We kicked off the re-election campaign in May and have had so many interactions with so many community members! This series is about the frequently asked questions. If you have one that has not been addressed, please let us know!
To honor my value of transparency and the fact that not all voters have unlimited time to invest in becoming an informed voter, I am seeking endorsements. I'm proud to be endorsed by both partisan and non-partisan groups who recognize my focus is squarely on a solid public education for all UA students. I reject divisive, "dog-whistle" politics; my campaign is transparently about serving our kids.
A school district uses our tax dollars to help us raise our children and the school board is the community’s accountability system. When the board doesn’t fulfill this role, trust erodes. A clear understanding and division of policy and goals from daily management allows us to build a bright future.
I want our students to have the creativity and critical thinking skills that provide a strong financial foundation. Our new graduates have to face rising housing costs, debt, and youth unemployment and they are losing faith in democracy. With the accelerated pace of change due to AI, it is even more important for us to cultivate resilient, “AI-proof” thinkers and doers.
A tax-funded initiative, like public schools, will not be successful without community trust. We must recognize that previous decisions and communication mishaps have eroded that trust. My unwavering promise to protect progressive education is proven by my 15+ years of commitment to this philosophy.
Public dollars provide public goods; public schools should provide a secular education. Curricula that are not aligned with providing community-driven, universal skills and knowledge should not count as time-in-schoool. While we will comply with state law, I will not support expanding these programs beyond what is legally required. Our focus must remain on our core educational mission of building the skills needed to flourish in adulthood.
I see the uncapped voucher program as a fiscally irresponsible attack on public schools, which are the bedrock of our democracy. I took action by helping our district join the statewide lawsuit to stop it. If private schools take public money, they must be held to the same transparency and accountability standards as public schools.
To rebuild community trust, I advocated for more open discussion of board decisions instead of letting them pass quietly on consent agendas. This created friction with other members. We resolved it through a facilitated discussion that helped us understand our different styles and find new ways to ensure transparency, ultimately making us a stronger team.
I use my training in education finance to support our tax dollars being spent responsibly. To maintain public trust, I've advocated for more transparency by reinstating the community finance committee and encouraged completion of regular performance reviews. Our district's excellent bond rating and clean audits support our commitment to strong, transparent financial oversight.
An unwavering base level of respect for all people is central to belonging. When adults politicize or ostracize identities, we hurt the ability of all of our students to flourish in a global economy. We move every bear forward, together, when we keep politicians out of our classrooms.
We all want our students to feel safe and included at school. Barriers that make a person’s identity predictive of their success or narrow definitions that limit student support (like bullying) undermine this. Systemic change through policy ensure all students are empowered and have the opportunity to flourish.
A reactive approach that treats mental health as an afterthought leaves our students to navigate a "pressure cooker" of 24/7 social media and academic stress alone. A proactive culture of resilience is built by weaving vital life skills like empathy and critical thinking into the entire K-12 curriculum so every student is seen, supported, and equipped to succeed in the classroom and in life.
Our curriculum should reflect all our students' histories and identities. I oppose efforts to limit what teachers can teach about race, gender, and history. The board's job is to support our educators, providing them with the legal clarity and backing they need to create inclusive classrooms where every student is prepared to find joy and success in a global economy.
Educating the whole child balances academic growth with life-skills and purpose. A narrow, outdated focus on state mandates does not allow this. Our students can have a lifetime of connection and fulfillment when we integrate mental health supports, creativity, and real-world problem-solving.
Our elected officials must be accessible and willing to understand and empathize with all members of our community. Inflexible feedback minimizes community engagement. For sustainable and positive outcomes robust collaborative problem solving approaches are needed.
