Please list your top 3 priorities if elected.

If elected, my priorities would be to 1) continue the work with families to maintain schools that are welcoming and help all kids thrive; 2) advocate for Lawrence schools and community, especially when it comes to educational policy; and 3) sustain Lawrence’s efforts to attract and retain exceptional educators and leaders.

What do you see as the most pressing issue facing your district? What will be your approach to addressing it?

The most pressing issue facing school districts today is making sure that there are adequate resources to support the programs and educators that students need to be successful. I would do this by carefully monitoring the implications of SEA 1 on school district budgets and explore solutions to any shortcomings that surface.

The other piece of this is making sure we teachers are properly supported to meet the student achievement standards set by local and state policy.

What area of academics do you think the district needs to focus on and why?

I am confident that the district will continue to lead in compliance with respect to reading and foundational mathematics instruction, as well as providing robust opportunities for STEM learning and career and technical education.

We also must continue to provide focused services for multilingual learners and exceptional learners. This combination of focusing on foundational skills while continuing to update programming to be future-ready will ensure that Lawrence graduates continue to lead in the community and beyond.

How will you engage with the community if elected? What role will their feedback have in your decision making?

I am a person who is available and accessible. I would invite community members to weigh in on the issues facing MSDLT. It is important to me to bring this feedback forward when considering solutions to the challenges that come up.

Administrator pay has often been a point of contention between school board members. What are your thoughts on the amount the district spends on administrators, which includes principals and assistant principals, and how would you strengthen public trust in district administration?

Because of my decades of experience as a teacher and collaborator with school districts, I understand the roles administrators play in leading successful school districts. Attracting and retaining leaders that help keep MSDLT functioning at the highest level is crucial, and this involves appropriate compensation. At the same time, our students deserve the best teachers in front of them on a daily basis.

It is no secret that teachers give endlessly of themselves for our students, and they deserve to be properly compensated and supported. Teacher retention matters. We can do both in MSDLT: pay administrators competitively and provide teachers what they need and deserve.