Former MMSD School Board Member

  • Martha Siravo – MMSD School Board Member, Seat 3

  • Edward Sadlowski – Retired Professional Staff of MTI

  • Julie Underwood – First Female Dean, UW School of Education (Retired)

  • Bert Zipper – Retired MTI Leader

Legal, Judicial & Policy Leaders

  • Nada Elmikashfi – Chief of Staff to Rep. Francesca Hong

  • Judge Ben Jones – Dane County Circuit Court Judge, Branch 1

  • Dixie Lippitt – Attorney

  • Eric Schulenberg – Criminal Defense Attorney

  • Jeff Spitzer-Resnick – Disability, Civil Rights & Special Education Attorney

Educators (MMSD & Retired)

  • Leslie Amsterdam – Retired Teacher

  • Peggy Coyne – Retired Teacher

  • Troy Dean – MMSD Village Builder

  • Judy Ferwerda – Retired MMSD Teacher

  • Mike Jones – MMSD Teacher

  • Jennifer Karlen - MMSD Teacher

  • Monique Karlen – MMSD Teacher

  • Pamela Klein – Retired Teacher

  • Jesse Lyne – MMSD Teacher

  • Katie Mahr – MMSD Teacher

  • Jaci Olson – MMSD Teacher

  • Erin Proctor – MMSD Teacher

  • Hollis Rudiger - MMSD Teacher & Parent

  • Marta Torres – MMSD Teacher

  • Andy Wong - MMSD Teacher

Parents, Advocates & Community Leaders

  • Holly Buresh – Disability Advocate

  • Patanne Coffey – MMSD Parent

  • Cris Cruz – Editor, Simpson Street Free Press

  • Tora Frank – MMSD Parent

  • Tiffany Glass – MMSD Parent

  • Victoria Gutierrez – Nurse

  • Holly Hatcher – Retired Nurse

  • Julie Holmes – Parent

  • Linda Hoskins – Community Advocate

  • Allen Jeannette - Disability Advocate

  • Bruce Kahn – Parent

  • Tu Le – Realtor

  • Michelle Linley – Supporter

  • Gretchen Lowe – Labor Activist

  • Patricia Miles Patterson – Parent

  • Kate Moran – Disability Advocate

  • Autumn Neugent – Disability Advocate

  • Krisjon Olson – MMSD Parent

  • Khrys Riley – Parent

  • Jennifer Rosen Heinz - Activist

  • Hollis Rudiger - MMSD Parent & Teacher

  • John Smallwood – Activist

  • Chamomile Stevens – MMSD Parent

  • John “Sly” Sylvester – Radio Host

  • Lori Wing – Parent & Reading Advocate

  • Edward Wreh – Parent & Entrepreneur

  • Riley Ellinger – Supporter

More Endorsers Being Added

This list reflects early and growing support. Additional educators, families, community leaders, and elected officials continue to join Nicki Vander Meulen’s campaign as the election approaches.

Endorsers are listed alphabetically within categories.

Add My Name as an Endorser of Nicki