Members

 

 

Board President Alonzo Burton was appointed by the Board in July 2019 and elected in 2020 to fulfill the remainder of the vacant term, which ended in April 2021. Burton was then elected to Board in 2021 and again in 2024. Alonzo Burton is currently Founder and Executive Director of GameChangers of America (501c3). Alonzo holds an M.B.A. and M.P.A. from DeVry University. He also holds Bachelor’s Degrees in Civil Engineering and Engineering Management from Missouri S&T. Alonzo and his wife, Teresa, have five sons, and all have attended Raytown Schools. (Term ends April 2027)

 

Board Vice President, Nodie Newton III was appointed by the board in 2023 to complete the remainder of the vacant board seat. Newton was then elected to Board in 2025. Nodie and his wife Crystal Newton have been married for 37 years and have three children who are graduates of Raytown South High School. Mr. Newton has worked with children, not only throughout the Missouri and Kansas corridors, but also around the nation pertaining to job and sports readiness to encourage young people and their aspirations. Mr. Newton was employed at Ford Motor Company from 1991 to 1999 following his graduation. He has been with Jackson County Family Court since 2000. Since 2020, Mr. Newton has also worked with the College Coaching Network (CCN), which provides students with scholarships and skills for college readiness. He has been involved with youth over the last 30 years as a sports coach, winning multiple national championships, and the Boys and Girls Club from 2005 to 2009, helping high risk youth find the necessary resources to overcome childhood adversity including homelessness, truancy and a lack of familial and educational resources. (Term ends April 2027)

Director Dr. Madelyne Renee' Douglas was elected on April 4, 2023 to the School Board for a term of three years. Dr. Madelyne Douglas holds a Doctorate Degree in Counseling from Faith Bible College, and is Board Certified by the American Society of Christian Therapists. Dr. Douglas also holds a Doctorate Degree in Education and Administration from Faith Bible College where she is a professor, and has been teaching for 22 years. Dr. Douglas serves on the FBC College Advisory Board. Dr. Douglas is a faith-based community leader. Dr. Madelyne Douglas is currently a widow, who was married to her husband Larry for 39 years, and is the mother of two adult children, and grandmother of six grandchildren. (Term ends April 2026)

Director Natalie Johnson-Berry was appointed by the Board in 2021 to fulfill the remainder of a vacant term, then elected to the board in 2022. She and her husband Christopher have three children who are graduates of Raytown High School. Natalie is a Horace Mann national finalist, recognized as a premier educator out of hundreds of thousands in the country. She also holds the distinction of being a national teacher of the year as a NEA Member Benefits awardee. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English, a Master’s in Teaching Secondary Education, an Educational Specialist degree in Leadership, and is pursuing a doctorate in Educational Leadership. Natalie has been a teacher for over twenty years, is Nationally Board Certified, has presented for the National Council of Teachers of English, and was appointed to their Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English, and she is highly involved in her school and community as a leader. Throughout her career, Natalie was humbled to be recognized as a finalist out of over 40,000 educators, selected for the Kansas Teacher of the Year Finalist Team of eight, building teacher of the year multiple times, and twice as district teacher of the year. Her passion for the well-being and success of all children has led her to become an equity practitioner, a restorative justice facilitator, and an administrator. (Term ends April 2025)

Director Michael Watson was elected to the board in April 2023 to serve a three-year term. He graduated from the University of Missouri – Kansas City where he enjoyed a record-setting basketball career. After his rookie campaign in the NBA, Watson went on to play ten seasons of International Professional Basketball in Poland, France, Italy, Turkey, and Puerto Rico. After retiring and returning to Kansas City, he helped establish the Urban Ministry for The Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) and the non- profit youth sports organization ‘MENTALITY by Michael Watson’. He is a color analyst for Spectrum Sports, the ROOS Sports Network, and ESPN +. On April 23, 2023, Watson was inducted into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame. Since 2017, Watson has been the Executive Director of the non-profit Raytown Emergency Assistance Program (REAP). He is also Executive Director of After the Harvest, a non-profit that rescues fresh produce from farms and produce brokers before it goes to waste. (Term ends April 2026)

Director Mr. Rick Moore was elected in 2005, 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, and 2023, and previously served as Board President. He formerly served on the Raytown Board of Alderman, from 1989 to 1997. Moore works for the U.S. Department of Education as an Institutional Review Specialist, working with the financial aid departments of universities and post-secondary schools. He graduated from Raytown High School in 1981, and from   Southwest Baptist University, Bolivar, Missouri, in 1985. Moore is a Red Coater for the Kansas City Chiefs and a member of First Baptist Church of  Raytown. He and his wife Robin, have three children, Ellis, a Raytown South graduate; Skylar, a Raytown High graduate; and Chancellor, who attends Raytown South High School. (Term ends April 2026)

Director Mrs. Bobbie Saulsberry was elected to the board in April 2007, and re-elected in April 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, and 2022. She served as President in 2009-2010. She is a SC/I Business Development Representative with Spire Natural Gas Company. She holds an Associates degree from Penn Valley Community College and served on the Growing With Pride Levy Committee. She is married to Johnny and their children all attended Raytown Schools. She currently has grandchildren in the Raytown Schools. (Term ends April 2025) 

 

 

Board of Education Secretary Mrs. Rachel Johnston became the Board of Education Secretary in 2015. Rachel previously worked in the finance department, as the Director of Technology's secretary, and as Principal's Secretary at Raytown High School.