I have deep roots in FCSD#2 - first as a student, graduating in 1979, then as an educator retiring after 34 years in 2022. I have continued to stay active in the issues and proceedings of the district. As the past Activities Director, I was a regular at the school board meetings and understand the workings and procedures involved in being a board member. I have a earnest care and interest in the quality of education offered in our community.
We have to be diligent in hiring and retaining quality staff members. The students are the focal point of all that happens in the district however, without a staff who has the knowledge and pedagogy to educate it's hard to accomplish high expectations.
The staff does a great job of caring for kids on on individual level and I want to see that continued. We also need to develop curriculum that is engaging. Small school education is so hard because we are strapped funding wise. We don't have the resources to offer a huge variety of classes so we have to be really creative in what we can offer. The community helps as much as they can but our seasonal economy makes it a challenge to offer a lot of school to work initiatives.
AI is inevitable - and I think it's a very slippery slope. Keeping abreast of the changes in AI will be paramount while keeping an eye on what works best for staff and students. We all have to learn to be better consumers of electronic media and learning to differentiate what is real and worth using will be the challenge. There are a myriad of great applications for using AI, figuring out how that fits into education, without compromising individual effort and creativity is going to be our task at hand.
Currently the board needs to focus on being more transparent with all stakeholders. There is a lack of trust between the board and the community and according to the district survey - staff morale sits at 40% - that has to change. No one wants to work in an environment where trust and respect are lacking. I also believe parents have to be held accountable for student behavior. The teachers are there to educated and foster learning, not deal with parents who have neglected to set boundaries and expectations for their children. There have to be consequences.
Campaign Phone
515-321-2723
Leadership and accountability are two attributes that I will bring to the FCSD#2 Board. As a nurse with nearly 30 years of experience in critical care, flight, education and leadership, I am accustomed to making difficult decisions, asking hard questions and expecting high standards. As a co-owner of a successful small business, I also understand the responsibility of fiscal stewardship.
I am running because Dubois students deserve every opportunity to succeed. I believe in high expectations and never settling for "good enough" when we are capable of more.
Equity should mean every student has access to the opportunities and support needed to reach their potential--not lowering expectations. I believe that we should strengthen academic rigor, expand access to fine arts, music, CTE and evaluate our current schedule to see what changes might be needed to achieve this.
As a Board we must also be accountable for student outcomes. Living in Dubois should never mean fewer doors are open to our students. Every decision should move us toward greater opportunity for our students.
Dubois High School's 92% graduation rate exceeds the state average, but graduation is only part of the goal. A diploma should represent readiness for what comes next. We must maintain high academic expectations, and work on expanding CTE, dual-credit, work based learning and build partnerships with employers, colleges and the military. Every student should graduate with a plan and the skills to pursue it. Success is graduating students who are prepared, capable and ready for their next step.
AI is a part of the world that our students will enter, as a school we have a responsibility to teach them how to use it effectively, ethically and responsibly. It can enhance instruction and help prepare students for college and the workforce. However, it should be used to support education, it does not replace the human relationship between student and teacher. Critical thinking, foundational skills, creativity and academic integrity must remain priorities. We need to prepare student to use AI as a tool that supports not replaces quality teaching.
My priorities will be academic excellence, stable leadership, transparency and responsible stewardship for taxpayer dollars. After a few years of administrative turnover, we need consistency, clear expectations and accountability at every level. We need to rebuild trust with open communication and ensure that programs including Adult Education, are of value to our community. Above all, every decision should answer this question: Does this improve opportunities and outcomes for our students? Our students, staff and community deserve excellence.
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