Four priorities. One commitment.

Today’s students are navigating challenges that previous generations never faced — pandemic recovery, technology overuse, and social isolation. Their mental health must be a central focus moving forward.

Academic excellence has to go hand-in-hand with emotional well-being. Students who don’t feel safe, seen, and supported cannot learn at their best — no matter how strong our curriculum is.

I will push for policies and resources that make mental-health support a normal, accessible part of the school day, and that recognize today’s classrooms have to evolve to reflect today’s students.

Having spent 15 years inside the classroom — including years at Agua Caliente Elementary and Emily Gray Jr. High — I understand what makes our teachers feel valued, and what leaves them burned out.

Funds must be allocated in a way that gives our teachers the support and resources they need to succeed, even as state and federal budgets are slashed. That means protecting classroom resources, listening before deciding, and making sure board-level choices reflect the reality of the work teachers actually do.

I’ll bring that classroom perspective to every vote, and I’ll keep talking with teachers directly — not just at scheduled meetings.

Perspectives and challenges change over time. What won’t change is my commitment to talking with teachers, students, and parents — and to listen, really listen, to what they have to say.

That listening has to translate into transparency: clear communication about the choices the board makes, the reasoning behind them, and the trade-offs involved. Families should never have to guess what’s happening with their schools.

I’ll bring a perspective shaped by years on every side of the classroom — teacher, parent, community member — and a commitment to making sure every decision is one I can explain to the families it affects.

It would be a privilege to serve a district that holds an “A” rating — a testament to the hard work of our students, teachers, staff, and families. But being an “A” district doesn’t mean our work is done. It means we have the foundation to reach even higher.

Academic excellence must go hand-in-hand with emotional well-being, equitable access to opportunity, and meaningful engagement between schools and families. I’m running to ensure that all of our students and educators — no matter their background — feel supported, challenged, and prepared for life beyond the classroom.

I believe in this district, and I believe we can keep growing with transparency, compassion, and accountability.