Before moving to Jackson, I served on the Gull Lake Community Schools Board of Education for 22 years. During those years I chaired the following committees: Negotiations/Personnel, Community Relations, Finance, 2018 Facilities Bond and served on the Curriculum Committee. I also served as Board VP, Secretary and Treasurer.
In my professional career I was hired to launch Communities In Schools of Michigan, the State- level affiliate of the largest and most effective dropout prevention organization in the nation. I also served as CEO of the Kalamazoo County Poverty Reduction Initiative. Prior to those experiences I was a retail business owner for over 25 years in Richland, Portage and Lansing.
My top priorities are to support parents and staff in facilitating growth for students in all areas of learning. This includes reading skills, math skills as well as other areas of study which promote critical thinking skills and a deep understanding of the responsibilities of good citizenship. A well- rounded learning experience also includes the arts and physical education. I believe in a student/child focused learning environment which promotes academic rigor as well as support for challenged learners and social/emotional development.
If funding is decreased at the State level, it is important to prioritize the classroom, including retention and compensation of staff, followed by maintaining the facilities provided by taxpayers. All members of the school community need to be included in discussions about budget cuts including staff the public, and the Board. Ultimately the Board must make the difficult decisions. Alternative revenue enhancements should also be considered.
To ensure a welcoming environment for students and families, meaningful two- way communication should be initiated by the District. This includes emails and phone calls, and whenever possible, scheduled classroom visits should be available at appropriate times. Staff should be encouraged to be visible at School and community events when possible. The engagement of parents/guardians in school volunteer opportunities should be strongly encouraged.
The use of age-appropriate technology in learning is important. The district community needs to be vigilant about the impact and risks of social media. The use of AI and other forms of web assisted tools should be used appropriately, with the full knowledge of staff and parents. They should not replace critical thinking or research skills. Agreed upon norms should be adopted by the district to ensure a collective understanding of when, where and how these tools are used.
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