Candidate Q&A

If you have kids – Do they attend or have they graduated from IPS schools? If not, where do/did they attend?

Yes

What prompted you to run this year?

I am running for the IPS school board because I want to give back to the district that shaped my foundation. As an IPS alum, I credit my early success, including winning a super national chess championship and earning a Lilly Endowment scholarship, to the support of my family, community, and school partnerships. My career in education began through my community work with the Riverside Civic League. Encouraged by local leadership to pursue teaching, I have since gained diverse experience across public, charter, and innovation schools. Throughout my journey as a classroom teacher, dean, instructional coach, and assistant principal, I have focused on closing academic gaps and supporting student growth. My platform is simple: I believe every student deserves a “Fave 5” support system. I know from experience that successful schools aren’t built on magic, but on intentional strategies and strong partnerships between families, community stakeholders, and educators. My goal as a board member is to strengthen these connections. I am committed to ensuring that our students not only excel academically but also meet the high expectations we have collectively set for them. Together, we can build a strategic plan that enhances the experience for every learner and strengthens our entire community.

What is the most pressing student needs issue facing the district? How will you address it?

The most pressing issue is the need for intentional planning, support, and community collaboration to serve every IPS student effectively. I will address this by prioritizing my core platform pillar: ensuring every student has a dedicated “Fave 5” support system made up of caring families, educators, and community partners working together for their success.

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

In my humble opinion, the district must prioritize early childhood education, centering on foundational reading, math, and critical thinking skills. Establishing these core competencies early ensures students build a strong academic groundwork, setting them up for long-term proficiency and lifelong success.

As Indianapolis education begins this new phase with the addition of IPEC, how should the board approach its relationship with IPEC?

I believe IPS is able to oversee our own affairs. However, the current landscape allows IPS to receive additional support and resources, possibly from the newly created IPEC. I think we continue to do everything we can to ensure ALL school options are exemplary.

Do you support the IPEC referendum and the rate? Why or why not?

I support the referendum because of the district’s critical financial need. When a school district faces extreme fiscal challenges, turning to the community for support is often the only viable option. While my personal opinion on the specific rate is secondary now that it has been established and I do not have access to all internal IPEC data, my baseline position remains clear: referendum funding must directly support the specific needs it was created to address.

IPS recently made budget cuts and will need to make more cuts even if the referendum passes. What will be your approach to budget cut decisions? Are there other ways IPS can bring in money beyond the referendum?

My approach to budget cuts is to prioritize people first, avoiding staff layoffs and protecting quality educators and student experiences. Instead, we should reduce operational overhead by leveraging community partnerships. For example, collaborating with organizations like Indy Parks and the Tabernacle Presbyterian Church (Tab) can help maintain athletics and recreation services while freeing up district funds for core instruction.Beyond the referendum, IPS can generate additional revenue by partnering with local organizations and non-profits to pursue Out-of-School Time (OST) grants, which can directly offset the costs of tutoring, after-school programs, and extracurricular activities, all while still supporting the schools and families.

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

Community engagement is central to all three of my platform pillars because strong alignment between families, schools, and local stakeholders directly drives student success. I will engage the community through active outreach and collaborative partnerships, ensuring their feedback serves as a primary guide for board decisions and policy strategy.

Outside money to fund campaigns has been a huge factor in previous IPS school board elections. Will you accept any donations from outside special interest groups? Why or why not?

I will maintain an open, collaborative approach to campaign support, provided that any potential partnership directly aligns with our shared mission, vision, and core goals for the district. As a first-time candidate, my primary focus is ensuring that every resource and effort serves the best interests of our students and community. While I welcome support from partners who are genuinely invested in advancing our public schools, I am firm on alignment: if a group’s or person’s priorities do not reflect the mission, vision, and values needed to move our district forward, I will not accept their support.