Our community is navigating a period of deep and shared grief. For many, this loss still feels very raw.

It is heartbreaking that in this time of pain, politically driven, anonymous rumors are being spread. This speculation is harmful, and it refuels the disconnection at the heart of this tragedy.

My commitment to upholding a high ethical standard and protecting the privacy and dignity of students has not wavered. I will never discuss the private details of any child. 

And, I must be unequivocally clear on one point: the rumor that I would use my board position to influence any student's discipline is categorically false. I did not and I would not. It is not who I am. It goes against my core values and my steadfast commitment to ethical conduct. Furthermore, it is not how our system works.

Our Superintendent concurs - he has stated that he is aware of ‘no evidence’ that any Board member has attempted to use their position to influence student matters and has urged ‘caution before accepting rumors as truth.’ 

Our Board President has stated she is ‘grateful that our board members understand and respect the distinction’ between our roles as parents and Board members and that these personal roles ‘do not impact or interfere with our [district] actions and vice versa.’ The Board has absolutely no role in individual student discipline. That authority rests entirely with our district's administration.

It is profoundly disheartening that anyone would exploit a community's grief to smear a local school board race. It is unacceptable, and it's why so many good people do not run for office.

My social media commenting guidelines are written specifically to create a safe, respectful, and constructive environment for open conversation. Consistent with it, I will be deleting repeated, misinformed, and harmful comments as I believe this is the bare minimum needed for our community to heal. 

I will continue to lead with compassion. My focus has been, and will remain, on building a healthy, resilient culture and serving all the students in our district. Every. Bear. Forward. I know this community. We can do hard things, and we will get through this together.