09-07-2025
Odell Brewing's community outreach coordinator running for seat on PSD Board of Education
Karla Baise, the community outreach coordinator at Odell Brewing Co. for more than 18 years, is running for a seat on the Poudre School District Board of Education in the November 2025 election.
Baise, who filed her candidate paperwork with the Colorado Secretary of State's office June 11, is running for the District C seat currently held by school board President Kristen Draper who is term-limited and cannot run for reelection. Sabrina Herrick, the parent of a victim of former PSD bus attendant Tyler Zanella, is also running for the District C seat.
There is no single issue, Baise said, that convinced her to run for a seat on the school board. It's more of an overall concern as an active and engaged parent of two children in PSD schools.
'My family has had such an amazing experience with Poudre School District,' Baise told the Coloradoan. 'My children both went to Tavelli Elementary, and we were very active in that school community, and I feel like I've become protective of it.
'I want to make sure all kids in our community have the same access to a quality education that my kids have had and that the teachers are heard and supported.'
District C encompasses northeast Fort Collins. School board directors are elected by all voters within PSD's boundaries but must reside within the geographic district they hope to represent. Voters will also be selecting directors for the District D and E seats in the November 2025 election.
Baise has lived in Fort Collins since 1999 and she and her husband, John, have two children in PSD schools — a daughter at Poudre High School and a son who will start middle school this fall at Lincoln.
Baise holds a bachelor's degree from Colorado State University in international studies with a focus on Latin America and a minor in Spanish.
Her interest in running for a seat on the school board, Baise said, was piqued by concerns she has heard in recent years about 'discordance' within the school board itself and the 'culture' of the school district.
Although her candidacy is not related to her work at Odell Brewing, Baise believes her professional experience has provided her with a solid foundation that will serve her well as a member of the Board of Education.
'My experience as a community outreach coordinator for such an iconic and legendary Fort Collins company has definitely enabled me to put roots down in this community and be a very active community member,' Baise said.
Reporter Kelly Lyell covers education, breaking news, some sports and other topics of interest for the Coloradoan. Contact him at kellylyell@ and
This article originally appeared on Fort Collins Coloradoan: Odell Brewing community outreach coordinator runs for PSD school board
