Utech wins Germantown School District 3rd district seat

Anne Utech emphasizes improved communication and fiscal responsibility in her victory over Kimberly L. Higginbotham.

Apr. 8, 2026 at 5:24am

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A brightly colored, high-contrast silkscreen print of a school bus icon repeated in a tight grid pattern, in the style of Andy Warhol. The image utilizes flat, vibrant, and unnatural neon color palettes overlapping with heavy black photographic outlines to turn an everyday symbol of education into modern pop art.The vibrant colors and repeated imagery of a school bus symbolize the renewed energy and focus on transparency that the Germantown School Board hopes to bring under Anne Utech's leadership.Germantown Today

Anne Utech has won the 3rd District seat on the Germantown School Board, defeating opponent Kimberly L. Higginbotham by 124 votes. Utech received 3,993 votes, or 50.54% of the total 7,900 votes cast, while Higginbotham received 3,869 votes, or 48.97%. Utech has pledged to improve communication between the board, parents, staff, and administration, as well as focus on fiscal responsibility in providing high-quality education.

Why it matters

The Germantown School Board plays a crucial role in shaping the education and policies for the local school district. Utech's victory represents a shift in priorities, as she has emphasized the need to rebuild trust and improve communication between the various stakeholders in the district.

The details

In the final tally, Utech won the 3rd District seat with 3,993 votes, or 50.54% of the total. Higginbotham received 3,869 votes, or 48.97%. There were also 38 write-in votes, accounting for the remaining 0.48%. Utech has stated that her top priorities will be improving communication and maintaining fiscal responsibility, including sending out pre-meeting emails, hosting post-meeting podcasts, and transcribing all meeting recordings to make them more accessible.

  • The election took place on Tuesday, April 8, 2026.
  • The final vote tally was reported on Tuesday night.

The players

Anne Utech

The newly elected member of the Germantown School Board, who campaigned on improving communication and fiscal responsibility.

Kimberly L. Higginbotham

The opponent of Anne Utech in the race for the 3rd District seat on the Germantown School Board.

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What they’re saying

“I believe the most pressing issue facing our district is the lack of trust between parents, staff, the Board, and the administration. At the root of that distrust is poor and mis- communication. Another issue I see is providing access to high-quality education for all students while remaining fiscally responsible.”

— Anne Utech, Newly Elected School Board Member

What’s next

Utech will be sworn in to her new role on the Germantown School Board in the coming weeks, where she will begin implementing her plans to improve communication and fiscal responsibility within the district.

The takeaway

Utech's victory represents a desire for change and transparency within the Germantown School District, as she has pledged to prioritize rebuilding trust and improving communication between the board, parents, staff, and administration.