Jordan Wentzien.

REINBECK – A write-in candidate in the Nov. 7, 2023 city/school election was recently appointed by the Gladbrook-Reinbeck school board to fill a vacancy.

Jordan Wentzien – a preschool teacher at Marshalltown’s Anson Elementary and G-R parent – was appointed to the G-R school board during the Dec. 21 board meeting.

Wentzien’s appointment fills the director seat left vacant following director-elect Tyler Morgan’s decision in early December not to accept the seat he won after running unopposed in the Nov. 7 election.

Wentzien herself ran during the Nov. 7 election as a write-in candidate for a director seat that elicited no nomination papers by the state’s deadline. She earned 222 votes behind the winner, write-in candidate Richard (Dick) Keith who received 309 votes.

According to a Q&A the district posted on its Facebook page ahead of the election, Wentzien stated she chose to run for school board in order to “become more knowledgeable on what is happening within our community and the school district.” She further wrote she viewed “the school board as a chance to meaningfully contribute to our community’s growth and to advocate for all students, teachers, and parents.”

In addition to being a current preschool teacher, Wentzien cited her experience teaching “various grades” in “various school buildings” when asked to describe why she was qualified to run for school board.

She also stated not being originally from the G-R area would give her “an unbiased opinion” when it comes to “improving and discussing various issues, especially those that focus on the needs and successes of students.”

Also during the Dec. 21 meeting, incumbent directors Donovan Devore (president) and Matt Wyatt (vice president) along with newcomer Richard Keith — all elected on Nov. 7 — were sworn in alongside Wentzien.

In addition to those four, the 2024 G-R school board also includes Doug Rowe, Christine Farley, and Rod Brockett.

The next regular board meeting will be held on Jan. 18 in Gladbrook at City Centre beginning at 6:30 p.m.

A work session was held this week on Jan. 3 in Reinbeck.