Lake City School Board: Keeley Roach
My name is Keeley Roach, and Lake City is truly my home. Aside from a brief time away to attend college in Bismarck, North Dakota, I have spent my entire life as a proud resident of this wonderful community.
My commitment to our schools is both personal and professional. My husband, Sean Roach, is also a Lake City native and serves our community daily as an 8th-grade English teacher at Lincoln Middle School, where he also coaches middle school football and JV golf. Together, we have raised two children who have walked the halls of Lincoln: our oldest graduated in 2025 and is now attending NDSU in Fargo, and our youngest is currently a junior. We are deeply invested in the success and well-being of Lake City’s students.
My passion for our school district’s success deepened significantly during my time working directly within ISD 813 from 2017 to 2023. Serving as the accounts payable clerk and the administrative assistant to Superintendent Enger, I worked side-by-side with district leadership and the business manager. Managing the intricate daily realities of school finance became second nature to me. Since leaving that role, my commitment hasn’t wavered. I have remained a diligent observer of our district, regularly keeping up with school board agendas, minutes, financial reports, contracts, and policy updates.
Over the years, several former school board members and mentors have encouraged me to run for office. In the past, I stepped back because I deeply respect the immense responsibility that comes with making decisions that impact every single person in our district. I wanted to ensure I could give this community the full focus and dedication it deserves.
Today, I am entirely ready to take on this challenge head-on. I am incredibly energized by the opportunity to lead, and with my deep understanding of school finance and practical district experience, I would be deeply honored to advocate for and serve the parents, staff, and students on the Lake City School Board.
Why are you running for a seat on the Lake City School Board?
Ever since I worked for the school district, I have stayed in touch with the school system’s agendas, meeting minutes, contracts and policy changes. I honestly enjoy researching answers and finding the right answer for every question. Working together with a great group of board members would be my favorite part. It would be an honor to represent Lake City Public School’s students and staff.
What skills or characteristics make you a good choice to serve on the school board
I have six years of experience in school finance, and working as an accounts payable clerk was truly eye-opening. I gained a deeper understanding of how carefully school funds must be tracked and allocated. For example, money designated for a specific sport must be coded according to the sport, gender, and expense category, such as equipment, travel, or coaching. This experience showed me how important it is to understand not only where the money goes, but also how funding restrictions affect a district’s flexibility. Having unassigned funds available can provide valuable opportunities to support programs with the greatest needs. I believe responsible financial planning and transparency are essential to protecting our district’s financial health.
How does the district need to change to better meet the needs of students in Lake City?
I believe the district needs to continually evaluate how we can better meet the changing needs of our students. That starts with listening to students, families, teachers, and staff to understand what is working and where improvements are needed.
We need to provide meaningful academic support, career and college readiness opportunities, and extracurricular programs that help students discover their strengths. We should also strengthen communication and collaboration between both campuses so our policies, resources, and goals support the entire district.
With my six years of experience in school finance, I understand the importance of responsible budgeting and making sure available resources are directed toward student needs. I would like to see us use enrollment trends, community feedback, and financial information to make informed decisions that benefit students now and in the future.
Most importantly, I want us to preserve Lake City’s culture of caring for our students, families, staff, and neighbors while continuing to improve. Our goal should be to give every student the support and opportunities they need to succeed.
How can people contact you for more information about your campaign?
Please do not hesitate to reach out! I am a great listener and will research your answers. Feel free to email me at keeley.roach.82@gmail.com.