The Issues

I believe that a strong public education system is beneficial to the entire community, not just students. Strong public education helps cultivate engaged citizens who contribute positively to our community. Public schools bring together students from diverse backgrounds, fostering understanding, respect, and empathy among different groups. 

 

If elected, I promise that I will be responsible to members of the community, sensitive to the diverse needs of all learners, and an advocate of all students and learning. 

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Policy 

​The School Committee must ensure that policies are aligned with the district's vision, address diverse student needs, promote collaboration between stakeholders, and are regularly reviewed and updated based on data and community feedback. Policies with a particular focus include ensuring we have policies that are inclusive and equitable to all members of the SPS community. For example, the 2022 SPS external equity audit recommended that SPS modify practices to create a more hospitable and supportive environment. The School Committee should act on these third-party recommendations. I would be in support of creating a Transgender and Gender Non-conforming Policy. I also support reviewing and revising the SPS mission statement to ensure it reflects our current values, practices, and commitment to inclusion and equality for all learners. 

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Budget

​Sustainable budgeting is critical to achieving academic excellence and meeting the needs of all its learners. The budgeting process should be comprehensive and responsive, ensuring long-term financial health and alignment with educational goals. 

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To enhance our budgeting process we should focus on: 

 

• Transparency: Clearly communicate how funds are allocated and spent. Enhance transparency regarding the allocation and spending of Circuit Breaker funds, keeping the community informed about financial decisions. 

• Accountability: Establish mechanisms to hold administrators responsible for budget management. 

• Flexibility: Adapt to changing needs throughout the fiscal year. 

• Equity: Distribute resources fairly to meet the diverse needs of all students. 

• Alignment with Goals: Ensure the budget reflects the district's educational priorities. 

• Data-Driven Budgeting: Ensure the budget is forward-looking, informed by new data and insights, rather than solely based on historical information, to make more effective decisions. 

• Contingency Planning: Implement robust contingency planning to address potential risks, such as the loss of federal grants, ensuring financial stability. ​

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By improving these areas, we can create a more sustainable funding model for our schools and better serve our students. Together, we can work towards a budget that truly supports the educational mission of our district. 

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Supporting All Learners

​I am committed to ensuring that every student -- regardless of background, learning style, or ability -- has the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed. 

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I am in support of the School Committee creating a working group in FY26 to review and study class sizes, to update and further build on the work performed by the 2016 School Committee. Currently, there are 14 classrooms over class size guidelines. At a School Committee meeting this past fall, the principals of each school discussed class sizes and suggested that class size determinations be based on the student needs of each specific grade level/cohort. With the needs of students increasing, it is time we review our guidelines to ensure we are meeting the needs of all students and making sure teachers have the time they need for sufficient planning to support students appropriately.

 

I also am in support of and will encourage universal design of curriculum to ensure all students, regardless of their abilities, learning styles, or disabilities, can access and engage with educational content, promoting equity and maximizing  learning potential by providing flexible options for how students perceive information, interact with it, and demonstrate their understanding. Research shows that diverse and inclusive schools lead to better academic performance of all students. When students see themselves represented in the curriculum and feel included, they are more likely to engage actively and achieve higher academic results. ​​

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Curriculum

Research shows that schools with regularly updated curricula see improved student performance and engagement, as materials become better aligned with students' interests and learning needs. Frequent updates also create valuable opportunities for professional development, allowing teachers to adopt innovative strategies that enhance their instructional practices. The fact that it will have taken six years to roll out an ELA curriculum in the elementary school is not acceptable. If elected, I will advocate for curricula to be reviewed every three years with both an internal and external review. It has taken far too long for there to be a review of the elementary school's world language. I would be in support of a working group on how the district can support the integration of project- based learning to boost student engagement and critical thinking. I will also strongly recommend the district do an external and internal review of middle school math and middle school ELA curriculum so SPS can adopt high quality instructional materials to improve student performance. 

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Communication

​Communication is the centerpiece for an effective School Committees and is the foundation that will nurture a climate conducive of growth. Open dialogue is crucial for making information decisions that reflect our community's needs and interests. I support hybrid and remote meetings to enable remote participation from our community and School Committee members.  I will also advocate for creating accessible channels for gathering community input and providing information about our work. I am dedicated to fostering a more inclusive and transparent School Committee that actively engages with our community. 

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Collective Bargaining

​Every student deserves high-quality education in a safe and healthy school environment that supports all aspects of learning. Teachers, nurses, and education support professional have a great impact on student outcomes. ​

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Our teachers, education support professionals, and nurses have a great impact on student outcomes, and their dedication is essential to the success and well-being of our students. With all three contracts coming up for renewal, it's more important than ever to engage in a transparent, collaborative, and fair collective bargaining process. I will always have the best interest of our students at hand and will bargain as expeditiously as possible so everyone working at SPS feels valued while maintaining fiscal responsibility for our community. 

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Want to connect?  

I would love to meet you and hear what is important to you. 

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I am hosting Candidate Coffee Chats so I can learn what issues matter most to you and will be attending the LWV's and SPS SEPAC's forums. I hope you can use these opportunities to learn more about my platform and so I can learn what is most important to you about our schools. If you cannot attend, I am happy to schedule a Zoom chat. 

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Would you like to host a yard sign or Zoom chat? 

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