Portland School District Director Zone 4 Choose 1
There are 197 public school districts in Oregon, each governed by a board of education. School boards set goals, establish policies, oversee the performance of district schools, and negotiate contracts. The state Board of Education sets broader educational policies and standards that local schools are required to follow.Qualifications: A candidate must be a registered voter in the zone and resident of the district for at least 1 year preceding election. Candidates are elected districtwide.Term: 4 years
Biographical Information
Town Where You Live
Portland
Your Experience/Qualifications
As both a mother and an education leader, I have been deeply engaged in our schools—both personally and professionally. As a parent, I’ve witnessed firsthand the daily realities of our educators and students. As the Statewide Program Director for SMART Reading, I am engaged in school-based literacy support in 30 of Oregon’s 36 counties, in over 200 sites across the state, this year serving over 15,000 students so far.
County
Multnomah
Term
2025
Term Expires
2029
What is your understanding of the primary functions and responsibilities of a public school board member?
We do what’s best for kids, full stop. A great school board member must listen deeply, navigate diverse perspectives and competing interests with care, and make decisions that are in the best interest of children, families, and educators—recognizing that educators are often also our families we serve.
We all want our children to attend great schools, have affordable healthcare and essential services, enjoy clean air and water, and live in safe, violence-free communities. I am a dedicated collaborator, committed to building bridges, and uniting around shared challenges, goals and values. With the current school board divided, I am determined to use my educator’s voice to bring them together for the sake of our kids.
If elected to the board, what would be your priorities?
🔤 Literacy & Academic Growth – Committed to boosting reading, math, and science scores, especially for historically underserved students.
👩🏫 Support for Educators – Prioritize student-facing roles and advocate for the resources that help schools and students thrive.
🏫 Equity & Inclusion – She supports community-based schools, balanced enrollment, and a system where all kids feel seen, valued, and supported.
🌍 Wraparound services. Supports schools as community hubs, ensuring students have access to healthy meals, afterschool programs, and essential services that promote academic success.
✊🏽 Fight Trump. Stand firm against any efforts to undermine public education and fight to protect funding, resources, and legal protections.
How would you address the issues facing the District’s schools that you consider the most urgent?
Enacting policies locally that have been unsuccessful statewide. I believe investing in families and children can overcome low literacy, poverty, bigotry, and violence. My children are now the fourth gen to attend PPS, but little has changed: aging structures crumble, and attendance and graduation rates still lag behind national averages. Our district faces critical challenges and I have the skills, experience, and background to tackle them.
Our kids deserve adults on the board who are working for them and will do everything in their power to ensure that every child in the district receives a high-quality, equitable, culturally responsive education. I’m committed to making PPS work for all students—because we can and must do better.
Biographical Information
What is your understanding of the primary functions and responsibilities of a public school board member?
Candidate has not yet responded.
If elected to the board, what would be your priorities?
Candidate has not yet responded.
How would you address the issues facing the District’s schools that you consider the most urgent?
Candidate has not yet responded.