Voters in the Meramec Valley R-III School District will see four candidates on the ballot in the upcoming Board of Education election, with three seats available. The candidates include three incumbents—Matt Trower, Dianna Meyer, and Amanda Nemeth—along with one new candidate, Kesha Nichols.
Candidates will appear on the ballot in the order in which they filed for office: Matt Trower, Dianna Meyer, Kesha Nichols, and Amanda Nemeth.
As part of the filing process, each candidate was asked to submit biographical information to help district residents learn more about those seeking election. Community members are encouraged to review the candidate information as they prepare to participate in the Board of Education election.
Matt Trower (Incumbent)
Matt Trower is a lifelong resident of Pacific and is seeking re-election to the MVR-III Board of Education. He is a 1996 graduate of Pacific High School and brings both strong community ties and extensive professional experience to his role on the board.
Trower has built a 26-year career in financial services and currently serves as a Corporate Security Director for a large international bank. He has also invested locally by bringing Ultimate Performance Training, a youth athletic training facility, to Pacific.
A Missouri School Boards’ Association Master Board Member, Trower focuses on strengthening connections and expanding opportunities for all students. His community involvement includes serving as Director of the WATCH D.O.G.S. program, President of the St. Bridget of Kildare Athletic Association, and a coach for numerous youth athletic teams. He regularly attends district and community events, supporting students and families.
Trower and his wife have two children: Adyson, a 2024 Pacific High School graduate and current University of Missouri sophomore, and Gavin, a Pacific High School sophomore. This perspective helps guide his commitment to student safety, long-term financial responsibility, teacher recruitment and retention, and learning environments that support individual student success.
Dianna Meyer (Incumbent)
Dianna Meyer has been a resident of the Meramec Valley R-III School District for more than 25 years and lives in Catawissa with her family. She recently retired from a 29-year career with AT&T, including 14 years as a General Manager in Technology, where she gained experience in operations, leadership, and financial governance.
Meyer was appointed to the Board of Education in December 2018, elected in 2019, and re-elected in 2020 and 2023. She currently serves as vice president of the board. She is married to Randy Meyer, a Pacific High School alumnus and retired MVR-III teacher. They have two daughters: Maggie, a member of the Class of 2021, and Sophie, a member of the Class of 2024.
Meyer holds a Missouri School Boards’ Association Advanced Board Member Certification. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Education Plus, a regional education service agency that supports school districts throughout the St. Louis area.
Kesha Nichols
Kesha Nichols is a graduate of Pacific High School and lives in the Robertsville area with her family. She is the parent of two students currently enrolled in the MVR-III School District and has been actively engaged in the district community.
Nichols has more than 15 years of experience in financial services, with a professional background focused on budget management and organizational leadership. She holds a Master of Business Administration and is a graduate of the Consumer Bankers Association Executive Banking School.
Her community involvement includes serving on the University of Missouri Extension Council and the Franklin County Area United Way Board, reflecting her commitment to service and collaboration within the broader community.
Amanda Nemeth (Incumbent)
Amanda Nemeth is seeking re-election to a second three-year term on the Meramec Valley R-III Board of Education. She and her husband, Andy, have lived in Pacific since 2016.
Nemeth is the mother of five and says her connection to the district is both personal and long-standing. By the time her youngest son graduates, the family will have had a student at Pacific High School for more than 13 consecutive years.
Professionally, Nemeth serves as the Missouri REALTORS Director of Local Board Relations and Regional Advocacy Coordinator for Eastern Missouri. She and her husband also co-own Little Ireland Coffee Shop and Amandy Properties, two local businesses that regularly host community events and support area fundraisers.
Nemeth has a strong background in public service and volunteer leadership. She previously served more than five years on the Pacific Partnership Board of Directors, including over two years as board president. She has also served as Treasurer of the Pacific Eagles Ladies Auxiliary and on the Missouri REALTORS strategic planning committee.
In 2018, Nemeth and her husband became licensed foster parents to four siblings, whom they adopted one year later. While they are no longer licensed foster parents, they continue to support foster families by serving as guest speakers. All five of their children currently attend or have attended MVR-III schools.
During her first term on the board, Nemeth earned both the Essential and Advanced Board Member Certifications through the Missouri School Boards’ Association. She has attended three years of MSBA meetings and served two years as an MSBA Delegate. She says her focus remains on responsible governance, transparency, fiscal accountability, and long-term success for all students.