Meet Kayley

Why I’m Running

I believe every child is capable of learning and succeeding when given the appropriate resources and support. Students will give their best effort if they are supported, inspired, and know we care. I care. I believe all students and staff should be treated with dignity and respect. I believe the mental health of our staff and students should be taken seriously and prioritized. I believe diversity and representation on the board are necessary. I believe that teachers know what they need to be effective in educating students and their perspectives should be valued.

• Experience in finding creative solutions
• Task-oriented
• Outcome-focused
• Driven
• Receptive (willing to listen or learn about new ideas)
• Dependable
• Committed to community involvement at all levels
• Interest in creating equity amongst Wausau families; resources for every type of family
• A believer in the democratic process 
• Reverence for parents, families, teachers, and administrators
• Experienced collaborator; open to positive compromise and discussion

About Kayley McColley

Family 

Kayley is 21 years old and a 2018 graduate of Wausau West High School. She attended all of her schooling within the Wausau School District and remains highly connected to the community’s educators and students. Kayley was raised by her maternal grandparents, Gary and Patty Arneson, a retired pharmacist and surgery technician respectively. Kayley has a younger brother, Isaac McColley, who also attended K-12 in the Wausau School District. He is currently an English major at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Kayley’s family is highly supportive of her candidacy and vision for the district. 

Education and Work Experience 

Kayley has worked as a behavioral health technician at the inpatient psychiatric unit at North Central Health Care for the past two and a half years. Before that, she worked as a nursing assistant for two years at the long-term care facility Wausau Manor. Additionally, Kayley has experience working with children through tutoring, mentoring, and in a daycare setting. Kayley attends Northcentral Technical College and spent a year in the nursing program before making the switch to the Human Services Program as her first step on an academic track headed towards social work. 

Community Organizing 

Kayley is highly passionate about community organizing, mental health education, and learning about and celebrating Black history. She helped to organize the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. events here in Wausau as well as helped spearhead the first-ever Juneteenth event. She has collaborated to bring a Transgender Day of Remembrance event, a youth open mic night, a Black history children’s book fundraiser, and the George Floyd March to Wausau.