MY VALUES

K-12 education transforms lives by developing the knowledge and skills required for expanded post-secondary educational opportunities, increased earning power, improved health and engaged civic participation.  As our society becomes increasingly complex, adaptability and the capacity to solve problems will be the prime requisites for the successful person. Education can and must prepare our youth for the world in which they will be living.  I believe our schools can and will establish a learning environment in which students discover and develop their aptitudes and use them for the well-being of all.

I am committed to the purpose of public education, which is to educate every student to their fullest potential.  This is why I support Springfield’s motto of Every Student, Every Day. Different kids may need different kinds of support. This means that students in special education receive the specialized support they require to learn and grow; English language learners get what they need to learn English and stay up in their content area subjects; kids impacted by poverty get additional help in order to have an equal opportunity for academic success.

I believe there is nothing that humans do that is more important than what teachers and educational support staff do. They hold the awesome responsibility to educate each and every student to reach their full potential. Educators directly affect the future by shining a light that brightens the prospects for our younger generation.  In order for students to reach their full potential, educators need to know and feel they are essential to school improvement.  As a board member, I will do my part to make sure teachers, classified support staff, principals and district leadership are all involved in school improvement.  My job will be to help establish the conditions in which opportunity and responsibility for school improvement involve our highly skilled and dedicated staff.  I also know that great teaching requires that our educators have ongoing access to professional development opportunities that meet their specific needs and interests. 

I believe that the following subjects must be part of the curriculum: language arts, math, science, social studies (including history, civics and geography), health, physical education, music, computer literacy, career and technical education and personal finance. In order for students to discover their passion and to know how to navigate a complex world, they must be instructed in all these subjects from kindergarten through 12th grade. A comprehensive and well-rounded education is the rock on which good schools are built. This means excellent teaching, high standards, a balance of the hand, the head, and the heart, and encouragement in the joy of learning.

I have personally experienced the many positive effects of electives and extracurricular activities.  And I will fully support them as a school board member.  A school is first its teacher-student academic relationships, but the excitement, involvement and fun of electives and extracurricular activities complement and serve academic effort and success.  They help give each school its traditions and atmosphere; they make it better known and supported in the community; they bring its friends and families together in enjoyable events.  Loyalty and support of a school is based on an appreciation for the fine work it does but also on an enjoyable time spent there.  

As your elected school board member I will always consider what’s best for students and their families.  Student and family input and involvement are essential for responsive decision making.  I value and will always support opportunities for student and parental voice. Additionally I will seek input from other stakeholders: from community members who fund us with their tax dollars; from our building-based school personnel - our principals, our teachers, our classified support workers; and from our district administrative team. To make SPS the best it can be for our students, I want a strong school district that is open to input from all interested parties. I will listen attentively and actively. 

I know there are budget constraints facing our public schools, and I fully support using our limited resources carefully.  I also understand that a budget reflects values and priorities.  I will review our budget to make sure it maximizes support for the success of all our students.  As your board member, I will study budgets and listen carefully to learn all I can before voting on resource decisions.

How students behave and feel at school is a critical piece of a successful education, not just for any individual student, but also for their classmates’ education. Student misbehavior disrupts learning.  It can also make schools feel unsafe and stressful, which further impedes learning.  In addition to existing programs such as PBIS that address student behavior, I welcome efforts to explore additional options that address individual and school-wide behavior challenges.  I firmly believe that with a broad repertoire of strategies and programs, challenging behaviors can be significantly reduced so that more learning can take place.

The Internet can be a wonderful learning tool for kids. But online access also comes with risks, such as inappropriate content, cyberbullying, and online predators.  Students today face the bewildering and often divisive influences of technology and social media. I will work to ensure that the district does everything it can to teach students to navigate online safely and responsibly.  I will also support efforts to strengthen student privacy protections as well as responses to the inappropriate uses of technology. I further believe that families should be educated and supported to effectively understand and monitor their students’ use of technology. Finally, I will advocate for an articulated curriculum that teaches students how to learn with technology tools and programs while being safe, responsible and respectful. 

I believe that schools are a great place every day for kids.  But too many students are missing too many school days. The COVID pandemic wreaked havoc on families, and their children’s schooling suffered. To build back student learning, it’s imperative we find effective ways to encourage kids to want to come to school. I pledge to support district staff - curriculum directors, building principals, teachers, educational assistants - to determine which school experiences, programs and teaching will generate compelling reasons for all our kids to come to school.