Tomorrow’s school board elections mark both a milestone and a crossroads in Minnesota’s parent movement. Minnesota Parents Alliance (MPA) was formed shortly after the 2021 election cycle and as MPA’s former executive director, I’ve been reflecting on our starting point, how far we’ve come, and what lies ahead—not just for schools, but for the future of our state.
To be sure, the radical-left activism that swept through K-12 education in 2020 served as a wakeup call for me and many other politically moderate parents. We watched in disbelief as our local school boards swiftly rubber-stamped decisions on everything from COVID protocols to social justice resolutions with callous disregard for the barrage of questions and concerns they faced from the public. Kids suffered, parents were sidelined, and dissent was branded as extremism. Parents got a crash course in the way that local school boards conducted business and we knew something had to change.
Some stepped up to run for school board seats. Most had busy lives and had never run for office, but all were motivated by a strong belief that getting more parents elected to school boards was the solution.
The reaction from the education establishment, led by the teachers union, was fierce and continues today. Challenger candidates faced vicious smear campaigns, constant harassment, and record spending from Education Minnesota and progressive activist groups. The message was clear—teachers unions and the progressive left were in control of public schools and they were prepared to deploy the vast array of resources at their disposal to ensure it stayed that way. Watching well-intended, sincere parents get crushed by a well-oiled political machine fueled by union dues was galvanizing.
MPA launched in 2022. We had no staff, no national donors, dark money or grants. We had a small handful of volunteers who were juggling family and work commitments but willing to put in extra hours and late nights to help — we were basically building a fighter jet while we were flying it.
Today, three election cycles later, over 150 MPA-endorsed candidates have been elected statewide. More than 15 school boards have flipped to parent-endorsed majorities, and over 40 MPA candidates now serve as board chairs or vice chairs. The formula is simple: teach Minnesotans how to run effective campaigns and give voters clear information about the candidates on their ballot.
Now that MPA is receiving more financial contributions from Minnesotans who want to support parent-endorsed candidates, predictably Education Minnesota and its political allies—who spend literally millions on influencing elections each year—are accusing MPA of “buying school board seats.” It’s a strategy straight from the radical left’s well-worn playbook: accuse your opponent of exactly what you’re doing. It’s old and obvious and Minnesotans aren’t fooled. If and when the union reports its spending long after the election, it is often multiples more than any candidate or independent expenditure. I have no doubt that this year will be no exception.
Attacks from union-aligned activists remain constant and compounded by biased media coverage, but parents have been unflinching in their resolve. In 2023, Education Minnesota even went so far as to hold a press conference to publicly accuse parent-endorsed candidates of being Holocaust deniers who are part of a “white Christian nationalist” movement to destroy public education. Last year they called parents book banners; this year it’s fascists.
It’s absurd and obvious to reasonable people that these candidates aren’t extremists; they are neighbors, coaches, volunteers, and community leaders who simply want Minnesota schools to deliver better results. They’re running despite the exhausting hours, significant personal and professional risks, daunting fundraising challenges and relentless hostility because they care deeply about future generations, believe in public education and believe that change IS possible.
These are the types of leaders Minnesota needs and we can’t afford to lose them.
In many districts like Anoka Hennepin, Hastings, Prior Lake and Lakeville, steady progress since 2021 has opened the door to real reform — these boards are making unprecedented strides in aligning their policy and goals to student achievement, transparency, and accountability. Their ability to continue that work depends on tomorrow’s election. Minnesota needs momentum heading into 2026 and the parent movement is well-positioned to write the first chapter in Minnesota’s comeback story.
Your call to action: Find out if your district has an election this year. If so, encourage your friends and neighbors to visit MPA’s voter guide at minnesotaparents.org and learn about the candidates. Don’t sit out odd-year elections because they seem small. They aren’t. Minnesota’s future depends on whether everyday citizens will continue to step up to serve —and whether the rest of us care enough to support them.
Cristine Trooien is the founder and former executive director of Minnesota Parents Alliance.
The views and opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the author and do not represent an official position of Alpha News.
