D20 has a wonderful cadre of dedicated teachers and administrators who truly care about the children they serve. However, behavioral disruptions in the classroom are causing widespread problems. Teachers need support and solutions in managing these difficult situations. D20 schools should be phone free and teachers given effective professional development that supports high academic levels. While there is some growth in academic areas, I would like to see more rapid and ubiquitous growth in key reading and math indicators. I also want to see political agendas removed from classroom culture and content.

School budget dollars should be kept as close to the classroom and our academic goals as possible. I want to look at ways to save money by consolidating some curriculum across the district or certainly within school strands. We need to make sure monies spent are in alignment with district values and goals. Making sure we ask the “why” about a budget item is important to gauging the “how much” or “how soon” of the item.

It is clear smart phone use (and related devices) within the school day is harmful to student success. It impedes focus needed for student learning and teacher instruction, and interferes with relationship development. We become complicit with poor mental health and development as we continue to allow their use. Schools need to be phone free. AI is a powerful yet flawed tool that is not going away. Students should be taught how to use it, but also do work in class that is independent from AI use. We want students to develop a love for learning and good critical thinking skills with baseline knowledge they own.

Parents are a child’s first teacher. In fact, strong parental involvement in education is linked with higher student achievement, better attendance, stronger motivation, and improved behavior. Not only do we want our parents there, they have the right to be involved in the schools and to know what their kids are being taught. Schools and parents are partners in education. No information about a child should be withheld from their parents except in cases of suspected abuse which should be reported to appropriate authorities.

Our district’s greatest strengths are our dedicated teachers, staff, and engaged families. These partnerships form a strong foundation for student success. Like many districts, we face challenges in academic achievement, fiscal management, student behavior, and staff retention. Addressing these issues requires balancing accountability with meaningful support, aligning policies with federal executive orders, respecting state law, and protecting local decision-making. I am committed to raising academic standards, enforcing consistent and fair discipline, and ensuring educators have the resources and support they need to stay and thrive. By prioritizing high- quality teaching, strong community involvement, and sound policy, we can build on our strengths while directly confronting the challenges ahead.

As School Board members, we are entrusted with millions of taxpayer dollars, and our responsibility is to maximize the return on that investment for students and families. I will prioritize spending that supports teachers, strengthens staff retention, and enhances classroom instruction. Eliminating waste and holding the district accountable for results are key to building trust. Funds should be directed to safe, well-maintained facilities, up-to-date learning materials, and programs that improve academic performance. Every financial decision must be made with transparency and with the goal of advancing student achievement. I will ensure taxpayer dollars are used wisely to support the classroom first, because when teachers and students succeed, our community thrives.

Technology is a valuable tool in education, but balance is critical. Cell phones should not disrupt learning, and I support policies that limit their use during instructional time while allowing responsible access when appropriate. Artificial intelligence and digital tools can enhance instruction but must be implemented thoughtfully to protect student privacy and promote critical thinking. Students should learn to use technology as a resource, not a crutch. Teachers need support and training to integrate technology effectively, and parents deserve transparency around its use. Ultimately, technology should supplement strong teaching and human connection, not replace them. Education is built on relationships, not just screens.

Parents are the primary stakeholders in their children’s education, and schools must partner with them, not replace them. Parents have the right to know what is being taught in classrooms and to be informed about their child’s progress and well-being. No information should be withheld from parents unless there is an immediate safety concern requiring professional intervention. Transparency and respect for parental authority build trust and ensure students receive consistent guidance both at home and at school. When families and schools work together, students thrive academically, socially, and emotionally. The parent-school partnership is vital to a strong education system, and I am committed to strengthening that bond.

Our D20 schools have been accredited with distinction for 17 years and that is a strength that we want to maintain. However, I believe that the academic state of our district is nowhere near the quality that I know it can be. Our students have a reported reading proficiency rate of 61% and 51% math proficiency and there is a lot of room for improvement. I think we can accomplish this by ensuring that we are using evidence-based practices such as using Science of Reading curriculum and more emphasis on training math instruction. Our district would also benefit from identifying efficiency measures so that more resources can be used to attract teaching talent.

The first thing I would like to do is take an audit on overhead expenditures. Our costs continue to bloat and at the same time, D20 has had to manage having low funding. The result has been to pass on more costs to our educators. I think we can prioritize funding on evidence-based curriculum and professional development aligned with that goal. An additional priority is physical safety and grounds maintenance. I have seen the same broken stalls in the bathrooms for 3 years and I am confident there is more that is in need of prioritization. Clean, functioning, safe schools promote a healthy learning environment.

I have been following the evidence on this topic and it has been clear that our students benefit from less time on their phones. I believe that a policy of no phone use during the school day would improve academic performance as well as social interactions. Artificial intelligence is going to be a key technology in the future. Our students should be introduced to it as well as learn how to use it effectively. In regards to academic work, I think it would be a benefit to teach our students cursive writing again and to have more paper tests to ensure that knowledge is acquired and reduce temptation to use AI for assignments.

I believe parents are the first educator of our students and the cornerstone of their moral development. I consider it important to make every effort to include parents in all key decisions associated with their child entrusted in our care. I believe that we do not co-parent with the government and that it is a responsibility to ensure that trust is not taken lightly. I do not think information regarding the student should be withheld from parents unless there is credible risk of harm. In those situations, Child Welfare services ought to be contacted rather than school officials withholding information from parents