KEY ISSUES
Budget
​I aim to address budget shortfalls and reassess funding priorities with a focus on fiscal responsibility. I will also commit to promoting positive, student-centered change. This includes increasing classroom-level support for teachers, expanding mental health resources, offering more electives, and rebuilding extracurricular programs.I will work to ensure funding is used effectively by creating efficient processes and applying data-driven decision-making, while striving to minimize any negative impact on our current teachers, classified staff, and available services. By taking both short-term and long-term approaches, we can focus on immediate needs like teacher retention, ASD viability, student enrollment, and community outreach, while also working to create additional revenue streams for sustainability. Balancing our budget through these measures is a simplified approach, but it can be tailored to the district's specific needs.
Enrollment
Declining enrollment is a paramount concern for the viability of the district. ASD has already made efforts to address this through meetings, interviews, special groups, and board discussion. In addition, Ashland families, including those who have decided to homeschool their children or enroll them elsewhere, have a wealth of ideas that can help improve enrollment. We need to crowdsource this information to understand the pain points within our district. Once we can consolidate this abundance of information, and have thoughtful discussions with decision makers, we can come up with innovative ideas to trend enrollment in a positive way.
Extracurricular Activities
Supporting and expanding our extracurricular activities will be a key priority during my time on the school board. Community feedback has highlighted a connection between declining district enrollment and the limited support for a diverse range of extracurricular programs. While inadequate funding remains a major challenge across the district, revitalizing these offerings will require strong partnerships—with community members, a strengthened PTA, and an empowered booster club. We'll need to think beyond traditional funding models and explore creative solutions to grow and sustain these programs.
Special Education Support
As a school board member, I would seek advice from teachers, instructional leaders, and students, including those in special education and ELL programs to understand the unique needs of all learners. I’d also engage with educational experts on best practices, to ensure our policies are equitable and inclusive. Collaboration with other board members and district leaders would help align instructional practices with the district’s commitment to accessibility while maintaining transparency in all decision-making processes.
Empowering All Students
I will strive to ensure that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) are not just values we talk about, but central principles that guide decisions we make as a district—including how we allocate resources, engage families, and support students and staff. This work begins with listening. I recognize that I don’t share the lived experiences of every student and family we serve, which makes it even more important to seek out, elevate, and center the voices of those from historically marginalized communities—because representation matters.
GOALS
Champion Community Collaboration
I've been reflecting on my time as an ASD student, recalling the strong parent and community connections that were in place. I remember the vibrant booster club, the PTA, local business sponsors and mentors, and the partnerships between teachers and local businesses for tours and internships. These connections played a key role in enriching the student experience, and I’m determined to rebuild and strengthen them. My goal is to find innovative and creative ways to engage the Ashland community in a way that reignites their passion for supporting our children. It’s not just about providing resources or raising funds—it's about cultivating a shared sense of responsibility and enthusiasm for the success of our students. I want to create opportunities for people across the community, from local businesses to organizations to individual mentors, to get involved and make a meaningful difference in the lives of students.
Prioritize Board Transparency and Accountability
Board members, like teachers and educational support personnel, hold a responsibility to the community and the students they serve, but their role is focused on governance and policy-making. They are ultimately accountable to a variety of stakeholders, including students, parents and families, teachers and staff, taxpayers, and the broader community. Each of these groups plays a vital role in shaping the educational experience, and board members must ensure that their decisions reflect the diverse needs and interests of all. As an example, there will be hard decisions in the coming months in an effort to balance our budget. I plan on being as open as I can. If the community shares in the struggle the schools are in it can offer support and collaborative assistance to foster solutions to our dilemma.
Support All Student's Education
I am especially focused on supporting all students, no matter their path after graduation. For those students heading to college, I want to ensure they have the guidance and resources to transition smoothly and succeed. At the same time, I recognize that many students may not be interested in a traditional college degree but may instead be seeking connections to trades or vocational opportunities. It’s essential that we create opportunities for all students to succeed, whether through apprenticeships, internships, or mentorships in the trades. Our community has a wealth of possible support systems to meet the diverse needs of our students. Tapping into available resources can increase parent/community involvement in our schools.