KCKCC Board of Trustees
There are two full terms on the KCKCC Board of Trustees up for election and one seat open to complete the two-years of the unexpired term of board member MaryAnn Mosely, who died in 2024.
Linda Hoskins Sutton and Brad Isnard are seeking reelection to their seats. Mary Ricketts, who was selected by the board to fill Mosely’s seat, is seeking election to fill the rest of that term.
Linda Hoskins Sutton and Brad Isnard are seeking reelection to their seats. Mary Ricketts, who was selected by the board to fill Mosely’s seat, is seeking election to fill the rest of that term.
Non-incumbents running for the seats occupied by Sutton and Isnard are Joe Caiharr and Geoffrey Kump. Running against Ricketts to complete Mosely’s term are Jammie Johnson and Alex Sanchez.
Caiharr is a KCK police officer and the husband of Edwardsville Mayor Carolyn Caiharr. Kump is an attorney who works as corporate counsel for Shamrock Trading Corporation and serves as vice chair for Bishop Ward High School Board of Trustees.
Johnson, who ran for a seat on the board of trustees in 2023, worked in education for 25 years. She works as a graduate program director in the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas.
We asked all candidates to respond to our questions and only Johnson and incumbent Linda Hoskins Sutton responded.
Meet the Candidates
Jammie A. Johnson, 58
Current occupation Graduate Program Coordinator
My family moved to KCK in 1968 when my mother and aunt were recruited to help integrate USD 500. For over 30 years, I have served in higher education and training and development, holding roles such as Graduate Program Coordinator at the University of Kansas (current), Director of Student Activities/Resident Hall Director at Park University, Talent Pool/Recruitment Coordinator with INROADS, and Student Activities Assistant at Penn Valley Community College. I hold an M.S. in Student Personnel Administration from the University of Central Missouri and a B.A. in Communication Theory and Human Relations from Park University.
Linda Hoskins Sutton, 72
Current occupation: Retired
I have lived in Kansas City, Kansas for 45 years. I am currently serving my second 4-year term on the Board of Trustees. I retired from Kansas City Kansas Community College in 2014 after 30 years of service. When I retired from the community college, running for the Board of Trustees was not in my plans but here I am serving the community at the next level. I am seeking re-election to continue serving the community. Some of my key concerns are: 1. Workforce Development Readiness; 2. Collaboration to Improve Education in Wyandotte County; 3. Wyandotte County As A First Priority. INTEGRITY – ACCOUNTABILITY – TRANSPARENCY!
Question 1: Governance Transparency & Open Meetings
In early 2025, concerns were raised when the KCKCC Board held a retreat where the college president’s contract was discussed without a published agenda, raising questions under the Kansas Open Meetings Act (KOMA). As a trustee, how would you ensure full compliance with open meeting laws, and what steps would you take to promote transparency and public trust in college governance?
JJ: As a trustee, I would ask questions during board meetings and speak out against any actions that violate KOMA. If permissible, I would maintain an online presence on Facebook (jammie4kckcc) and post meeting notices, videos, etc. and direct residents to where they can find information at https://www.kckcc.edu/. I would also encourage constituents to reach out to me with any questions or concerns they have.
LHS: As a current Board of Trustee member, I do not agree with the format of our Board Retreats. They have become nothing more than an extension of our regular meetings. There is a loophole that allows us to have our Retreat with an open room where anyone can come on campus at 9 a.m. to view the proceedings of the Retreat. Thus it’s considered an open meeting. But the difference is that it’s not recorded so you can’t view it from home. We go into Executive Session to discuss personnel issues. In my opinion, a Retreat is not the time to have business as usual. It’s a time to reflect, get better acquainted as a Board and leave the Retreat feeling refreshed, renewed, enlightened, etc. I have expressed my concern for this kind of Retreat to no avail. I will continue to stand for Integrity, Accountability and Transparency.
Question 2: Enrollment Recovery & Strategic Partnerships
KCKCC, along with area institutions, has seen a significant enrollment decline – over 29% since 2012. What strategies would you support or implement to reverse this trend, including potential partnerships with local employers, high schools, or workforce training programs to boost enrollment and student success?
JJ: Since 2019, I have asked how KCKCC plans to address the impending enrollment cliff. What are the recruitment priorities? How will KCKCC maintain or even increase student enrollment?
Because of the enrollment cliff (the drop in births following the 2008 Great Recession, which has reduced the number of 18-year-olds entering college), KCKCC must develop innovative strategies to reach beyond traditional student pipelines. This includes partnering with businesses, the military, and other employers to provide degrees, certificates, and training to educate their employees. A comprehensive robust plan must be executed to reverse this trend.
KCKCC should also launch a “Finish Your Degree” campaign to re-engage students who have stopped out for various reasons. I support continuing current programs while placing greater emphasis on marketing, so students and their families are fully aware of the opportunities available at KCKCC. Finally, I believe that deepening community engagement is essential to boosting enrollment.
LHS: Enrollment is a moving target that must have a constant focus. The college must be able to shift quickly. I will say that KCKCC did an excellent job making the shift to all online/hybrid classes when Covid-19 hit. Our enrollment numbers still have not reached pre-pandemic but they are increasing each year since post-pandemic. Technical education is one area that continues to grow as people see the value in going to school for a trade. KCKCC needs to research untapped markets in Wyandotte County for possible workforce training opportunities. We are in the beginning of a period of time called the “enrollment cliff”. There was a decrease in the birthrate a few years ago so those children who would be college age now are not here. There are multilevel socioeconomic factors that will impact enrollment and I support all college efforts to enroll and retain students.
Question 3: Student Housing & Support Services
Campus housing has been identified as a critical factor in student retention and academic success. Given recent issues — such as mold-related relocation — how would you advocate for improved student housing solutions or expanded support services to ensure student safety, stability and focus on learning?
JJ: Since the opening of KCKCC’s Centennial Hall in 2022, I believe the administration has done a good job of addressing this issue. I would support other lease opportunities that will be both mutually beneficial to the college and to our students. Additionally, wrap around services that address food and housing insecurity, emergency aid and mental and emotional health are essential for academic success.
LH: I worked in the Student Services Division my last fifteen years at KCKCC as Director of Student Activities and know firsthand the importance of safe, adequate housing and support services. Student Services many support services are key to student success. In those early days, I published a student housing guide for local apartments. The apartment complex was only listed if they completed my questionnaire so that they knew they were working with college students. It was during that time that Student Senate leaders advocated for on-campus student housing to the college’s administration. I have come full-circle with seeing on-campus student housing built. It has been my greatest joy to see a state of the art campus housing, Centennial Hall, open in Fall 2022.
Question 4: Diversity & Equity
In this current environment, how would you promote diversity, equity, and inclusion with the college’s administration, faculty and student body?
JJ: Often, these entities operate in silos. I would advocate for a retreat that brings them together to evaluate current initiatives, examine their impact, and identify strategies needed to strengthen DEI efforts across campus. In addition, I would support conducting a comprehensive campus climate assessment and creating a DEI toolkit to equip all stakeholders with the resources necessary to foster a more inclusive and equitable community. Finally, I believe it’s imperative that our administration, faculty, staff and students reflect the diversity of our community and that they are supported with mentorship, scholarships, career development and annual DEI training.
LS: Kansas City, Kansas is one of the most ethnic diverse cities in the country. With that being said, even with the current political environment, it is imperative that we support all students by meeting them where they are on their education journey. Students need to see faculty, staff and administrators who look like them. Thus the college must be intentional in the hiring process. KCKCC has to maintain a welcoming environment that conveys to students and employees that they belong at KCKCC and it begins with the Board of Trustees who sets the tone for the college.