VOTE411 Voter Guide

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For almost 20 years, I’ve been an active and vocal supporter of Puyallup schools, and I’m ready to bring my experience, passion, and commitment to ensure our schools are great!

My professional experience at the WA State House of Representatives gave me firsthand knowledge of the state budget process and how critical education funding decisions are made. For the past decade, I’ve worked in non-profit development, which has strengthened my skills in community engagement, fundraising, and building partnerships and these skills will be useful as a School Board Director. I know that our communities work best when we get involved.

As a mom, I’m connected to the issues and concerns for families with kids in school. I want good schools for my kids and all the kids in Puyallup. I’ve also served as a community member on the Bond Advisory Committee and was the 2025 Co-Chair of the Vote Yes for Puyallup Schools Committee.

The top three issues are hiring a new superintendent, addressing the budget shortfall, and fixing our overcrowded and outdated school buildings.

As the Board searches for a new superintendent, I’ll advocate for a transparent, collaborative hiring process that includes input from stakeholder groups like teachers, staff, parents, students, and the broader community.

Like many districts in our State, Puyallup is facing tough financial choices. I’ll prioritize keeping funding in classrooms and ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly and transparently.

Our buildings are overcrowded and aging. The failure of the recent Bond measure was a setback, but the needs haven’t gone away. We need honest conversations as a community about how to move forward and give students safe, modern spaces to learn.

Budget shortfalls are a serious challenge in Puyallup. I believe the best way forward is to continue stabilizing the budget while protecting funding that directly supports students and stays in the classroom.

Almost 90% of the district’s budget goes to personnel so I’ll advocate that any staff reductions start at the administrative level—not in classrooms. We need to retain our experienced teachers and avoid cuts that would negatively affect student outcomes.

The Board should also consider how to responsibly use reserve funds to soften the impact of shortfalls in any given year, without compromising the long-term financial stability of our District.

Additionally, I believe the School Board must advocate in Olympia for increased and more reliable state funding. The state has a ‘paramount duty’ to fully fund basic education, and we must keep pushing for the resources our students and schools deserve.

Every student and staff member deserves to feel safe, supported, and welcomed at school. That means ensuring physical safety, promoting social-emotional well-being, and building positive relationships throughout our school communities.

As a School Board, we must prioritize safe, secure school buildings so every student can go home safely at the end of the day. We also need to invest in counselors, social workers, and social-emotional learning curriculum to support students and families.

Creating a positive, inclusive environment means celebrating all students and taking any instance of bullying or discrimination seriously and responding swiftly. When students and staff feel safe and valued, they’re able to thrive.

Students and their education are the top priority, but we can’t support students effectively without also supporting their teachers and families.

The Board has a responsibility to listen and foster collaboration between administration, teachers, staff, and families. When all groups feel heard and valued, we can make better decisions that reflect the needs of the whole school community and help students succeed.

We must be committed to positive collaboration that is informed by mutual respect and a commitment to a shared mission to educate Puyallup students.

I am running for the Puyallup School Board, position 1, to bring an educator’s voice to the table. Currently, the board consists of community members with various backgrounds, but none with firsthand experience in education. I have over a decade of experience in education, including working as a classroom teacher, professor in higher education, and previously elected school board director. I know what it is like in today’s classrooms - I am on those frontlines every day. With everything happening to public education right now, I believe we need to elect educators to positions where decisions on education are being made. I want to bring my experience and passion for education to the board, and help protect the future our students deserve!

I believe the three most pressing issues facing the Puyallup School District are: (1) funding, (2) inadequate school facilities, and (3) lack of trust within the district. First and foremost, Washington has a constitutional duty to fund our schools, yet budget shortfalls continue. We need to ensure we have the funding to provide for our students and staff. From afterschool programming to a liveable wage for education support professionals, we must advocate and hold our state accountable to its paramount duty. Second, many Puyallup schools are outdated – our students and staff deserve safe, modern facilities. We must empower the community to support local bonds and turn out in elections so that these ballot measures pass. Finally, we need to make sure our educators and families feel heard and supported in our district. We cannot afford to lose quality educators to other districts or professions, and must prioritize trust and communication in our community.

I believe to address the pressing issues I identified, it starts with rebuilding trust in our district. When I asked local educators how things were going in the district, the response was, “Well…we love our students.” I knew then some trust had been broken. Rebuilding trust starts with listening and open communication. I will work to build strong relationships within the community and create opportunities for folks to share concerns and ideas with the district, ensuring their voices are valued in decision-making. I’ll also work to increase transparency by clearly communicating district goals, challenges, and progress, so our community understands how funding is used and why it is needed. Additionally, I will be a strong ally to our educators to make sure their needs are met and we keep quality educators in our district. By fostering dialogue, demonstrating accountability, and following through on commitments, we can create a united, responsive district ready to meet these challenges.

Ensuring the safety of all students requires a comprehensive approach that addresses the physical and emotional well-being of those in our schools. I will advocate for and support policies that maintain safe facilities with appropriate security measures while ensuring schools remain welcoming, inclusive environments. Specifically, I would like to pursue the development of a standalone Equity Policy that clearly outlines the district’s views on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and procedures for ensuring that our schools serve as safe spaces for all, especially students from historically marginalized groups. I will also advocate for evidence-based mental health supports – being in the classroom, I have seen just how much our students need support for their emotions well-being, particularly post-Covid. Again, the emotional needs of our students are just as important as their physical ones. I am committed to creating safe, supportive environments where every student can thrive.

Elected leaders must listen to their constituents and not just during public comment. When I served on the Spokane School Board, I regularly engaged with the community and made many school visits - one of my favorite activities. I met with students and staff, and really saw what was happening in our district. I also connected with members from marginalized groups and shared their stories during board reports. I believe when you have a seat at the table, you must use that space to advocate for others without that privilege. On the Puyallup School Board, I will continue to engage with the community as I did in Spokane. I am committed to being accessible and proactive, and will be in the community to listen and connect with students, educators, and families in the Puyallup School District.