Personal Biography
I moved to Wichita when I was a kid. I attended Buckner Elementary, Brooks Middle, and Heights High School. I am in my 29th year as a teacher at Wichita State. I am the Director of the School of Communication and served as the Director of Debate for 20 years.
Education
B.S., Political Science, Missouri State University, Ph.D., Communication Studies, University of Kansas
Community/Public Service
8+ years on the Maize Board of Education, including 4 years as President
I served more than 8 years on the Board of Education for Maize USD 266 (2015-2023), including 4 years as the President. Not only did this help me understand the importance of public education, but it helped me understand the valuable ways in which the State Board can work to support local school districts to improve achievement for students. I am the product of public education in Wichita, attending Buckner Elementary, Brooks Middle School, and Heights High School. Both of my daughters attended school in Maize k-12. I am in my 29th year teaching at Wichita State University. I currently serve as the Director of the School of Communication where I teach classes in persuasion and argumentation.
The three most pressing issues facing Kansas schools that the State Board can address are providing stable funding, attracting/retaining qualified teachers and staff, and achievement. While the Legislature appropriates the funds, there is an important role for the Board in advocating for stable funding. The current funding formula finally meets the minimum required by the state constitution. I strongly support extending the formula to provide stability to school districts. In addition, I strongly oppose vouchers and other efforts to divert public funds from public schools. As a Board member, I will advocate for stable funding and against vouchers. I will advocate for the profession of teaching and for all those who work in our schools.
There are many factors that are necessary for students to be successful in the classroom. We have excellent teachers and staff, though we have a critical shortage. But, it is more complicated. Calls for teachers to simply "focus on reading and math" ignore the significant challenges facing teachers today, including poverty and the lack of basic necessities such as food and health care. Social media makes teaching more difficult. Teachers must deal with behavioral challenges. Students suffer from social and emotional wellness issues, including alarming rates of mental health issues. Our teachers/staff are amazing, but teaching today requires attention to so many issues. We must provides schools with resources to address all of these issues.
The State Board has an important advocacy role related to adequate funding. While the Legislature funds public schools, the Board must take an active role in shaping the conversation around the need for appropriate funding. The current funding formula is good, but it will expire in 2027. The next Board will have an important role in advocating for the extension of the formula (along with modest changes to support districts with declining enrollment). This will provide the stability needed for our schools so they can be effective. Funding uncertainty undermines the quality of education. It also is important to reject calls for vouchers which will reduce public funding for our most important public institution.
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Personal Biography
Born Wichita, KS and educated in both rural & urban schools. Farmed & ranched in Greenwood County. Chickasaw speaker & writer. Lectured seventeen years in academic flight training for the US Air Force.
Education
Attended Washington U. St. Louis, U. Missouri, and graduated with Bachelor's, Master's, degrees from Wichita State U. with a further graduate degree in Safety Management & Toxicology from Massey University of New Zealand. Completed all requirements for Ph.D. in Industrial Engineering 1996 from Wichita State U.
Community/Public Service
Director Environmental Quality Services for Wichita-Sedgwick County, Continue to work for Environmental Justice action through Kansas Sierra Club and Kansas Green Party. Served a term as Mayor of Longton KS (USD 283) and brought recycling as County -wide policy and successfully promoted for renewable energy projects in SE Kansas. Currently delivers for a local food bank and is a lobbyist for clean energy and social justice in Topeka.
Funding is the most important issue. I am offering to instruct how School Boards can partner with Rural Electrical Cooperatives to develop renewable energy production and aggregate sale of the excess electrical production (Generation 180). Thus, my campaign is "Solar for all Schools". Ten percent of all public schools in the US now are powered by their own renewable electrical production with a growing number of them being engaged in demand response markets.
Diversity accommodation in education.
Safety improvement within operations of public schools.
Desensitization of cultural stereotypes within schools.
Again, sufficient funding can address the above by exposure to various populations not heretofore know by the teacher/learner/ staff personnel. field trips, hosting dynamic speakers, performers, lecturing on topics of inspiration.
Motivation on an individual basis. "Kansas Can" policy is presently addressing this approach. Attendance is vital and involvement must reach out to all.
Self-funding is being accomplished by revenue gain through renewable energy production from schools' rooftops, open spaces, and community production as well. Electric battery-powered school buses hold storage so as to optimized revenue through time-of-use.
