Accomplishments
In 2020, I made the following campaign promises. Since elected to office, I have taken action and kept my promises.
Creative Thinking.
If Covid has taught us anything, it is that everything can change in one moment. Now is not the time for yes or no questions and yes or no answers. Now is the time for researching and responding with data-driven decision-making.
The ability to ask the necessary questions and problem solve quickly was crucial to RUSD being one of the first in the state to safely re-open full-day five-days-a-week. I commit to continue to listen to parent and teacher concerns, ask the necessary questions, review the data and respond with creative solutions.
Community.
When school boards and city governments do not work together, students suffer. By sharing information and resources, we can increase student support while being fiscally prudent.
My participation on several city and county committees ensured we received accurate and timely information for informed decision making. By working directly with city officials, nonprofits and businesses, I increased student support while being fiscally prudent.
Fiscal Responsibility.
It’s important that we focus on the heart of RUSD, our students. It’s imperative that financial decisions moving forward focus on student support.
With aging buildings and a deficit budget, financial decisions focused on student support was critical. I took action to ensure our buildings are maintained regularly, negotiations with staff are positive, funds for our at-risk youth are protected and learning recovery is prioritized.
Teacher Support.
We invest in students by investing in our teachers. Teachers and administration working together will increase student achievement and develop innovative solutions.
By restructuring board study sessions to include round-table discussions directly with teachers and staff, both effectiveness and efficiency has increased in assessing and addressing student achievement.
Curriculum.
Positive parent involvement is directly proportional to student achievement; however, decisions made in previous years surrounding curriculum choice did not reflect a support of parent involvement.
Implementation of new board policy increased transparency in the curriculum development process requiring all courses, including electives, to be previewed publicly before approval. I commit to continue to listen to parent, teacher and community concerns.
Safety.
Students and staff have a right to attend schools that are free from violence, bullying and intimidation. I commit to work with students, parents, community residents and law enforcement to collaborate on school safety issues.
I prioritized funding for on campus safety resource officers and the hiring of additional social workers. By working directly with concerned community members, parents, city officials and law enforcement, we brought community awareness and education to issues such as teen vaping and fentanyl use.