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I bring more than 20 years of classroom teaching experience across private, charter, and public schools. Throughout my career, I have taught in Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Florida, giving me a broad perspective on different educational systems, communities, and student needs. I have dedicated my career to education. Over the past 30 years, every position I have held has been centered on serving others and strengthening the communities where I live. As a school board member, I will draw on this experience to support sound decision-making, collaborate with district leadership, and help guide the successful implementation of the district's strategic plan while keeping the needs of students, educators, and families at the forefront.
One strength of the district is its strong academic performance. DCPS earned an A-rating as a district in 2025 and has continued to demonstrate positive academic progress. The district also offers a wide range of educational opportunities, including arts, music, athletics, clubs, and specialized programs that allow students to explore their interests and talents. Areas identified for improvement include student attendance, the process used for school consolidations and community engagement, and expanding opportunities for students who choose career or technical pathways after high school rather than a traditional four-year college route. The district needs to firm up on attendance and be transparent about school closures and consolidation.
We must treat teachers as the professionals they are. We need to recognize and celebrate excellent teaching in meaningful ways throughout the year and create fair and supportive working conditions. Teachers need manageable class sizes, equitable teaching assignments, and balanced course loads. No teacher should consistently be assigned the most challenging or highest-needs classes while others are given predominantly higher-functioning groups. Fairness in assignments helps prevent burnout and improves teacher retention. Equally important, teachers need the confidence that they are supported by school administrators and the district. A clear, consistently enforced student code of conduct with progressive consequences is essential.
Although schools have a code of conduct, there is often insufficient staff or resources to implement interventions and consequences consistently. Some disruptive behaviors fall below the threshold for more serious disciplinary action, yet repeated low-level disruptions can still affect the learning environment.
Repeated apologies do not address ongoing behavioral concerns. A structured system of progressive discipline, paired with appropriate interventions and restorative practices, can help reinforce expectations and accountability. When appropriate, schools may also consider educational or service-oriented consequences, such as community service, to help students understand the impact of their actions and encourage responsible behavior.
School safety requires a comprehensive approach. This includes trained security personnel, access to qualified mental health professionals, ongoing safety training for teachers and staff, and consistent adherence to established security protocols, including locked-door policies. Each of these measures plays a role in creating a safe learning environment where students, teachers, and staff can focus on education. When teachers have a concern about a student, there needs to be a protocol in place so teachers feel heard and students get access to necessary support resources.
Community members often have strong connections to their local public schools, but those perceptions can be affected by both positive and negative experiences. Recognizing the achievements of schools, students, and educators helps highlight the work taking place throughout the district. Partnering with parent-teacher organizations can help identify school needs and priorities, while pursuing grants and partnerships with community organizations may provide additional resources to support programs and initiatives. Communities need to see that the district will work together to promote and protect our local public schools. Every student in Duval County has the right to a safe, equitable, and local public school education.
