I have lived in Hamilton County for 17 years. I moved from North Nashville to Chattanooga to attend UTC and fell in love with the area.
The biggest challenge I expect to face if elected is effectively balancing my duties on the school board with my responsibilities as a small business owner, a wife, and a mother of school-aged children.
I believe I am the most qualified candidate for this office because of my experience counseling children and families throughout Hamilton County. I understand how to support and empower individual students while also respecting the vital role families play as their first teachers and primary decision-makers in their children’s education.
I bring a balanced, thoughtful perspective and am skilled at seeing issues from multiple angles, which allows me to help bridge divides and build consensus among differing viewpoints. As a parent of students currently in Hamilton County schools, I am directly impacted by the board’s decisions and deeply invested in their outcomes.
In addition, my experience as a small business owner has given me a strong foundation in budgeting, financial responsibility, and strategic decision-making. Living and working alongside other Hamilton County families, I have a clear understanding of what our community wants and needs from its schools.
I have lived in Hamilton County for nearly my entire life. As a Chattanooga native, I've built my career, raised my family, and dedicated my service to this community for decades.
The greatest challenge will be helping move important work forward in an environment where education has become increasingly polarized. Students, teachers, and families deserve thoughtful leadership that focuses on solving problems rather than scoring political points.
As an Independent, I understand that I won't agree with everyone all the time, and that's okay. My commitment is to listen well, ask good questions, make decisions based on facts and what's best for students, and work respectfully with colleagues who may have different perspectives.
Hamilton County faces real challenges—from supporting and retaining excellent teachers to maintaining safe schools, improving student outcomes, and being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars
I bring a unique combination of leadership, governance, education, and real-world experience to this role. For more than 20 years, I've worked with children, youth, and families as a social worker, life skills teacher, foster parent trainer, nonprofit founder, and community leader.
As a mother of six—including three adopted through foster care—I've experienced education from multiple perspectives. My children have attended public, charter, private, homeschool, and dual enrollment programs, giving me a broad understanding of the diverse needs of students and families.
As Board President of Ivy Academy, I've helped oversee budgets, policy, strategic planning, facilities, and accountability—experience that directly prepares me for the responsibilities of serving on the School Board.
I listen well, collaborate effectively, make decisions based on facts, and remain focused on what is best for students, families, teachers, and our community.
I moved to Chattanooga in the summer of 2020 to join the psychology department at UTC and have since made Hamilton County my home.
The greatest challenge will be helping our schools succeed in a funding environment where public dollars are increasingly being diverted away from public education. When funding is reduced or redirected, schools are asked to do more with less, which affects staffing, class sizes, and access to supports like mental health services and extracurricular programs.
Research consistently shows that sustained investment in public education improves student achievement and long-term outcomes, especially for students in under-resourced communities. My role will be to advocate for strong public schools, ensure transparent budgeting, and work with our community and state leaders to keep resources focused on the students who rely on our public system.
I am both a product of and a believer in public education. I graduated from public schools and was the first in my family to attend and complete college. That experience shaped my commitment to ensuring every student has access to the same opportunities.
Professionally, I hold a doctorate in developmental psychology and have 15 years of experience as an educator at public universities. I teach courses in child development, statistics, and research methods, and I train educators nationwide on evidence-based practices that improve student outcomes and career readiness.
I’m running because I care. I cared when mental health services were removed from 2,500 students without a plan. I spoke out, showed up, and did the work to run for this role—and I will bring that same commitment to our children.
