Joshua Baxter, a high school academic support teacher from Carlisle Community Schools, was elected to the NEA Board of Directors for the Iowa State Education Association in April of 2025. He earned his bachelor's degree in cross categorical special education from Northwest Missouri State University. He is about to finish his Master of Arts in at-risk alternative education from Marian University. Joshua became a member of the ISEA during his first year of teaching in 2005. He was an honored nominee for the Excellence in Education award in 2012.
Joshua has served the association in many roles at the local and state levels. He is currently serving as the vice president of the Carlisle Community Education Association. He is a past president, chief bargainer, and building representative. At the state level, Joshua chaired the Protecting Members' Rights Committee for three years, and he chaired the ISEA Executive Board's amendments committee for the past two years. He represented the Polk Suburban Uniserv Unit and Unit 5 on the ISEA executive board for the past seven years. Joshua also completed the NEA's National Leadership Institute in 2020.
In addition to fighting for a free and equitable education for every student, Joshua enjoys spending time with his ISEA member wife, Brandy, and their three children. He also enjoys officiating high school sports in the areas of football, basketball, and baseball.
