The Dexter Community School Board of Education consists of 7 trustees who are elected Dexter residents. The school board ensures the mission and goals of
the district are met through formulating policy, which is its primary
function. The board appoints and guides the superintendent, reviews and
approves the district operating budget, and negotiates and approves
employee bargaining unit contracts. Trustees relay educational issues
to their constituency to gain input and support necessary to effectively
operate the district. Members serve a six-year
term.
DISTRICT
Dexter
Number of years as resident
20
Currently Dexter’s Board School Board President, I have served for over six years after being appointed (and elected soon after) in 2020. I have experience on every board committee—Finance, Policy, Facilities, and Negotiations—and represented Dexter at the Washtenaw Association of School Boards for nearly four years. Having earned a BA in Psychology and an MSW from the University of Michigan, I bring a strong understanding of human behavior, group process, advocacy, leadership, and communication to my work. I also have committed to ongoing professional development, and I’ve earned a Certified Board Member designation and a Level 3 Award of Distinction from the Michigan Association of School Boards.
Dexter must continue to invest in strong teachers, develop innovative learning programs, maintain quality buildings and resources, and expand our definition of what type of life preparation schools can extend to our children. A high-quality educational program must include pathways for many different types of learners to succeed. It must offer career-related learning, robust academic programs and opportunities, and provide personal, supportive mentoring and connections. Dexter has traditionally had a strong culture of supporting these types of programs and objectives, and I hope to further reinforce that approach in the years to come.
I will continue to support efforts to offer personalized learning opportunities for all students. The Board must work collaboratively with district administration to understand student achievement reports and support data-driven interventions. In today’s rapidly evolving educational landscape, balancing our long-held responsibilities with our obligation to respond thoughtfully to new educational technology and artificial intelligence is a priority. Any discussion of student achievement, though, should ultimately focus on supporting the physical, social, emotional, and academic needs of the child. As a trained social worker, I recognize the importance of employing adequate numbers of social workers and counseling staff in our schools.
A public school district’s budget has always been highly volatile. Irrespective of the exact funds we have available, my focus on preserving the educational experience of our students will guide my decisions. The vast majority of a school district’s budget is spent on school personnel: the valued community members that are entrusted with our children each day, that both teach the curricula and encourage the social development of our youth. I will continue to prioritize budget items that attract talented educators to our community, provide top-tier academic offerings, and ensure that all students have access to a learning pathway that effectively prepares them for adulthood.
Delivering a world-class education with finite financial resources will always remain one of the greatest challenges a public school system faces. Success in managing this issue will require the Board to carefully oversee the district’s budget and lobby for increased funding from the state government. Furthermore, decreased trust in governmental bodies and societal institutions are putting a great deal of stress on our educational system. During my time on the Board, I have approached conversations about difficult topics with curiosity and openness, doing so with the understanding that hearing all of the voices in our community is an essential component of reaching decisions that are in the best interest of students.
DISTRICT
Dexter
Number of years as resident
15
My family moved to Dexter in 2011 and at that time I started serving on Dexter Community Schools (DCS) parent/teacher organization groups. I joined the Educational Foundation of Dexter (EFD) board in 2016, and served as the foundation president from 2019-2022. In this role, I successfully led efforts to fund enhanced educational experiences and programs that sit outside the traditional operating budget, directly impacting student enrichment. In 2022, I joined the Michigan Education Foundation (MEF) board, where I recently served as the foundation’s administrator. If elected, I would bring over a decade of board service experience to the Dexter Board of Education with local and statewide perspective from public school education foundations.
My goal is to represent the community and support student success. As a new school board member, one of my immediate priorities will be enrolling in the Michigan Association of School Boards (MASB) certification classes. These classes will enable me to develop skills regarding board governance, policy and effective oversight.
As a mom of two Dexter graduates, I know firsthand that student achievement means something different for each unique learner. Truly, student achievement means that each graduate leaves Dexter High School prepared to achieve their post-graduate goals, whether that involves a 4-year college, community college, trade/vocational school or entering the workforce. Dexter schools are currently expanding their diverse learning pathways to help each student prepare for their futures, including programs such as Dexter Dual Enrollment, Career & Technical Education, and Alternative Education High School to name a few.
My primary budget priorities are to maintain a fiscally responsible district budget that supports student success and classroom excellence. Efficiently managed districts are able to be vigilant about class teacher/student ratios, adequately staffed and resourced classrooms, and well compensated staff. In 2025, the Dexter community voted to approve the School Improvement Bond, seeing the need to continue investing in our school district. A priority for the school board is bond oversight to ensure that project goals are met and stay on budget as it continues through its phases while keeping the community informed.
If elected, my priority is to listen and collaborate with fellow school board members, staff and families about challenges that they feel are impacting Dexter Community Schools. One of the current challenges affecting the district is appropriate use of technology in the classroom. Teachers are essential in instructing students on appropriate guidelines around technology, such as AI, to use as a tool to enhance learning. DCS is fortunate to have their own district-built AI server, DEEDEE. According to the district website, it allows “teachers to have the ability to dictate AI use on any and all activities and assignments.”
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