For years, Brock Booker has been active in Wichita politics and community organizations, helping with campaigns, serving on boards and volunteering with local causes. Now, he’ll have a seat at the table himself as Wichita’s newest school board member.
The board selected Booker Sept. 18 to fill the District 3 seat vacated by Ngoc Vuong, who resigned after accepting an out-of-state position as an assistant professor of psychology. Booker will serve the remainder of Vuong’s term, which expires Dec. 31, 2027. He is expected to formally take his seat at the board’s Oct. 12 meeting.
Booker becomes the second person appointed to the seven-member school board this year. Sheila Brown-Kinnard was appointed May 15 to fill the at-large seat left vacant following the death of longtime public servant Melody McCray-Miller.
For Booker, the appointment is another step in years of political and civic involvement.
He ran for Wichita mayor in 2019, later served on the Wichita Transit Advisory Board and was part of Kansas’ delegation to the 2024 Democratic National Convention. He has also been involved with community organizations and the effort to restore Wichita’s historic Dunbar Theatre.
Booker says much of his political experience has included organizing and helping others with campaigns. This time, after prayer and conversations with his family, he decided to step forward himself.
“I wanted to serve on the Wichita Public Schools Board of Education because public education is one of the most important responsibilities we have to the next generation,” Booker said.
He said he respected Vuong’s willingness to scrutinize district decisions and sees a board member’s responsibility as both supporting educators and administrators and asking tough questions when necessary.
“If we don’t have strong schools and strong neighborhoods, what do we really have?” Booker said, arguing that schools are also fundamental to Wichita’s workforce and economic development.
Outside politics, Booker works in healthcare as a CNA/CMA and is also well known in Wichita music circles, performing with ARISE Ensemble and leading the Doc Broc Band.
His appointment also creates an interesting political timeline. Booker formed the Booker for Better Exploratory Committee earlier this year as he considers a 2027 run for Wichita City Council District 2. He says he is continuing to explore that race even as he begins serving on the school board.
Booker’s appointed school board term runs through Dec. 31, 2027. Wichita municipal elections are held in November of odd-numbered years, putting the potential City Council race on the same 2027 election calendar.
That means Booker enters the school board knowing that his appointed term and his City Council campaign will both reach a crossroads in 2027.
For now, he says his focus is simpler: “Showing up and listening first. Learning systems … Elections come and go and the next will take care of itself. Let’s get to work.”
