Priorities
If elected, my top priorities would be:
- Continue the work with families to maintain schools that are welcoming and help all kids thrive.
- Advocate for Lawrence schools and community, especially when it comes to educational policy.
- Sustain Lawrence's efforts to attract and retain exceptional educators and leaders.
Areas of Attention
I am focused on educational equity. I want exceptional schools, serving kids well, in every corner of the district. MSDLT has professionals on the ground making this happen every day, but the Board has a critical role to play, too.
I’m focused on district finances, school and district personnel, and meeting the needs of the community.
Finances
Finances: We need attention on finances and education legislation. These are uncertain times for school funding, especially with the passage of SEA1 Property Tax Bill. I feel fortunate to be in a district that has prioritized its fiscal health – relative to many, many other districts around Lawrence, this has helped us stave off cuts to the teacher workforce and not have to ask residents to pay more via an operating referendum.
Specifically, we need to continue to manage our resources wisely so that we can continue to allocate them responsibly and ensure thriving schools. We need to continue to make fiscal health a priority. And, we need to advocate to elected officials to monitor and address shortcomings in funding to school districts and municipalities.
Personnel
Personnel: We need attention on personnel. We need Lawrence Township to continue to be a place where teachers and leaders want to come and stay. Indiana has been experiencing an intense teacher shortage over the past 6-7 years, and I am happy that Lawrence has been leading the way in building their bench, building a pipeline of new teachers and leaders FROM the community that understand our children and families. Community-focused teachers are essential for educational equity.
Specifically, we need to keep working collaboratively - internally and externally - to retain talented teachers and leaders. We should keep working to acquire funds to maintain our pipeline of teachers and leaders.
Being responsive to the community
Being Responsive to the Community: We need to know if we’re meeting the needs of the community. That goes for teachers, students, families, and community partners. We have benefited from others’ bold moves in the past – such as the nation-leading dual language program, the investment in the performing arts and athletics, and expansive and top-notch early childhood and career/technical education offerings.
Specifically and critically, we need to get out ahead of the next wave, continuing to lead with bold programming for the future!