Shayla for MPS School Board

How much does it cost to compete in a local election?👀 I love transparency, so let’s talk about it!

Before I bid thee farewell for a moment of R&R, I have to say that campaign finances—and local politics in general—are SO FASCINATING to me. For anyone else who’s new to all of this, I’d love to share my insights as a benchmark for the curious, and/or for those considering running in contested races in the future.🗳️

It’s in my moral fiber to share what I know, what I’ve learned, and what I wish I’d known, so today’s topic is money+endorsements!

Early in my race, I was told—both to my face and through countless emails(😃)—that I should consider dropping out & trying again in a few years. The reason? Because the School Board is often seen as an extension of the DFL, & my July race entrance meant I would be running without the DFL’s endorsement. I was also told I’d need at least $30,000 to have a chance at winning. We spent 84M next year), and ~42% of potential MPS students attending charters or outside districts. Do the “unspoken” partisan rules hold weight?

I’m a joyful and optimistic person, so do know that I’m emboldened & marching on with the utmost love and enthusiasm for the coalition we assembled. I LOVE YOU!🥹♥️ BUT, while I’ll be kind and protect those who weren’t so kind in my inbox, I do think this experience calls for a bigger conversation…don’t you?

The number of times I was left on read or told I couldn’t receive public support because I wasn’t the DFL candidate was so unexpected. The power held in local elections shapes our daily lives, and it’s time to bring this topic to light.💡♥️

THANK YOU, SO VERY MUCH, MPLS🫶🏾

By the votes, we may not have taken home the trophy tonight, but goodness gracious, in every other way, we won this race together.🙏🏾🏁

68,496 of you PHENOMENAL humans cast your vote for new energy and a brighter future for our students – and that support is nothing short of amazing. WOW-ZA!!🥹 From day one (July 1 to be exact!), this campaign has been about so much more than a single outcome; it’s been about leading with heart, exemplifying integrity, and uniting our community around the belief that EVERY student deserves the very best in Minneapolis Public Schools – with politics pushed to the side.

Through this journey, we learned together, grew together🌱, and proved that when a community stands behind its students, we create real, lasting momentum and impact. This campaign may be coming to an end, but our work is FAR from finished!

Our students need us now more than ever, and I’m confident that together, we’ll keep pushing forward. Let’s nurture the passion, commitment, and care we’ve sowed into these past months and continue to show up, to stand up, and to lift up every child in our city!

From the bottom of my heart, THANK YOU for believing in this vision and for building something truly powerful. This is just the beginning.🤗

I LOVE EACH OF YOU SO VERY MUCH!!♥️

The best is yet to come✨
🤗+💋Shayla

Today’s our DAY🗳️🏁

With the Election Day polls arms wide open🤗, I wanted to take a moment to reflect on this journey and thank each and every one of you who has supported me, believed in the vision, and joined the momentum along the way.🥹

When I decided to run, I felt a deep calling to bring fresh energy and new perspectives to Public Schools. It was never just about a position—it was about standing for our students, our teachers, and our communities, to create a district where every child can thrive. I am running to help close achievement gaps, to build real partnerships between our schools and communities, and to bring the financial transparency that our schools deserve.

Today, I am filled with THE most gratitude for every conversation, every handshake, every message of encouragement. Together, we’ve built something truly powerful, and I’m hopeful for what’s next, regardless of the outcome tonight.♥️

Thank you, Minneapolis (and BEYOND), for showing up, for caring, and for believing that change is possible. This is just the beginning of a brighter future for our schools and our community. Standing tall today on that!🌱🙋🏾‍♀️

Polls are open until 8PM—let’s make every voice count!

With all my heart🥹🫶🏾
Shayla Owodunni

I have a heart for ♥️Community-Driven♥️ school transformation…

I’ve heard from so many teachers, parents, and staff who feel uncertain about the direction of Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS). With nearly one-third of Minneapolis’s school-age children attending schools outside of the district, it’s clear that, unfortunately, relying on historical knowledge alone hasn’t served us all too well.📉

I have a knack for approaching new situations without preconceived notions or entrenched assumptions. I am running to bring a fresh, unbiased perspective—something I feel is very crucial in this moment. As a Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) consultant, I’ve made a career of entering unfamiliar spaces, asking the right questions, and making impactful, actionable recommendations—even when the stakes were high. This experience taught me the importance of listening, researching, and understanding unique community needs. Now, I’m ready to bring that fresh perspective to MPS. 🔍💡

I believe real change happens when we are open to learning from all voices. MPS needs leaders who don’t claim to have all the answers, but instead commit to learning from the diverse humans involved—educators, families, students, and the community alike—and following through with transparent solutions.

📍PS: If you’re curious about how other districts across the nation have made real, lasting change, check the comments for some recommended reads!📚

We have a lot of big decisions ahead, and I hope you’ll consider when you cast your ballot by November 5.💙

Woooo I’m feelin the school [board] spirit🙋🏾‍♀️📚🍎

Am I the only one absolutely flabbergasted that this At Large school board race is almost over?! With under 7 days left, it’s ✨GAME TIME✨ to bring new energy for a new generation in MPS!🥇

From day one I could tell we had the right team for victory, and that knowing is more than I could have EVER asked for in this campaign. The momentum we have created here is something truly special.🥹🏆

With that in mind, DO YOU WANT A CAMPAIGN TSHIRT?? I have been *incredibly* intentional with our campaign spending because I don’t believe in piddling away hard earned dollars for the thrill of it in this economy(😀), BUT if you would actually pay $30 (and not leave me with a box of tees😂), I can get them made locally for pickup at my studio Friday to rock this weekend (if I place the order today!) - so lemme know! The design is in my stories with a link to donate if you’d like one!!✨

PS: To know me is to know I love a final sprint, so get ready to hear from me every day until the polls close.🥰😂😂😂😂 Thanks to .mpls, I can give you my best angles.🤣🫶🏾

SO MUCH LOVE!!! And…LETS GOOOOOOO!🏆🏆🏆

🏁 Race to Results 🏁

With less than 2 laps (…weeks!!) to go until Election Day on November 5th, we’re maneuvering the final stretch to hit full speed for real changes in Minneapolis Public Schools!🏎️💨

Are you ready to help MPS win this race?!👀 Minneapolis Residents can cast their At Large vote for Shayla Owodunni (🙋🏾‍♀️😉) and prepare for fresh energy, evidence-based solutions, and a new direction to move MPS forward!🥇

Did you know that when schools build strong community partnerships, student achievement can increase by up to 20%*? Imagine the impact we could make by collaborating with parents, local businesses, and caring community members like yourself to build the support our students need to thrive, and turn our schools around with the resourcing they deserve.

If you’re on the winning team, please share this post with a friend to help us cross the finish line and get one vote closer to our victory lap!🏆♥️🏁

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*PS: The Harvard Family Research Project has conducted extensive studies on the impact of school-community partnerships. One of their findings suggests that schools with strong family and community engagement often see significant improvements in student achievement, with some studies reporting gains of up to 20%! Let’s do this.🫶🏾

🚀 Finance shouldn’t feel like rocket science…but Public Schools are facing a financial crisis that ✨could✨ leave us drifting in space.👀 I think for many, after Tuesday’s Finance Committee meeting, the urgency to address the looming budget shortfall became even clearer. SO, before we reach final takeoff, here are THREE key terms I want you to know so we can bring the budget back into orbit, together—no space suit required!👩🏾‍🚀🌌

1️⃣ GENERAL FUND🪐
Think of this as the ship’s (…or district’s😉) main fuel tank.🚀 It powers everything from teacher salaries to classroom resources and building maintenance. If the tank gets low, the district has to make tough choices about where to cut back. On Earth?: This is like MPS’s checking account. 💳 Just like how your household budget covers groceries, rent, and utilities, the general fund pays for everything that keeps schools running—when it’s empty, the hard decisions begin.🙃

2️⃣ STATUTORY OPERATING DEBT (SOD)☄️
Imagine your spaceship’s fuel levels dropping dangerously low—so low that you lose control of the ship.😓 IRL?: When MPS’s deficit exceeds 2.5% of the general fund, it’s like overdrawing your checking account. At that point, the state steps in & takes control over financial decisions—like budget cuts or school closures—because it’s now their job to fix the deficit. Essentially, the state takes over as central command. We don’t want that.🛰️

3️⃣ PRO-FORMA🔭📊
Think of the pro-forma as the ship’s navigation system. It’s designed to project MPS’s future income and expenses, helping the district identify potential funding gaps and avoid financial black holes. Unfortunately, there was a malfunction in the navigation system, and MPS charted off course, resulting in an $84 million deficit for 2025-26. While the pro-forma can guide course corrections, without timely adjustments, we’ve hit turbulence that now requires immediate action.

📚Would staying on this course be helpful?! I think it’s time we bring the finances back down to Earth—together!🌍 While I don’t claim to have all the answers, I know there are enough of us floating out here to play a role in charting a new course for our schools.♥️

SO…WHERE DO YOU FIT IN? 🧩👀

Putting this puzzle together will take all of us—parents, educators, neighbors—piece by piece, to create the future our children deserve. With only 21 days until Election Day on November 5, our Minneapolis Public School students need YOUR piece.🙋🏾‍♀️🧩

If no one has told you this before, allow me to be the first🤗: Your voice matters. Your involvement matters. Your VOTE matters!🗳️♥️

Your invited to join us on this mission, share this post, and spread the word for MPS School Board At Large!✨ I truly believe that if we all come together for Minneapolis Public Schools we can piece together a brighter future and build something really special for our students.🫶🏾📚

Sharing candid thoughts from the campaign trail: https://www.shaylaformps.com/post/candid-campaign-trail-thoughts

LOOK WHO‘S SAILING⛵️🗳️

This summer, we planted ‘seeds of change’ for stronger Minneapolis Public Schools.🌱 My heartfelt thanks goes to all 17,058(‼️) of you who entrusted me with your vote in the August 13 Primary Election.🥹 I am still in AWE. Today, those very seeds have grown into something even greater—a harvest of new energy as we chart our course toward the next landmark: the General Election on Tuesday, November 5!🗓️

With only 4 weeks left, our grassroots campaign truly needs every hand on deck to anchor in.⚓️ Whether it’s sharing this post, talking to friends, or simply reminding people to flip to the back of the ballot and vote for the school board At Large seat—your voice IS powerful.

If you’re able, a donation of $5, $10, $25, or even $50 will fuel the final push for us to reach more neighbors (can we get you a yard sign?!😉), print more flyers, perhaps get some t-shirts(!), and get the final word out about why this race matters. Every contribution is an investment in the future of MPS, and together we can make a lasting impact!♥️

🗳With that, SAVE THE DATE for November 5th: General Election Day!

Thank you soso much for sailing with me on this journey. Let’s finish this race with new energy and fresh momentum.😎♥️

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☀️To donate today: https://www.shaylaformps.com/donate-today

☀️To join the weekly newsletter: https://shaylaformps.myflodesk.com/

This November 5, EVERY move matters, even the final ballot flip!!🛹🗳️

When you roll into the general election polls (or glide through your ballot at home📬), don’t forget the last trick — flipping over the ballot for your Minneapolis At-Large school board vote on the back!😉

Ready to ride together into a new generation of leadership? Flip the ballot & VOTE Shayla for MPS.🛹
Your moves will helps carve a path for a brighter future for .♥️📚

Learn more about my campaign by visiting shaylaformps.com✨

IT’S TIME TO GLIDE!🛹🎓

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