Roseville Area School Board 2025 Candidate Guide
Who's running for school board and what they care about
This fall residents of the Roseville Area School District (ISD 623) will be voting on school board candidates and a capital projects levy. Finding information about the candidates and what's on your ballot can sometimes feel overwhelming. The Roseville Reader is committed to providing accurate and accessible information about elections so that you feel equipped and empowered to vote.
What follows is an informational candidate guide about the candidates for the 2025 Roseville Area School Board election. This guide is for informational purposes only and is not an endorsement of any particular candidate.
Four candidates are running for three seats in this election. You will be asked to vote for up to three candidates on your ballot.
The Roseville Reader reached out to all four candidates with a candidate questionnaire at the email addresses provided with their candidate filings on the Secretary of State website. Each candidate received the same questions and had the same amount of time to respond. The Roseville Reader used the information in the questionnaires, candidate campaign websites, and other publicly available information to create this candidate guide. The candidates are listed in alphabetical order by last name.
A guide to the 2025 Roseville Area School Board Candidates, who they are, and what they care about:
Mannix Clark
Campaign website
City of residence: Maplewood, MN
Current occupation: Housing Administrator, University of Minnesota
Mannix Clark is currently serving his first term on the Roseville Area School Board, which began in January 2022. He has been the treasurer of the school board since 2024 and has served on multiple district committees including: District Finance Committee, Community Education Advisory Committee, and Special Education Advisory Committee. Clark is the parent of a student at Roseville Area High School, who also previously attended Roseville Area Middle School and Brimhall Elementary.
Clark has worked at the University of Minnesota for over 26 years in business operations, student housing management, and student development. He has also owned a small business for 25 years.
"As a product of public schools myself, I want to ensure that every student has access to the same opportunities that helped shape my own life. Our district is more than 60% non-white and I want students and families to see someone like them advocating for them and for all students," Clark said.
Clark values public education because it welcomes every student, "regardless of race, religion, income, ability, or background." He believes public education provides opportunity, builds equity, and strengthens the future of the community.
"I am committed to being an active listener and a strong advocate for our students, families, and staff. I believe in collaboration, transparency, and thoughtful governance. I have experience on the school board and will provide continuity while keeping student success at the center of every decision," Clark said.
Mannix Clark's School Board Priorities:
- Advocating for special education and ensuring that students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and special needs have access to resources.
- Advancing the district's equity and inclusion goals, including diversifying staff.
- Supporting programs to improve academic achievement.
- Supporting measures to keep Roseville Area Schools safe.
- Ensuring fiscal responsibility and transparency to invest resources "widely in students, staff, and classrooms."
Endorsements, Recognitions, and Pledges:
- Education Minnesota - Roseville
- Mindy Greiling, Former state Representative
Geida Cleveland
Campaign website
City of residence: Roseville, MN
Current occupation: Executive Director of Wellbeing, Empowerment, and Belonging at the U of M Carlson School of Management
Geida Cleveland and her family have lived in Roseville since 2018. She is a fluent Spanish speaking immigrant from Mexico, a first generation college graduate, and a parent of two neurodivergent children enrolled in Roseville Area Schools. Cleveland holds a master's degree in Public Affairs and Human Rights, and has worked at the University of Minnesota for over fifteen years as an "equity and inclusion practitioner."
"I am committed to ensuring that every student has access to a high-quality education that prepares them for success in today’s ever-evolving society. I believe that education thrives when students, families, and teachers come together to create a supportive and inclusive environment," Cleveland told the Roseville Reader.
Cleveland views public education as a powerful tool to build a just and equitable society and an opportunity to form students into "ethical, global citizens."
"Every individual, regardless of background, gender identity, race, or citizenship status, deserves access to the tools and knowledge needed to thrive," Cleveland said.
Geida Cleveland's School Board Priorities:
- Protecting Special Education services by advocating for resources and support to meet every student's unique needs.
- Empowering and supporting teachers to foster diverse and equitable classrooms
- Championing equity by protecting "rights and well-being of all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, gender identity, citizenship status, abilities, or religious background."
- Advocating for immigrant and LGBTQIA2S+ communities.
- Prioritizing mental health and well-being by providing students with mental health resources.
- Engaging with the community by involving students and families in decision-making processes
Endorsements, Recognitions, and Pledges
- Education Minnesota - Roseville
- Mindy Greiling, Former state Representative
- Women Winning
- Outfront Minnesota
Karl Crump
Campaign website: unavailable
City of residence: Roseville, MN
Current occupation: unknown
The Roseville Reader attempted to reach Karl Crump with a questionnaire at the email address provided with his candidate filing, but the email bounced. He also has no active campaign website as of the publishing of this article. The information in this guide is based on his recorded remarks in the Candidates Speak Out 2025 video produced by NineNorth, and other publicly available information.
Karl Crump also ran for Roseville Area School Board in 2023. During that campaign, Crump was endorsed by the Minnesota Parents Alliance. This is a conservative nonprofit that "partners with school board candidates across the state who are aligned with our mission of prioritizing academic achievement, equality and parental rights in their school district." Their website includes resources and sample school board policies that prioritize parental preference on matters including religious rights, student gender identity, and library materials, among others. The Minnesota Parents Alliance also recommends the organization Moms for Liberty.
Karl Crump's School Board Priorities
- Encouraging voters to learn about the capital projects levy for school safety and technology. Crump supports the ways the money will be used, but is concerned about the amount of money being requested.
- Ensuring "boys use the boys bathrooms and girls use the girls bathrooms; and the boys play in boys sports and the girls play in girls sports."
Endorsements, Recognitions, and Pledges
No known 2025 endorsements as of the publishing of this candidate guide.
Michelle Morse-Wendt
Campaign website
City of residence: Roseville, MN
Current occupation: Fourth grade teacher in the Mounds View School District
Michelle Morse-Wendt has been a teacher since 2009 and was a Top 11 Finalist for the 2024 Minnesota Teacher of the Year award. She's also received the 2015 TIES Exceptional Teacher award and the 2019 Rising Star in Economic Education award through the Minnesota Council on Economic Education. Since winter 2025, Morse-Wendt has served on the district finance advisory board. Morse-Wendt is a LETRS certified teacher of reading and spelling. She has led workshops on teaching students with ADHD, ASD, anxiety, and dyslexia.
"I think more teachers should be in decision making roles when it comes to education because teachers are the front lines of education. I went into education because I believe education to be the great equalizer so that regardless of your background or identity, you should have a path to success," Morse-Wendt told the Roseville Reader. "Everyone benefits from strong public schools. Strong public schools are linked to better health outcomes, lower crime rates, lower dependence on government assistance, as well as increased innovation and problem solving."
Morse-Wendt and her wife moved to Roseville from Saint Paul in 2018. They have two children in Roseville Area School District—one at Roseville Area Middle School and one at Brimhall. Her son has autism and her daughter is hard of hearing.
Morse-Wendt was raised in Shoreview, but she spent much of her youth in Roseville at Rosedale Mall and with her grandmother who lived in Roseville. Her mother grew up in Roseville and her grandparents first settled in Roseville 70 years ago. Her grandfather was Howard Johnson, a Roseville police officer who gave his life in the line of duty in service to the community. He is honored with Howard Johnson Park next to the police station and his badge is on every Roseville police vehicle.
Michelle Morse-Wendt's School Board Priorities
- Supporting Roseville's equity vision.
- Listening to teachers to help meet the needs of their students.
- Preparing students to be college and career ready and proficient in core subject areas.
- Meeting students' basic needs such as "access to nutritious food, hydration, and a safe, equitable, and respectful learning environment."
- Ensuring the district is financially secure and that the limited resources are utilized for a maximum return on investment
Endorsements, Recognitions, and Pledges:
- Education Minnesota - Roseville
- Mindy Greiling, Former state Representative
- Outfront Minnesota
- Pledge to Amend
- School Board Integrity Project
E=MC² Slate
Three candidates—Cleveland, Clark, and Morse-Wendt are running as a slate. They have given it the moniker E=MC² for Roseville Area Schools. This means they support each other's campaigns and want voters to choose all three of them for the three open seats.
Hear Directly from the Candidates:
NineNorth Candidates Speak Out 2025
League of Women Voters Candidate Forum
The League of Women Voters Roseville Area chapter is hosting a candidate forum for the Roseville Area School Board candidates tonight, Thursday, Sept. 18 at 7:00 p.m. in the Fairview Room at Aŋpétu Téča Education Center. It will also be streamed online LIVE at on RaiderTV and a recording will be posted on the LWV Roseville Area YouTube channel and the Roseville Area Schools YouTube channel.
The Roseville Reader will add a link to the forum in the website version of this article once the recording has been posted to YouTube.
Where to Vote
Vote in person on Election Day, November 4 at your polling place or vote early starting September 19 with an mail-in absentee ballot or at the Plato Building at 90 Plato Blvd. West, Saint Paul. All voters can vote early by absentee ballot in Minnesota. You may also registered to vote on election day at your polling place.
Vote at one of these early-voting locations October 17 - November 3:
- Ramsey County Library–Roseville, 2180 Hamline Ave. N.
- Ramsey County Library–Shoreview, 4560 Victoria St. N.
- Arlington Hills Community Center, 1200 Payne Ave.
- North End Community Center, 145 Lawson Ave. W.
More info about your voting options:
To vote for candidates in the Roseville Area School Board election and vote on the Capital Projects Technology Levy, you must live in the district.
Find your polling place, confirm if you live in the district, update your voter registration, and view sample ballots:
Safety & Technology Levy
The Roseville Reader is working on a feature on the Capital Projects Levy for district safety and technology needs. Be sure you're subscribed to get it right in your inbox:
In the meantime, hear what the district has to say about it here:
Save the Date for these upcoming Community Information Meetings to learn more about the levy, ask questions, and connect with the district:
Tuesday, Sept. 30 | 6:30 - 7:15 p.m.
Roseville Area High School
RAHS Media Center
Monday, Oct. 6 | 6:30 - 7:15 p.m.
Aŋpétu Téča Education Center
Fairview Community Room (2nd Floor)
Naomi Krueger
