Sonja Myer
Non-Partisan | Missouri
Candidate Profile
Leans Conservative
BIOGRAPHY
Name
Sonja Myer
Party
Non-Partisan
Election Year
2026
Election
General School Boards
Race
Branson Public Schools Board of Education, At-Large Seats (vote for three)
Incumbent
Yes
Links
EDUCATION
Drury University, Springfield, MO, Bachelors, 1989-1993
WORK & MILITARY
Myer Hospitality, owner/operations, 1994-
AFFILIATIONS
First Baptist Church Branson, member, weekly nursery volunteer, 2000-
Fellowship of Christian Athletes - South Central MO, past board member
Options Pregnancy Clinic, past board member, past president
Branson R-IV Education Foundation, administrative liaison, past Chair
Branson PTO, past president, past treasurer, past member
Branson High School Athletic Booster Clubs, past treasurer/past president - main, soccer, basketball
POLITICAL OFFICES HELD
Branson School Board, 2020-2026
POLITICAL OFFICES SOUGHT
Branson School Board, 2026-
Race
OTHER INFORMATION
QUESTIONNAIRE
RIGHT TO LIFE
Human life deserves legal protection from conception until natural death.
Strongly Agree
What role should the school serve in helping a student with an unwanted or crisis pregnancy?
Academic accommodations and school counseling should be provided by the school. Branson is also blessed to have Options Pregnancy Clinic to provide services and counseling for those facing an unplanned pregnancy.
ECONOMY
Student loan forgiveness unfairly shifts the financial burden to those not responsible for student debt.
Agree
What is your position on government funding of public education from Pre-K through college?
I support the public funding of Pre-K through grade 12 public education. Public education is essential for equipping students with a strong foundation in order for them to become productive, active and valuable members of society who can positively contribute to our communities.
RELIGIOUS LIBERTY
With regard to public schools, what does "separation of church and state" mean to you?
Public schools should not mandate religious activities.
IMMIGRATION
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) enhances the safety and security of communities by identifying and detaining illegal aliens.
Choose not to answer
EDUCATION
Abortion and gender-affirming providers, including Planned Parenthood, should be a resource for instruction or services in the school.
Strongly Disagree
Consequences for bad behavior create a safe and orderly environment, which is essential for student learning.
Strongly Agree
Educators should give students a thorough education in America's founding documents and cultivate American patriotism.
Agree
I support eliminating the U.S. Department of Education and giving control back to states and communities.
Agree
Giving control back to states and local school boards would be a positive move. Local control allows our school district to make decisions that are specific or unique to our community and district. One issue to consider in eliminating the U.S. Department of Education would be the possible loss of federal funding of specific programs including but not limited to Title I, National School Lunch Program, and IDEA programs.
If you support the teaching of Sex Ed, please answer the following question: Sexual education should include these topics (list all that apply and add your own, if needed) -- abortion methods and side effects; abstinence; consent; contraceptive methods; human anatomy/the reproductive system; physical and emotional health outcomes; sex acts and pleasures of sex; sexual orientation and gender identity; stages of pregnancy and fetal development
Human anatomy/the reproductive system; stages of pregnancy and fetal development; abstinence; physical and emotional health outcomes. Our district is fortunate to partner with Options Pregnancy Clinic to teach the MO grade level expectations for required sexual health abstinence education in health classes.
Please list in order the following priorities in relation to the role of a K-12 public school (omitting any that do not apply): American History, Art & Music, Civics, Critical Race Theory, Foreign Language, Gender Identity, Information Technology, Language Arts, Mathematics, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Political Activism, Science, Sexuality, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning
Top Importance(equally important): Mathematics, Am. History, Language Arts, Science, Civics Secondary-still important(equally important): Art & Music, Foreign Language, Information Technology, Personal Finances, Physical Fitness, Social Emotional Learning, Vocational Learning Education should equip students with the knowledge and skills they need to succeed in their future endeavors by focusing on subjects and learning experiences that support long-term personal, academic & professional growth.
Public schools should prioritize academic achievement and building character necessary to preserve American traditions and self-government.
Agree
School choice creates competition, and that competition will push public schools to improve their educational systems.
Neutral
Parents should have the right to choose if their child attends public school, private school or is home schooled. Any non-public schools receiving public funds should be held to the same accountability and admission standards as public schools. I do not believe that school choice creates competition that will push public schools to improve their educational systems but may actually create a financial burden on some districts.
VALUES
Biological males should be allowed to participate in women's sports or occupy biological women's spaces whether it be bathrooms, locker rooms, sorority houses, women's shelters, or prison.
Strongly Disagree
Briefly describe your spiritual beliefs and values.
I am a Christian. My personal relationship with Jesus is the foundation of my life. I do believe that all students should feel welcome and valued in our public schools no matter their spiritual beliefs.
Government should recognize and support the fundamental right and essential duty of parents to direct their child's health and educational well-being.
Strongly Agree
I support the teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin.
Strongly Agree
I agree that people should be judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. Our schools should provide a safe and welcoming environment for all students.
Marriage is a God-ordained, sacred and legal union of one man and one woman. No government has the authority to alter this definition.
Strongly Agree
Mental health conditions such as anorexia and gender dysphoria need to be treated, not affirmed.
Agree
School library books that have literary value, as determined by experts, should be exempt from obscenity laws.
Disagree
ELECTIONS AND VOTING
People should be able to vote without photo identification.
Strongly Disagree
ABOUT YOU
Have you ever been convicted of a felony? If so, please explain.
No
Have you ever been penalized for sexual misconduct in either civil or criminal court? If so, please explain.
No
I voted in these primaries and general elections:
Choose not to answer
Although my personal values led me to vote for a specific party in all the listed elections, I understand that School Board is a non-partisan position. My goal on the School Board is to represent the entire community, no matter what political party they support. Making decisions that are the best for our students, staff and community are my top priority. My goal is to help lead our school district to be the best it can be, always putting students first.
What political party are you affiliated with?
see above question above
When you consider your views on a wide range of issues from economic and social matters to immigration and religious liberty, which of the following best describes you overall?
Conservative
School Board members have a responsibility to remain focused on advancement of their school district in order that all students can receive a safe, foundational education that will prepare them for the future.
2ND AMENDMENT
Faculty who are licensed to carry and have had ongoing training should be allowed to carry guns at school in order to respond to an active shooter situation.
Agree
Branson Schools have a Director of School Safety who leads a staff of School Protection Officers working alongside School Resource Officers from the City of Branson Police Department and Taney County Sheriff's Department. I believe this is the best situation for our district after having discussions with our city, county and school security consultants. Each district has different needs and resources making the decision to allow teachers to carry guns an individual decision for each district.
