CHCCS effectively educates many children and has highly dedicated teachers and staff. However, like any other institution, it can and should improve. My campaign slogan the first time I ran was “Every Student Matters.” Over these last three and half years, my highest priority has been to prevent students from falling through cracks in the system and to ensure that each student receives the best services the district can provide. In other words, every student matters.

I have worked for almost my entire career for non-profit organizations that strive to bring youth through the tricky years of adolescence. My role in those non-profits has been to advocate for improved public policies, raise funds through grants and educate the public. My knowledge of adolescent behavior and youth programs informs my service as a School Board member. School failure often goes hand in hand with other high-risk behavior.

Before my election to the Board, I volunteered in CHCCS elementary classrooms each of the ten years that my girls attended Seawell and Estes Hills Elementary Schools. Helping in the classroom allowed me to watch some of our finest teachers work their magic. I have tremendous respect and appreciation for the men and women who educate our community’s children.

My focus for the next four years, should the voters choose to return me to office, will be to maintain the services that we have that are excellent and identify and improve those that aren’t serving our students well. We still have too many students, particularly children of color and low socio-economic status, who leave our school system inadequately prepared for college or a career. I want to continue to sharpen our district’s focus on educating all our children to the best of their potential.