It was a profound moment when I learned that guns are the leading cause of death among American children and teens, with 1 in 10 gun deaths involving individuals aged 19 or younger (source: U.S. Centers for Disease Control). This stark reality underscores the urgent need for common-sense gun safety measures to keep our families safe. I am proud to support these measures and earn this distinction as part of my commitment to protecting our community 

The NASW represents over 6,000 members that live and work in Michigan. Our students all need to feel physically and emotionally safe in our schools. Without that foundation of safety, students will struggle to focus and connect to the higher order thinking skills.  Social Emotional Learning (SEL) focuses on five core competency areas: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision making ( source: RCS MiCIP plan available on RCS website). These are important competencies for our students as a foundation for high learner and a skill they will need for their future. 

Skilled trades and union workers form the backbone of our economy, and we must not overlook this vital pathway for our students. Both of my grandfathers were proud UAW members, and today, as we face critical shortages in skilled trades, it is more important than ever to support this career option. Through our Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, vocational education, robotics, and other hands-on initiatives, we can provide students with the skills and opportunities they need to succeed in these essential fields 

I am running for school board so that ALL students have a challenging education. All means that all students feel safe in our schools and represented in our books and curriculum. This includes, but is not limited to, our LGBTQ+ students. I am proud to be endorsed by Forever Pride, a group founded by one of our Rochester students.