We can’t afford business as usual

Cedar Rapids schools are at a turning point. For too long, our board has been cautious where it should be bold, clinging to old ways instead of preparing for the future. The next few years will determine whether our district thrives and we cannot afford business as usual.

My life is rooted in advocacy and service. As a surgical technologist, I helped families deliver babies, some of whom are now entering kindergarten, making critical decisions for their child and our district. I have also spent a decade as a community organizer, building coalitions, amplifying voices, and achieving tangible change. These experiences have taught me how to advocate strategically: championing what matters, bringing people along, and achieving results through collaboration, skills our schools need now. As a staff member of the Cedar Rapids Public Library and Foundation, we are building the new Westside Library, showing us what’s possible when a community rallies around public institutions.

We must prepare students not just for tests, but for life. That means caring for the whole student — their academics, mental health, and sense of belonging. Success looks different for every child. Some will choose college, others will enter the workforce, and others will pursue training or service. Every path matters, and our schools must support each of them.

Cedar Rapids’ Career & Technical Education (CTE) pathways program already shows what innovation looks like: construction, health care, culinary, engineering, and more. These programs prepare students for work and higher education. I want to expand these pathways and integrate emerging tools like artificial intelligence so students learn to navigate, not fear, the technologies shaping tomorrow.

I also know what it’s like to grow up in Cedar Rapids and attend private school. That experience shaped me, but it strengthened my conviction that public dollars must stay with public schools. Vouchers pull funding from schools meant for everyone. Public schools are the great equalizer. They bring together children of every background and identity. They deserve our full investment.

Cedar Rapids needs a board that listens, acts, and moves forward, not one slowed by division or distractions that take focus from students and staff. We need leadership that holds the state and federal government accountable and acts with creativity, courage, and collaboration. I love this community. I love our schools. And I believe our students deserve a board that leads with authenticity, transparency, and commitment. It would be my honor to serve as that bold new voice.

Ashley Burns is a candidate for Cedar Rapids school board District 3.