I have been an educator for 42 years, serving as a teacher, a principal, and a district administrator. I know the issues that schools face on a daily basis because of my daily experience in schools. I have served on many state and local committees and organizations throughout my career. I have worked in small schools as well as one of the largest school systems in Southeast Kansas. I have lived and worked in communities in District 9 most of my life. I know and understand the challenges families and students face in Southeast KS. I also understand the importance of the partnership with parents in the education of their children. I have also seen the difference that can be made in schools when strong partnerships with the community exists.

1. Local control - Too often local communities are being dictated to by state and federal governments. The local voice and decision making is deteriorating as a result. I will work to empower local communities to make decisions they believe are best for their children and their schools. 2. Accountability - I believe KS needs to develop a system of accountability that is fair to the smallest schools as well as the largest school systems in Kansas. I will advocate for such a system to be developed. 3. Use of Technology - We need to have a balanced and child appropriate approach to technology in the classroom. I would advocate for the SBOE to spearhead statewide discussions among schools and parents to determine what is best locally.

The most important factor for student success is the quality of the teacher in the classroom. The best teachers are not only great instructors, but are also masters in building a safe, caring, and trusted environment that inspires students to learn. Having highly qualified and trained teachers in every classroom is essential to the academic growth of students throughout our State. I believe universities and K-12 schools should work more closely together to make sure teacher training programs are relevant and focused on high quality instruction and classroom management. I believe there should be more real time experience in classrooms for university students as part of their training and licensure.

I believe one of the most important roles of the State Board is to advocate for our students and staff. The State Board should make recommendations to the legislature recommending adequate and responsible funding for schools based on real data and information provided by KSDE and our schools. During my 42 years working in schools, I have seen the number of students qualifying for special education increase dramatically. We have so many more advanced ways of evaluating students experiencing difficulties learning. The individual needs of many of our special education students go well beyond what is needed to educate students in the regular education classroom. The State Board should advocate of funding to meet these additional needs.

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