Initiatives and Issues

Facilities

Our schools are aging out. Our students and teachers face deteriorating classroom conditions: mold, roof leaks, falling ceiling tiles, rain flooded classrooms, broken/leaky lab pipes, streams of ants to name a few. Conditions we wouldn't tolerate in our homes. Conditions not conducive to student learning. As LUSD teachers my husband and I lived this; we saw the effects. The general fund cannot adequately address the needs of our aging schools infrastructure. A significant influx of monies is required. Therefore, I support:​

• The passage of Measure M

• Strong financial oversight and accountability

• Effective, safe, & secure school environments

• Elimination of wasteful expenditures 

The bond is an investment in our students, community, and future. The past is past. We need to look forward.​

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Wellness Support for All Students

Students increasingly face social-emotional and psychological issues. Families increasingly face challenges in providing food, clothing, and housing for their children. Our schools have needed to assume roles as never before to meet the expanding needs of our students. Many positive interventions have been instituted within our schools to address these needs; however, they often require students, teachers, and administrators to work out of their area of expertise. Therefore I support:

• Expanding ancillary services and personnel

• Streamlining processes and services

• Expanding community collaboration and coordination

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Hiring and Retaining Highly Qualified Teachers and Support Staff

Nationwide, those entering teacher preparation programs are significantly down. Teachers leaving the classrooms are significantly up. The beginning of each school year too often finds the district struggling to fill teaching positions. Too often students begin the school year with substitute teachers in their classes. Our students deserve highly qualified teachers who are committed to remaining with the district. Therefore I support:​

• Competitive salaries and benefits

• Improved quality teaching environments

• New pathways toward teacher certification

• Opportunities for teachers to seek meaningful professional development

• Partnerships to create affordable faculty and staff housing

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Equity and Inclusion

Our society and schools have become increasingly diverse. All students are not the same;  they don't all learn the same or live in the world the same. Too many students feel isolated and disenfranchised in our classrooms. Every student deserves a classroom that provides them with exactly what they need to survive regardless of race, gender, income level, or ability. Research has shown that everyone thrives when we bring together students of all abilities and give them appropriate instruction. Therefore I support:

• Curriculum relevance and equity that reflects the student population

• Expansions of student clubs and activities based on diverse student interests

• After-school programs

• Community partnerships for on-site activities

• ADA accessible school playgrounds

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High Expectations for Student Learning and Achievement

Education has become far more complex than fifty years ago - I've witnessed this myself.  Challenges to student learning have risen dramatically over the last few years. Though the basics remain the foundation of learning, it's no longer the simple mantra of Reading, Writing, 'Rithmetic. Education is a reflection of the demands of our changing society. Simple memorization of facts have yielded to the need for increased critical thinking. Therefore I support:

• Adoption of curriculum emphasizing problem solving

• Professional development for teachers that emphasizes how to build critical thinking skills in the classroom

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