Campaign Phone
614-595-6265
Occupation
Senior Project Manager for Pizzuti Solutions (aka Owner's Representative)
Education
BA Ohio University, MBA Ohio State University
Qualifications for Office
Three kids in CCS; stakeholder and community engagement experience; Ohio Statehouse experience; public facility management experience; prior non-profit board experience
The most significant challenge facing Columbus City Schools is our unsustainable financial situation, which resulted in the Board of Education recently voting to cut $50 million next year from the CCS budget. This financial situation is primarily a result of the State of Ohio’s funding cuts, Ohio’s unconstitutional school funding formula, and a steady loss of students from the district over the last 30 years to private and charter schools.
There are many things we need to do, but a key component is a 10-15 year strategic plan. We cannot keep lurching from crisis to crisis. We need to do a deep dive, looking both locally and wholistically at the district, and we need to do it alongside our students, families, teachers, employees, etc.
- Develop a strategic plan that gives families the confidence to send their children to CCS.
- Universal Pre-K for CCS – this saves families a year of childcare costs, dramatically improves our students’ chances of success throughout their education, and may be the best way to create CCS students who may otherwise be considering charter schools. (We are close; we have pre-k in 65 schools; a key component to this is allowing bussing for pre-k students again).
- Create more optionality for students toward the end of High School. Exposing students to other career tracks. At the same time, this must be age appropriate – I don’t believe we’re “creating the workers of tomorrow." Must let kids dream, but we can widen the scope of their dreams.
Oversight of the District's key employees and budget, along with key decisions related to facilities and school policies. This requires the ability to work with all stakeholders, and to be able to study all sides of an issue to make fully-understood decisions. There are cheerleader/ external communication/ lobbying aspects to the role, but you also have to be a great listener.
I’ve spent my life bringing together large groups of people, often on different sides of an issue, to do something. In the first half of my career at the Ohio House and Governor Strickland’s office and the Obama Campaign, that was legislation or policy. Now it's master planning and building large public facilities (City Halls, Libraries, Rec Centers, etc.)
A large part of my job is engaging with residents and community stakeholders, and I will bring 20 years of experience doing that. A recent example is the Fran Ryan Center, which was built on the land of my former elementary school on the Near East Side, Douglass Elementary. We worked with the local community, the local arts orgs, the groups who would most often use the facility, the City, the County, dozens of organizations, neighborhood groups, etc. – it’s a process I’ve replicated dozens of times in my career. I like listening to people and finding resolutions to difficult problems. I also have zero ego and no need for credit for anything - I just want to get the job done... that helps with complex processes like the issues at CCS.
Listen to who you’re talking to. Don’t just treat them with respect, but actually respect them and work hard to consider where they’re coming from. If you are in a leadership role, and you do that with everyone you’re working with on a certain project or objective, people start to treat each other better. They will start to trust you, and they will trust each other. But it must be earned through listening and honesty and time.
Campaign Phone
6148068945
Occupation
Chief Program Officer
Education
Doctorate in Educational Administration
Qualifications for Office
I bring over 20 years of experience as an educator, school leader, and nonprofit executive, and as a parent of Columbus City Schools students, I am deeply committed to ensuring equity, access, and success for every child in our district.
The most pressing challenges are academic recovery and financial stability. Too many of our students are not meeting proficiency benchmarks, especially in reading and math, and the district faces looming budget cuts that threaten essential programs. To address this, I would champion evidence-based academic interventions like high-dosage tutoring, literacy support, and expanded partnerships with community organizations to extend learning beyond the classroom. On finances, I will prioritize transparency, protect classroom resources, and push for efficiencies that don’t sacrifice student success.
My top priorities are raising student achievement, strengthening teacher retention, and improving family and community engagement. Financing these priorities means aligning every dollar to outcomes that directly support students. I would advocate for protecting core instructional programs, pursuing state and federal grants, and expanding public-private partnerships that bring in resources without draining the district’s budget.
A board member’s role is to set policy, approve budgets, and hold the superintendent accountable to district goals while ensuring transparency to the public. I am the best candidate because I bring over 20 years of experience in education and youth development, a track record of building strong partnerships, and a commitment to equity that puts students at the center of every decision. My lived experience as a parent of CCS students grounds me in what families need and expect from our schools.
I will build on my history of grassroots engagement by hosting regular community listening sessions, being present at school and neighborhood events, and maintaining open communication channels online and in person. I will also seek to establish advisory groups that reflect the diversity of our district so that parents, students, and educators have a seat at the table before decisions are made.
My approach is rooted in listening first, seeking common ground, and focusing on shared goals, which is our children’s success. I believe disagreements can be opportunities to strengthen trust if handled with respect and transparency. I will ensure that every stakeholder feels heard, clarify where values align, and build consensus by keeping the focus on what best serves students rather than on politics or personal agendas.
Campaign Phone
6148939512
Occupation
Director
Education
Master in Public Administration and Leadership; Bachelor in Strategic Communication
Qualifications for Office
I am uniquely qualified to serve on the Columbus City School Board. As a single mother, I raised four successful Columbus City School graduates. I know firsthand the challenges our families face. Professionally, I serve as the Director of Provider Experience, where I use data-driven solutions to improve outcomes. I will use my skills to improve attendance, engagement, and achievement.
Ensuring the $50 million budget cuts do not negatively impact our Columbus City School Students. I propose to look at our budget and determine what administrative, operational changes can be made to ensure our students receive all the resources they have rights to. Ensure taxes from developers are being funneled into our school district. If they owe, they must be held accountable to pay. Our communities need housing, but most importantly all our students deserve a good education.
Another challenge facing Columbus City Schools is good board leadership. I would address this by bringing transparency, consistency, and collaboration back into decision making. I will work to restore trust and be the effective leadership students deserve.
Determining ways to offset the $50 million budget cuts. This requires transparent, line-by-line review of the district’s budget to ensure dollars are going directly to classrooms and student services. By reducing administrative inefficiencies and renegotiating high-cost contracts we can protect critical programs for students.
Ensure social workers are in every one of our schools daily. I will determine why we do not have access to all the tax dollars from developers promised to our students and determine best methods of holding those responsible for ensuring our students receive these funds accountable. I would like to increase working with social services agencies to incorporate more programs to assist our students needing counseling.
Establishing policies, reviewing and setting the school district budget, hiring and evaluating the superintendent and treasurer and ensuring accountability for student achievement and the efficient use of resources (to include funding).
I am the best candidate to complete these tasks because I combine personal experience, professional expertise and proven governance. As a single mother of four CCS graduates, I know how policies and funding impact families. As a director, I have experience in overseeing training, accountability, efficient utilization of resources, developing department budgets, and evaluating leaders. As a Development Commission Commissioner, I analyze requests, listen to stakeholders, make transparent and fair decisions.
I believe true leadership means being present in the community, not behind a desk. That’s why I go where our families, educators, and neighbors gather, to listen and learn directly from them. I will make it a priority to answer the calls from frustrated parents, dedicated teachers, and concerned community leaders and listen to them until their issues are heard. Their experiences and ideas are not just valuable, they are the key to creating real, lasting change for our schools and our city.
As a good leader, my responsibility is to listen to the concerns of parents, educators, students, and community. I have been able to create spaces where all voices are welcomed and respected, even when perspectives differ. My professional experiences have taught me the importance of bringing stakeholders to the table, analyzing data, and making decisions rooted in fairness and transparency. As a board member, I will work to find common ground by focusing on shared goals, such as student success and community strength, while also being honest about the challenges we face. I lead with empathy, accountability, clear communication, and open dialogues with those impacted by our challenges. I ensure differences of opinions become opportunities.
Campaign Phone
614-471-1909
Occupation
Community Engagement - Infectious Diseases @ AndHealth
Education
B.S in Public Health Promotion and Education, B.A in Spanish Language, University of Cincinnati
Qualifications for Office
Experience in curricula design, classroom education in Columbus City Schools, governmental public health advisory groups, experience as a Columbus City Schools Student, life long activist
The most significant challenges by far are our current budget outlook and inequitable student outcomes. We are suffering the consequences of a system that seeks to privatize public education. We must work creatively and collaboratively for a fair school funding structure and fight for our district. To address this, we must put our people first, making sure that dollars go where they're needed most: the classroom.
I'll use a public health approach to student outcomes, prioritizing proven strategies like smaller class sizes through teacher recruitment, expanded whole-child wellness, and community partnerships to ensure every student has opportunity. We must also advocate at City Hall to improve everyday living conditions for CCS families.
My primary priorities are to improve community engagement, equity and opportunity across zip codes; teacher and staff retention and recruitment, and improved student outcomes. To finance these priorities I will fight to protect classroom dollars by demanding we handle tax abatements that currently drain tens of millions from our schools, and by pursuing governmental funding streams designated for sustainable school infrastructure, student wellness, and protections for our workers. We must also work with the City of Columbus to align our budget with our community’s values, ensuring that education receives the same focus as other public services. I will prioritize partnerships with local agencies and organizations that work with CCS as well.
Our Board is responsible for governance of the district, management of the budget, oversight of key administrators like the superintendent and treasurer, union contract negotiations, and being publicly accountable, elected leaders that represent our schools.
I bring a unique perspective shaped by lived experience and professional expertise. As a CCS graduate and educator and public health professional, I’ve worked to improve student well-being, foster safer and more inclusive schools, and navigate complex, underfunded systems while centering those most affected by our shortcomings. Having advocated for CCS since childhood, I know traditional methods have left us behind. I’m ready to challenge systems that fail us and get to work day one.
It starts with the board itself being more accessible and accountable to the community. We should increase the amount of public comment time at board meetings, and make them more geographically accessible. I would like to form working groups for CCS that involve board members, staff, students, parents and community members to guide us in decision making. I would also like to have student liaisons on board committees. Furthermore, we must strengthen and increase relationships with local, mission-aligned agencies that provide services to our staff and students.
As a board member, I will hold town halls on a regular basis in different neighborhoods, and engage with our students in the many activities they do that are worth celebrating.
As a candidate I've been reminded that no matter what, Columbus agrees that public schools are a public good. It's no secret that I lead differently, through a community-engaged lens that puts working people at the center. When the entire community is given a seat at the table, we can build coalitions across identities and neighborhoods and fight for our schools. We must remind the community we are accountable to them. Myself and my fellow candidates have already begun the work of prospective colleagues, with a shared mission: what is best for our students. In a time of crisis, we understand that all hands are on deck to protect CCS. Bringing the community to the table shows all stakeholders who matters most at the end of the day.
Education
Masters in Public Administration with a Concentration in Organizational Leadership
Qualifications for Office
With 17 years of experience across industries such as mental health, financial services, and higher education, I bring broad and adaptable skill-sets that are well-suited for Columbus City Schools. I also hold a Master’s in Public Administration with a concentration in Organizational Leadership, providing me with a strong academic foundation in governance, policy analysis, and business acumen.
Columbus City Schools is at a crossroads. Our students are full of promise, yet face two major challenges: the drain of resources from corporate tax abatements and the lack of clear, equitable pathways that prepare them for the future. These issues are difficult but solvable if we put students at the center of every decision. I believe CCS has the talent, diversity, and potential to be a model urban district—but it requires bold, community-focused leadership. As a candidate, I am committed to equity, stronger partnerships, and ensuring every child receives a high-quality education. By holding corporations accountable and creating strategic career pathways, we can transform CCS into a system that truly prepares future leaders to thrive.
My priorities are reforming corporate tax abatements, strengthening community partnerships, and building clear career pathways for students. For too long, tax breaks have drained resources from our schools. I will push to redirect abatement funds into an endowment for CCS, create a tier system that ties business incentives to direct investments in education, and extend abatements to nonprofits serving students. I’ll also build a Community Schools model by engaging families, educators, and local partners to expand wraparound support. Finally, I’ll grow workforce pipelines through apprenticeships, dual-enrollment, and business partnerships so every student graduates prepared for college, trades, or a career.
The Board of Education sets policy, oversees the budget, hires the superintendent, and ensures resources are used equitably. Board members must also listen to families, students, and educators and reflect community voices in decisions. I am the best candidate because I bring a community-focused perspective rooted in equity, collaboration, and workforce development. My priorities are reforming corporate tax abatements so businesses reinvest in our schools, strengthening community partnerships through a Community Schools model, and building clear career pathways so every graduate is ready for college, trades, or careers. With bold, transparent leadership, I will put students at the center of every decision.
As a candidate focused on strengthening community partnerships, my approach for engagement as a board member will be the same in which I have demonstrated as a candidate. It's important to provide clearer and stronger practices that define everyone's role in student success. Schools cannot succeed in isolation. We must be honest about where we are falling short—and be bold in designing solutions that will move Columbus City Schools from surviving to a system that truly prepares future leaders for success. This can be done by creating a Community Schools model that is centered on collaborations with families, educators, nonprofits, and local stakeholders.
Student success should always be our end goal and main driver in how we operate. When it comes to disagreements with community stakeholders, I believe it is important to listen and learn. This helps to build trust, prioritize ideas and capture feedback in a timely manner. As a candidate who is focused on strengthening stakeholder perspectives for Columbus City Schools, I understand the importance of making space, and setting clear and strong boundaries while providing deliverables. Student success will be a high priority for me and at the center of every decision I make. As a board member, I will also encourage every group seeking a partnership or disagreement perform from this perspective as well.
Campaign Phone
6145657926
Occupation
Retired from The Ohio State University after 37 years of service.
Education
B.A. Psychology, MEd School Psychology, PhD School Psychology from the University of Cincinnati
Qualifications for Office
I spent 37 years at The Ohio State University as a Professor of School Psychology and Chair of the Dept of Teaching and Learning. I was on the Ohio State Board of Education for 8 years. I bring leadership skills, knowledge of policy and legislation, experience in education, and strong problem solving skills. My husband is a retired teacher from CCS and I have two children who graduated from CCS.
The most challenging issue facing Columbus City Schools is the budget shortfall. This is due to the state’s chronic underfunding of public education. A second challenge is students’ needs outpacing resources. While we want to continue to advocate for fair funding we must build stronger partnerships with the community, local businesses, and higher education institutions to supplement state shortfalls with targeted investments. We can address these by advocating for fair state funding, pushing back on voucher expansion, and building strong community partnerships. We must expand wraparound services and invest in recruiting and retaining high-quality teachers so every child has the support they need to succeed.
My priorities center on ensuring academic excellence, equity, and student well-being while building trust and accountability with families and the community. I will push for fair and full state funding for public education, especially as CCS continues to face shortfalls due to underfunding and the diversion of taxpayer dollars to private school vouchers. I will also work with the Board to carefully review our budget for inefficiencies so that more dollars are directed toward classrooms, teachers, and direct student supports. In addition, I will prioritize securing federal and state grants that can help fund career-technical education, student wellness, and innovative teaching practices without placing a heavier burden on local taxpayers.
A Columbus City School board member sets the vision for the district, establishes policy, and ensures accountability. Our key responsibilities include approving the budget, hiring and evaluating the Superintendent and Treasurer, and monitoring student achievement. Most importantly, we serve as a bridge between the schools and the community, ensuring every decision reflects the needs of students and families. I am the best candidate because I have leadership experience, extensive experience in education as Professor of School Psychology, parent of two CCS graduates, engaged in consulting and volunteering in CCS, eight years on the Ohio State Board of Education, and knowledge of urban schools, policy and legislation.
As a board member, I believe authentic engagement begins with listening. I plan to engage residents and community stakeholders by being visible, accessible, and intentional about listening. This means holding regular community forums, visiting schools and neighborhood events, and creating multiple ways—both in person and online—for families, students, and staff to share feedback. I will also strengthen partnerships with parent groups, nonprofits, and local businesses, ensuring their perspectives are included in board decision-making. Most importantly, I will provide transparency by showing how community input shapes policies and budgets, building trust and true collaboration across Columbus City Schools.
I believe it is important to build consensus by listening to all perspectives, identifying common ground, and keeping students at the center of every decision. When disagreements arise, I rely on open dialogue, transparency, and data-driven solutions to find compromises that honor community voices while moving the district forward. Most importantly, it will be critically important to promote transparency about issues and decisions so that trust can be restored between the district and its constituents.
