Region 1 Candidate

Why did you decide to run for election?

I decided to run for the position because it feels like School Board is the natural next opportunity to serve my community.  I have volunteered in the school community through the Parent Teacher Organizations since my oldest child, who is now in 7th grade, started Kindergarten. I have been fortunate to build relationships with the staff, teachers, administrators, families and students. I think the School Board could be enhanced by a parent volunteer perspective. 

What is the biggest issue that needs to be addressed? 

I think we need to bring the School Board’s focus back on students and providing a safe and supportive learning environment for every student. This environment needs to be build on strong family-teacher partnerships which will lead to each student getting the resources and support needed to thrive in and beyond Pine-Richland.

Why should people vote in local elections?

Local elections impact our daily lives the most. Because of the direct impact on your daily life, getting involved on the local level of elections gives you more input about how your community functions. Also, fuller participation in elections demands greater accountability from our elected officials. I believe more perspectives and input from the community make a well-rounded and better functioning government that reflects more of the people it is meant to serve. 

How and why did you get involved with the schools?

I have always been involved in the schools. Starting when my daughter was in Kindergarten, I joined the PTO. From there, I took on more roles as committee chairs and eventually took on the role of PTO President. I currently serve on the Middle School PSA board and co-chair the Book Fair committee at the Upper Elementary School. I have participated in many of the open forums held by the school for strategic planning, curriculum reviews and key communicator meetings. I attend and watch school board meetings in person and from home. Most importantly, I have built relationships with teachers, custodians, librarians, administrators, teachers, staff members, parents and students. These relationships have given me insight to the power of working towards a common goal and enriching my relationship with my community. I want everyone to thrive and get what they need to succeed. I view getting involved as a civic duty that I am privileged to be able to do. 

How involved should parents be when it comes to their child's education in the district, and what specifically would that look like? 

I think parents should make the determination of how involved they are in their child’s education. Parents are experts of their child and know them best. Parent involvement should focus on the needs of their child and not impact the experience or rights of other children. The district should welcome the collaboration between home and school by encouraging open communications with all parties involved in the student’s educational journey.

How important are inclusion and diversity when it comes to education? 

Diversity and inclusion are fundamental principles of public schools. Public schools are open to all in the community. Therefore, they must serve all students and consider the diverse needs across the student body. Inclusive practices are essential to welcoming all students and giving them both a safe place to learn and the opportunity to be their truest, best selves. 

How do you think school-board elections have changed since COVID?

I would say that very few people paid attention to school board elections prior to COVID. COVID engaged and enraged people. COVID challenged our educational systems. The politicalization of COVID made its way to school board elections and meetings. A lot of outside money was pumped into our local elections. Unfortunately, the influx of money also brought an influx of culture wars that have been on display at our board meetings. I always viewed the school board as a non-partisan endeavor that was meant to have different perspectives and representation of our broader community. There are always going to be disagreements on how to move forward but now it seems like there is a well-funded force promoting harmful policies that are  trying to dismantle public schools from the inside out.  School boards are becoming an incubator for national political movements. I would like to see politics taken out of our school boards and bring the focus back to preparing our students for the future world that they will be living in. 

Why should people vote for you? 

People should vote for me because I am proud to be part of Pine-Richland and I am excited to help collaborate to provide the best possible education for Pine-Richland kids.