Previous Offices Held
I ran for school board last year. I have never held a public office.
Top Three Priorities
My top three priorities are the budget, teacher retention and student achievement. We need to make sure taxpayer money is being spent wisely while still protecting what matters most in the classroom. We need to support our teachers, improve working conditions, and make sure RSU 14 can attract and keep good educators. Student achievement is also important. We need to prepare our children to become successful, productive adults who can compete in the real world.
Why are you running?
I am running for the same reasons as last year. I love this community and want to give back. I want every child to have the chance to thrive. As a parent of two students in the district and someone shaped by my own challenges, I bring compassion, perspective, and resilience. I’ll listen, stay open-minded, and put students first while considering the families, teachers and taxpayers.
What is the biggest challenge facing your area’s schools? The biggest opportunity?
I think one of the biggest challenges is figuring out how to do more with the money we have. We all want the best for our kids, but we also have to be realistic about the budget and make sure we’re spending money where it really matters. I also think there’s a huge opportunity to focus on our teachers. We have a lot of really good teachers, and I think finding ways to support them and keep them here is important. When we have happy, supported teachers, our kids benefit from that too.
A top issue for many parents is the age of Maine’s school infrastructure. How would you address this issue locally from your position on the school board?
I honestly don’t see this as one of our biggest concerns right now. We just made a huge investment in a new middle school, so I think we’ve taken a big step in addressing our infrastructure needs. That doesn’t mean we should ignore our other buildings. We need to keep up with maintenance, fix problems before they get bigger, and plan ahead. We spent $156 million on a middle school, and now we need to take care of what we have.
Do you think the state government is too involved in local schooling? Not involved enough? The right amount of involved? Explain your answer.
I don’t think the government is too involved in schooling. When you choose public school, there are going to be certain rules, policies, and standards that come with that. I think parents absolutely have a right to ask questions and voice their concerns, but we also have to understand that public schools have certain guidelines they have to follow and a way they have to operate. I think it’s important to listen to parents while also understanding that.