The Marshalltown Community School District School Board is made up of seven elected community members and student representatives. School board elections are held every two years. Each school board director brings a unique perspective to the table, based on their diverse backgrounds, experiences, and expertise. This diversity of perspectives helps ensure that decisions made by the board consider a wide range of viewpoints, leading to well-rounded and inclusive outcomes for the school district. The Marshalltown Community School District Board of Education works closely with the Iowa Association of School Boards (IASB) to ensure compliance on all matters.
The Marshalltown School Board was the recipient of the 2021-22 Team Achievement Award from IASB. This award is presented to a whole board when a majority of its board members receive Individual Award of Achievement certificates for the year and the board has a policy that supports board development, according to IASB.
Below is more information about our board and how to contact them. Please note that emails sent to any or all school board members are considered public records under the Iowa Open Records Law and are subject to disclosure unless it is a protected student, personnel record, or subject to attorney-client privilege.
Sean Heitmann – Board President
Term Ends: 2027
Sean Heitmann moved to Marshalltown in 2003 after graduating law school at the University of Iowa. In addition to his law degree, Heitmann has a business degree from Waldorf College.
Heitmann also volunteers time as a board member of Farmers Savings Bank and Iowa River Hospice. He is a former board member of Marshalltown Area United Way as well.
Heitmann and his wife Megan have two kids who currently attend the district. Heitmann said serving the community by being a part of the MCSD School Board is an honor and a privilege. He added that he is amazed by the students Marshalltown has and impressed by the dedicated staff members who work hard to help our students succeed.
Sara Faltys – Board Vice President
Term Ends: 2027
Sara Faltys has been part of the Marshalltown community since 2015 with her family. She has two children, one that graduated MHS in 2022 and one that is still in the district.
Faltys graduated from University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Laboratory Science. In addition, she has a Masters Degree in Healthcare Administration from Ohio University. She has worked at McFarland Clinic since 2015 and is the Manager of Laboratory Services and Medical Records/Release of Information.
She also volunteers as a member of the Assistance League of Marshalltown and in the district’s classrooms with Junior Achievement. Faltys is passionate about serving the community and being on the school board has been a wonderful way to give back, according to her.
Karina Hernandez
Term Ends: 2025
Karina Hernandez came to Marshalltown in July of 1999 from Los Angeles, California. She attended William Penn University and graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education with an ESL endorsement.
She currently works for Marshalltown Community College (MCC) as the Marshalltown Education Partnership (MEP) Program Coordinator. She collaborates with MCSD to provide MHS students the resources they need to graduate and be prepared for college or a career. Prior to working at MCC, she worked for Boys Town, Mid-Iowa Community Action, and as an English Language Learner tutor at Rogers Elementary School. Hernandez volunteers for Immigrant Allies of Marshalltown, Marshall County Community Coalition, and Building Diversity in Leadership.
Hernandez has been married for 28 years and has three children, two are currently pursuing higher education and one currently attends the district. Her passion for education and MCSD developed while at Rogers Elementary as she saw the hard work staff members put in. Hernandez said it is important to her to serve as a board member and help the district move forward towards closing the student achievement gap, increase parent engagement, and advocate for staff and the district needs as a whole.
Leah Stanley
Term Ends: 2025
Leah Stanley and her husband, Todd, both grew up in Marshalltown and she is a 1995 MHS graduate. They have three children who have or are currently attending the district. Stanley has her Bachelor of Arts in International Business and Spanish from Central College and a Masters degree from the University of Iowa Tippie of College of business.
She has worked at Emerson for 22 years in various roles from Sales to Marketing to Supply Chain. Stanley currently leads one of Emerson’s Strategic Product Business Units. Stanley has also given her time to church committees, Emerson’s Women’s Impact Network, Marshalltown Optimists, Marshalltown YMCA.
Stanley’s family have been active figures within local education, which include her grandfather being principal for many elementary schools in the district, and being apart of the MCSD School Board was a goal of hers. She said she and her husband enjoy Marshalltown because of the opportunities and the potential they see for more. She added a robust school district is one of the keys to enabling that more for the community.
Zach Wahl
Term Ends: 2025
Zach Wahl and his wife, Lindsey, are proud Marshalltown community members and currently have four kids attending the district. Wahl has a degree in Business Administration and Human Resources from Briar Cliff University.
He has been working for Edward Jones Investments since 2007 as a financial advisor. Along with serving the school board, Wahl volunteers as a coach with MFL Football, YMCA youth activities, Oktemberfest, and with planning and organizing a hat and mitten drive for youth in the community.
Elizabeth Wise
Term Ends: 2027
Elizabeth Wise and her husband moved to Marshalltown for work after graduating from Iowa State University. Wise has a Liberal Studies degree and has also taught for a year at Meskwaki Settlement School. Currently, Wise and her husband own the Dairy Queen on Center Street in Marshalltown.
Outside of being a member of the school board and a business owner, Wise volunteers at Fisher Elementary School, the Marshalltown Youth Wrestling board, and is a member of the Marshalltown Girls Softball Association. She also has four kids attending the Marshalltown Community School District.
Wise says being on the school board gives her the opportunity to serve the students of the Marshalltown community. She added that there are many great things happening in MCSD and is looking forward to continuing that good work.