Campaign Phone
727-580-6545
Education
Eckerd College Bachelors of Arts, St. Petersburg College Associates of Arts
Professional Experience
Executive Director, The Tampa Bay Performing Arts Academy
Public Service
2018-Present Pinellas County School Board,
Every school option serves different student needs, and success should be measured by student outcomes, not school type. Public schools remain the only schools required to serve every child, regardless of ability, background, or circumstance. My focus is ensuring Pinellas public schools remain the first choice for families by delivering strong academics, safe campuses, and innovative programs. To remain viable in an era of school choice, we must maximize funding, strengthen community partnerships, expand career and technical programs, support our teachers, and demonstrate responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars while keeping students at the center of every decision.
1. Student Achievement: Ensure every student has the support they need to succeed in reading, math, and core academic subjects through targeted interventions, engaging instruction, and access to high-quality learning resources.
2. Student Engagement: Expand access to arts, athletics, career and technical education, extracurricular activities, and leadership opportunities so students can discover their strengths, build confidence, and stay connected and motivated in school.
3. College and Career Readiness: Ensure every student has clear pathways after graduation by expanding career academies, industry certifications, dual enrollment opportunities, and partnerships with local businesses so students can gain real-world experience.
Recruiting and retaining excellent employees begins with creating a culture where staff feel valued, respected, and supported. We must remain competitive in compensation, expand mentorship opportunities for new teachers, provide meaningful professional development, and reduce unnecessary administrative burdens. I also support strengthening partnerships with local colleges and universities to create a pipeline of future educators. Retention improves when employees have strong leadership, opportunities for growth, and confidence that their voices are heard in district decision-making.
Parents, educators, and community members all deserve a voice in the process. I believe curriculum and instructional materials should align with state standards, be age-appropriate, and support student achievement. When concerns arise, established review procedures should be followed with transparency, consistency, and respect for all viewpoints. Decisions should be based on educational value, legal requirements, and district policy—not politics. My goal would be to ensure parents are heard while maintaining a learning environment that supports academic excellence for all students.
Students should be encouraged to think critically, engage respectfully, and participate in constructive dialogue. Schools can provide opportunities through student government, leadership programs, classroom discussions, civic education, and public comment opportunities where appropriate. While students have rights to express their views, schools must also maintain a safe and orderly learning environment. I support fair, consistent discipline focused on accountability, restorative practices when appropriate, and clear consequences for behavior that disrupts learning, threatens safety, or violates district policies.
My experience combines educational leadership, business operations, and direct service to students and families. As the founder and leader of a successful performing arts organization, I have spent years developing programs, managing budgets, supervising staff, and creating opportunities that help students grow academically, socially, and personally. I understand the importance of accountability, fiscal responsibility, and community engagement. I have worked directly with children and families throughout Pinellas County and understand both the opportunities and challenges they face. I will bring a collaborative, student-focused approach to the School Board, always prioritizing what is best for students, families, and the community.
Campaign Phone
8122594224
Education
BA in English (with highest honors) at City University of New York, College of Staten Island.
Professional Experience
25 years as a classroom teacher, 22 of those at Pinellas Park High School.
Public Service
President of Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association
As someone who spent more than 20 years teaching in Pinellas County public schools, I know firsthand the value of strong public education. Parents should have choices, but we can't honestly compare public, charter, and private schools when they play by different rules. Public schools educate every child and are held to strict standards for academics, finances, testing, transparency, and student services, while many voucher-funded schools are not. If taxpayer dollars are funding a school, taxpayers deserve the same accountability. I'll continue fighting for strong public schools and for consistent standards wherever public education dollars are spent.
My top priority is making sure every student gets the best education we can provide. As a teacher, I always believed our job was to help students think critically, build confidence, and prepare for whatever path they choose after graduation. My second priority is supporting our teachers. We won't attract and keep great educators unless we reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, trust their professional judgment, and treat them with the respect they deserve. Finally, I want to strengthen the partnership between our schools and parents through open communication, transparency, and mutual respect. Every decision I make as a School Board member will come back to one simple question: Is this what's best for our students?
After more than 20 years in the classroom, I know teachers stay when they feel respected, supported, and trusted. We need to reduce unnecessary paperwork, give educators more time to teach, provide strong mentorship for new teachers, and ensure competitive pay and benefits within the district's resources. School climate also matters. Teachers need administrators and School Board members who listen to their concerns and treat them as professionals. When we create schools where educators want to work, students benefit as well.
Parents deserve a voice in their children's education, and schools should always be transparent. At the same time, curriculum and library decisions should follow established district policies through a fair, consistent, and professional review process, not politics or pressure campaigns. As an English teacher, I encouraged students to think critically by engaging with age-appropriate literature and diverse perspectives. I trust educators and librarians to make professional recommendations while ensuring families have a clear process to raise concerns respectfully.
Schools should encourage respectful dialogue, civic engagement, and critical thinking while maintaining an environment focused on learning. Students should have appropriate opportunities to express their views through student government, school publications, classroom discussions, and other district-approved activities. Discipline should be fair, consistent, and focused on accountability while keeping students in school whenever possible. Consequences should reflect the seriousness of the behavior, protect the learning environment, and include restorative approaches when appropriate.
I've spent my career in public education, not observing it from the outside, but living it every day. For more than 20 years, I taught English at Pinellas Park High School, working with students from every background and helping them succeed. Later, as president of the Pinellas Classroom Teachers Association, I advocated for educators, students, and safe schools. I understand the challenges facing our classrooms because I've experienced them firsthand. That perspective, combined with my commitment to students, teachers, and parents, prepares me to serve effectively on the School Board.
