Issues

Why am I running:

In 2020, I ran for school board to increase transparency, accountability and safety. As an incumbent, I am running on these same issues because our work is far from over.

Transparency:

At the Board table, we rarely have to make decisions that are easy, however, I believe these decisions need to happen with the input & guidance of the people that are going to be impacted by them–students, families, staff. This is why I helped push the Board and District to solicit feedback from our school community in a variety of ways. With 36 different languages spoken within our halls, it was important to make sure that everyone’s hopes and concerns were heard.

  • In all governance, I believe we should be asking:
    Who is here?
  • Who isn’t here and why aren’t they here?
  • How can we make sure everyone’s voices are heard?

Accountability:
As a School Board Member, I believe in being present and available to all. As a frequent and steady volunteer in our schools, I have always solicited and welcomed feedback. As a therapist, I’m trained to listen and as a social worker, I’m trained to act. And as your school board member, I work hard to bring both of those traits to every interaction I have. Our schools don’t exist in a vacuum and I believe that we all do better when we work together. I believe the school district motto of “All belong, all succeed”, is not aspirational–it is a solemn promise that we make together.

I believe that the key to success is open communication and involvement.

I will continue to reach out and also be open to all feedback.

Safety:

When former Columbia Heights Police Chief Lenny Austin pulled the School Resource Officer (SRO) contract from our school district, it provided the school district and city to really look at how to best support physical safety in our schools. I pushed to have open discussions about the use of our police officers. Over a number of months, our Board and District collaborated with Police Chief Markam, the Mayor, and the City Council, as well as students, staff, and families to ensure that we incorporated evidence based supports to keep our schools safe.

Additionally, the pandemic has shown us that safety also needs to include mental health. I have been a tireless advocate for making sure everyone who walks through our doors–students, families and staff, have access to services that provide for their mental health and wellness. That includes supporting collaborations with agencies such as the Sanneh Foundation which provides youth empowerment while focusing on the importance of community.

As your school board member, I will continue to:

  • Support continued investment in our buildings to make sure the physical space is safe.
  • Fight for increased school supports to make sure our students & families thrive.
  • Advocate for increased investment in our students’ physical & mental health needs.