As an educator with 17 years of experience in Montessori early childhood centers and Head Start, a parent of two MPS students and a proud MPS graduate, I am committed to seeing our public schools thrive. I bring an independent voice, fresh perspective and willingness to build consensus with diverse stakeholders when making decisions about the future of our schools. My expertise as an early childhood educator, advocate and fellow at the MN Department of Human Services is a valuable perspective to have on the board as we think about strategic investments in student outcomes and increasing enrollment. My experience in effective governance, education finance & policy will ensure our district is always making decisions that put students first.
1. Literacy: We need to ensure effective implementation of an evidence-based curriculum, fully funded school library programs & remedial support for students in order for all students to succeed at school and in life.
2. Early Childhood Programming: Expanding our offerings is a strategic investment to improve student outcomes & increase enrollment.
3. Financial Sustainability: we need to spend our money wisely and also have a clear plan to increase revenue from the state and federal government.
We need our district to be honest and transparent about district finances & be in constant communication about the realities of our budget. I support the use of paticipatory budgeting, live-streaming and recording our finance committee meetings & partnering with school principals as ways to build trust in our budgeting process as a district. We also need measures of accountability that demonstrate that our investments are contributing to positive school experiences & student outcomes.
How we lead matters and as a board director, you can count on me to always show up, listen deeply and follow through. I will listen to diverse perspectives and seek to find common ground around our shared values as a district. We cannot use scare tactics, divisive rhetoric or draw lines in the sand about who we can and cannot talk to. This moment in MPS requires all of us to take ownership of the issues at hand and find ways to move forward together.
As an educator & parent, I know that collaboration between home & school is critical to meeting the needs of each student. As a board director, my mission is to ensure every family & teacher in this district has a public school they can be proud of. I will be proactive in my outreach & always accessible to families and educators so that they can see that I am a leader that is deeply invested in decision making that reflect their needs. It's not MY vision, but OUR vision I want moving us forward.
I’m the only candidate who is a licensed teacher and who has taught in the Minneapolis Public Schools (MPS). I’m also the DFL and labor-endorsed candidate. I grew up in District 6, my son is a recent MPS grad, and I’m the only candidate with experience in governance and leadership in MPS. I have spent my career as a teacher-leader; I’ve worked with superintendents and school boards, and followed the budget struggles. I want a thriving public school system and do not accept the managed decline of our public schools- they must succeed and grow. In addition to the full support and trust of MPS employees, my experience and qualifications will allow me to hit the ground running as a School Board member, and that is what District 6 deserves!
STRONG PUBLIC SCHOOLS-
1. Stabilize - people, programs, and pathways.
2. Retain current students and increase enrollment - through smaller class sizes, keeping promises, expanding programs like 5th grade band, world languages, and High Five. We need to educate the public about corporate ed reform and why we must choose public schools if we want a safe, healthy, well-educated Minneapolis.
3. Examine finances with a microscope, evaluating outside contracts and obtaining more funding at the State.
First, retain the families we have. This means we cannot make cuts closest to the kids or increase class sizes. That creates a vicious cycle of further decreasing enrollment and revenue. Simultaneously, work with legislators to fully fund our schools, and, frankly, we should all be protesting the fact that there are mandates in education that are not funded. We cannot cut our way to a world class district and, therefore, must center all plans on retaining, recruiting, and securing more funds.
Through co-creation. As a parent and teacher in this district, I’ve learned that respect and buy-in will happen when we are co-creating with those who are affected. I have opposed dangerous plans like the Comprehensive District Design. We were ignored and silenced by district leaders. The new board and superintendent are doing a much better job. I will continue being the bridge between the ground floor and the top of this district, while also being on record and voting as a school board member.
As former President of the Minneapolis Federation of Teachers, this area is where I feel most comfortable. Engagement looks like having authentic conversations and intentional meetings. It does not look like a “listening session” after the plan has been decided. I look forward to co-creating plans with students, families, and educators. I will also use email and social media to communicate. Not only do I have a lot of practice at this, but I have relationships in every building in the district.
