Hello!
Advocacy and service have defined my professional career, volunteer work, and free time for the last decade in Cedar Rapids. I have consistently prioritized serving as a community organizer, building coalitions, amplifying voices, and achieving tangible change. These experiences have taught me how to advocate strategically for what matters to achieve results through collaboration. These are skills our schools need now.
This isn’t the time for business as usual. It’s time for a new voice for our schools. Elect Ashley Burns.
My Values
Collaboration over conflict
I believe the best way forward is by working with teachers, staff, and families. Not against them. I will listen, seek common ground, and focus on solutions that benefit students rather than getting caught up in division, distractions, or personal agendas.
My priority is to rebuild strong communication and re-establish trust between the board and administration, staff, and community. By fostering collaboration and respect, I will help ensure our district moves forward with unity, purpose, and momentum.
Advocacy that leads
I will fight for fair funding and strong public schools by leading advocacy efforts at the Capitol, not waiting for others to act. That includes pushing for ESA accountability, meaningful increases in Supplemental State Aid, and fully funded 3-year-old preschool. As the third-largest district in Iowa, we must take the lead in standing up for our students and educators.
With my experience as an organizer, I will empower our community to advocate alongside me. We need leaders who can inspire others to speak up, champion public education, protect teacher and student rights inside and outside the classroom, and strengthen partnerships that make our schools and community stronger.
Transparency you can trust
No politics, no games—just clear communication and accountability. I will approach school board service with honesty and openness, always keeping the focus on what best serves our students and community.
I am committed to making the board and administration more accessible, whether through new opportunities for engagement or advocating for community listening forums. I won’t shy away from important or difficult discussions, because real progress requires transparency, dialogue, and the courage to face challenges head-on.
Ready to listen, ready to lead
When our public schools are strong, our entire community thrives. Schools are more than classrooms—they are anchors that support families, connect neighborhoods, and shape the future of our children. By strengthening these connections, we can ensure that our schools serve not only as places of learning, but also as trusted centers of support for the families they serve.
I am a new voice for our students, staff, and families. Business as usual isn’t working. It’s time for change so we can move forward, together.
Q & A with Ashley
Are you willing to be a lone vote on the board either in opposition or support of an initiative, personnel matter or other issue that may arise?
Yes. If I am convinced something is not in the best interest of our students or staff, I am willing to be the lone vote. But my first instinct isn’t to fight alone. It is to do my homework, attend every board meeting and committee session, and ask questions early so concerns are surfaced and colleagues have a chance to address them. I believe everything works better when we work collaboratively and transparently with other board members and the superintendent. Good governance in Cedar Rapids means preparing thoroughly, listening to one another, sharing information openly, and trying to build consensus whenever possible. When disagreement remains, the public should know my decision is based on facts, community input, and the needs of kids and educators, not politics or personalities. That’s the balance I intend to bring to the board, with a spirit of collaboration, transparency, and the courage to stand alone when it’s truly necessary.
What are some of the strengths and weaknesses you see in our district?
Strengths include:
Dedicated staff & leadership: Our teachers, support staff, and administrators consistently go above and beyond for students & their families.
Clear vision - “Every Student, Future Ready”: The district has a strong strategic plan and a unifying tagline that keeps the focus on preparing each learner for success after graduation.
Student support, opportunity & equity: CRCSD has made major investments in behavioral health staff, credit recovery options, and additional measures to increase graduation rates.
Community partnerships: From the Hoover Community School rebuild to legislative advocacy and bond efforts, our district has built strong ties with city leaders, neighborhood groups, and civic organizations.
Areas for Growth / Weaknesses include:
Communication, consistency & transparency: Stakeholders sometimes receive mixed messages or feel delayed in responses. Additionally, communication between the Board and District Administration, teachers, students & public must continue to be improved.
Retention & recruitment: Like many districts, CRCSD is challenged by shortages in key roles, especially math & special education.
Behavior and Climate Concerns: The ongoing work on culture, clarity, and support must remain a priority.
Implementation pace & alignment: Balancing innovation with stability will help our initiatives achieve their full impact and reduce staff stress
What are some major issues that you believe our school district is currently facing? How would you like the district to deal with those issues?
Our district is facing some big challenges. Teacher and staff shortages, burnout, and retention are top of mind. I hear from educators that they love their students but feel stretched too thin. At the same time, communication and trust need rebuilding, whether it’s between district leadership and staff or between the district and families. And we can’t ignore the systemic barriers: chronic underfunding from the state, the impacts of the voucher system, and the increasing needs of our students.
We need to rebuild transparency and trust through honest communication with families, staff, and the community. And we need to be strong advocates at the state level, pushing back against policies that harm public schools while finding creative, community-driven solutions here in Cedar Rapids to meet
What do you believe is the role of a school board member?
I believe a school board member’s primary role is to set policy and provide oversight, not to run the day-to-day operations of the district nor to simply serve as a “rubber stamp.” The Board is responsible for establishing a clear vision within the strategic plan, approving budgets, and holding the superintendent accountable for results, while ensuring that decisions align with the district’s strategic plan and legal obligations.
Equally important, a board member must represent the community. That means listening to students, families, staff, and taxpayers, bringing their perspectives to the table, and making decisions that reflect both community values and what’s best for all students. I see the Board as the bridge between the school system and the public. The Board of Directors is charged with safeguarding quality education, transparency, and trust.