What particular issue(s) have motivated you to serve on the board of education? If elected, what will be your priorities?

My why is pretty simple. All children deserve to be safe, supported, and educated. No matter their race, gender, sexuality, family income, religion, the language they speak at home, their learning style, where they live, what support they need to succeed, how they get to school, or whether their families are brand new to the district or have been here for years. Every kid. No exception. 

Our district faces challenges that affect curriculum, budget, transportation, staff compensation, and teacher retention. And of course behind every one of these aspects is ensuring a safe and supportive education for all students. Addressing these challenges with curiosity, integrity, and empathy is the responsibility of Board members and I am eager to contribute my professional experience and expertise to these deliberations. But I also see other challenges that don’t fall squarely within any policy portfolio. Our Board needs champions of public education who look beyond the spreadsheet, who see budgets as indicators of values rather than as ends in and of themselves, and who leverage unprecedented access to information to craft educational policies that reach every student. The future of public education is more precarious now than it has been in generations. I don’t have answers to all of the challenges we face. But I am confident that, together, we will find solutions to these challenges and those that follow.

I am running now because serving on the school board is one meaningful way I can give back a fraction of what MRH has given to me and my family at a moment when public education needs strong, informed, and unflappable advocates. Now that both of my kids are in high school, I’ve had more time to reflect on the village that has helped me raise them. As a single mom, I wasn’t always able to attend PTO meetings or chaperone field trips or even keep lunch accounts current. But MRH didn’t let my kids fall through the cracks. Teachers and counselors and therapists and coaches and principals and nurses and others, from the ECC through today, have provided not only an education but a community that my kids will carry with them well beyond graduation. I want nothing less for every single child who comes through MRH. I am running for school board to support students, to empower parents, and to ensure that teachers and staff have the resources they need to educate, care, and inspire for generations to come.

My vision for the school board prioritizes collaboration, equity, stewardship, and knowledge. I can’t promise what the future holds but these are the cornerstones that will guide my conduct and decision-making:

Collaboration

I will work with other board members who put learners at the center of their deliberations and decisions, always mindful of the teachers and educational support staff who make learning accessible and obtainable for every student in our district. As a board member, my job will be to learn from the expertise and experience of district employees, contractors, parents, and other stakeholders to shape policies and practices that nurture students’ safety and learning. 

Equity

I will work to ensure that decision-making at the district level is guided by evidence and that methods of data collection are attentive to varying circumstances of learning and working. MRH is home to students and families who share zip codes but have many different life experiences. Prioritizing equity means that every child should have access to the resources and opportunities needed to thrive as a learner and a member of our community, both between the bells and beyond. To achieve equity in the classroom, we also need to prioritize equity among our teachers, educational support staff, administration, and district leadership. 

Stewardship

As a public school district, MRH operates almost entirely on public funds. I will lead with the conviction that budgets are moral documents and will work to empower broader participation from district families, employees, and neighbors who may not yet feel included in decision-making processes or represented in district policies. Whether you own or rent your home, whether you have lived in the district for days or decades, MRH is a vital part of our public trust and it is the responsibility of the board to steward its assets and infrastructure not only for today but for the future. I will work with other board members and district leaders to protect your investment in MRH.

Knowledge

It might seem redundant to name knowledge as a priority in a school district. My promise is to be intentional about prioritizing knowledge at all levels of an MRH education and in the work of the board itself. From classrooms to boardrooms, we live in a moment when we have unprecedented access to information. But that information does not always yield knowledge that we can use to improve lives. The board’s work can be mired in information or it can leverage that information to deliberate solutions and create positive change in our community. I will work alongside teachers and other leaders to ensure our district is known for valuing knowledge in a world increasingly dominated by information.