The Worthington School Board is an integral part of both the Worthington school system and the broader community. In the recent election, three women were chosen to serve during the next term, beginning January 1, 2026. Nikki Hudson will be serving her third term, Kelli Davis her second, and Sheena Costa Flowers her first. Despite their varying backgrounds and experiences, they all bring a strong passion and skill-set to their roles and they share the most important trait of any school board member: a deep and unconditional commitment to each and every student in Worthington.

This week, The Ravine had the opportunity to sit down with them to discuss their plans and priorities for serving the community throughout the next term.

A natural question when trying to understand any school board members’ vision is: What exactly does the school board do?

While it can be easy to view the school board as a distant or detached part of the community, in reality, it plays a crucial, hands-on role. As Nikki Hudson explained, “Think of us as oversight and really not in the weeds but in setting major policies—like a framework for how we operate as a district.” To which Kelli Davis added, “Our main role is to hire the superintendent and treasurer for the district. They are the ones who oversee all the operations of our schools.” 

For these three women, their plans to serve and better Worthington lie not only in their overarching decision-making powers but more rather in their outreach to and consideration of the community, and incorporating everyone Worthington community member’s needs into each board conversation and decision. 

They would all agree that the ability to incorporate the communities’ voices into decisions is what makes an effective school board member. As Kelli Davis put it, “You need to listen to understand, and that comes from understanding different areas.” Mrs. Costa Flowers expanded on this sentiment, “An effective school board member listens with intention, leads with curiosity instead of just making assumptions about how people, places, and things work together, and really keeps students at the center of every decision.” Mrs. Hudson also referenced the importance of leading by “bringing people along on the journey”, emphasizing the importance of including all community members. 

All three women also gave insight into their shared value of inclusion when looking to the future of Worthington Schools as a district. Though all three agreed that Worthington is an exceptional district already, they also acknowledged that no district is without faults. Hudson specifically noted that the impact of the current state-level legislation is creating work to be done. She stressed the importance of their response to policies that, in her words, “tend to target marginalized populations,” along with the necessity of the fight against them.

Mrs. Costa Flowers similarly shared her commitment to fostering inclusion through developing, improvements to the district’s anti-bullying policies in order to support students who, “may feel marginalized or those who don’t feel like that have a voice or can’t stand up for themselves.” 

All three women are hoping to accomplish their goals through working with the community. The school board members are not distant or overpowering. They are parents and community members dedicated to including your voice. You can call or email them, attend school board events, or get connected with their ‘student vibe sessions’ to participate in the change and decision making process. Their goal is to create a better Worthington by working with its members.

The Ravine asked the three women one last question: When looking to the future, what do you hope people will say has changed or stayed the same in Worthington Schools because of your leadership? 

Mrs. Hudson shared “I hope that people will recognize that I push for a growth mindset and that we are always trying to improve,”, later adding, “I hope they remember that I advocated for our marginalized communities and prioritized mental health.”

Mrs. Davis echoed the desire for a long-term impact, “I want students to be able to know what their voice is and use it. So I hope to be able to cultivate a culture that empowers students to do just that and really know who they are.”

Mrs. Costa Flowers offered a simple but powerful vision, “I hope they say that Worthington kept its heart,” later elaborating, “that I helped to bring people together to strengthen our schools and make a positive and lasting difference for people in our community.”

As we look ahead, it’s comforting to know that as a community we are in good hands. Hands that care for each and every one of Worthington’s students and that are dedicated to leading with passion and integrity through every challenge and through every moment of pride the district will face during their term. With Nikki Hudson, Kelli Davis, and Sheena Costa Flowers on the board, Worthington’s future is not just bright, it’s glowing.