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Civic Positions/Experience
Children's and Teacher Advocate. Lobbyist for 30 years, Unpaid
Education
B.A. In Education and Psychology, CFP designation for 20 years
Campaign Phone
407-494-2012
I have grown up and lived in the community. I attended Winegard, Walker and OakRidge. My background in education as a teacher, leadership as CTA President and Financial training as a CFP, give me the optimal background. Currently, I am an admin for Orange County school Board Watch, a FB page dedicated to getting the community to follow School Board meetings and issues. I have attended and watched more School Board meetings than my opponents. My advocacy extends to writing to our school board members as a public record, both individually and together about key points or information relevant to upcoming decisions. Often staff information is all they get before making important decisions. The voters choose us and we answer to them.
I think AI has its place in education and business. I believe a survey was done that included students and teacher views on the matter and it was sent to the school board to create a new policy. I have not seen the survey results to offer a solution but look forward to hearing from constituents to get more input. I believe businesses are also addressing this and could provide valuable input if they have implemented a policy and then seen results. I do believe it needs to be a required course in high school like the financial literacy course. Without being part of that committee, I don’t have a solution because I don’t have all of the information yet, but I look forward to being part of that discussion and decision making for a new policy.
Are you talking about the “book banning” issue? I believe parents do have a choice to review what their child can get from a school library, but not for all parents. While this has become a major issue, we know parents don’t know what their child has access to online, therefore, with the current practice of a committee that reviews and recommends to the Board. I believe in listening to both sides of an issue. I also believe in looking at research. When they considered changing school times, the research said what was best for children, yet the bus schedule, sports and after school jobs became the deciding factors, unlike when we banned cell phone from class due to the distraction. The research drove that decision. We should be consistent.
I think public schools need to look inward at how we can do a better job of attracting students to public schools. We do offer lots of options but don’t advertise them enough. Career Technical Ed colleges offer paid internships for HVAC training. Magnet schools offer STEM classes. Virtual Ed offers a variable schedule for those after school jobs, and sports. College credit classes save families on tuition. Dual enrollment, bilingual programs, ESE special services and trained personnel, an SRO on every campus. What is attracting students to choose elsewhere? Smaller classes, stricter discipline, less high stakes testing or accountability? Let’s find solutions or make less excuses about birth rate or stagnant housing trends and get them back
I believe in choice and with that, we don’t have an even playing field. Vouchers are given to parents to home school with little accountability. The state does not require the same accountability for private, charter or home schools who receive taxpayer dollars. If we are to guarantee a quality education with our role, we must ensure that the educational choices using taxpayer dollars are held accountable and given the same stipulations and regulations as traditional public schools. Until that happens, I am against vouchers. They were originally created to show public schools were not doing their job. There are variables like class sizes, etc. that do influence results. Public schools have risen and succeeded despite vouchers and their role
Safety should be number one priority when parents give their children to any school. We continue to look at ways to improve security on campus. Cameras have helped but we know there are gaps. Students are probably the best group to ask, because they are there everyday and can see the security gaps. I am all for any ideas to improve campus security for students, employees and visitors. I believe counselors should let AI creat schedules while we use them for counseling. They have been overburdened with creating schedules. I don’t think the cyber bullying policies are enough. We hand students a device and yet don’t train them in the things that can harm them like sexting, or creating false images. We can do better in this topic.
Civic Positions/Experience
President, Florida Association for Bilingual Education; Higher Education Faculty Member, Florida International University; Former Teacher and Administrator, Orange County Public Schools and New York City Public Schools; PTO Vice President.
Education
Ed.D. Candidate; M.S., Educational Leadership; M.S., Elementary Education; B.A., Political Science
Campaign Phone
917-334-3491
I have more than 20 years of experience serving students, families, and educators as a teacher, school administrator, higher education faculty member, and education advocate. I have worked in both New York City Public Schools and Orange County Public Schools, giving me firsthand knowledge of the challenges facing our schools. As President of the Florida Association for Bilingual Education, I have led statewide efforts to expand opportunities for multilingual learners and strengthen public education. As both an educator and an OCPS parent, I will bring experienced, accountable leadership focused on student achievement, supporting educators, and strengthening our public schools.
We are preparing students for careers that do not yet exist, which requires us to cultivate critical thinking, problem-solving, adaptability, and responsible digital citizenship. Artificial intelligence should be embraced as a tool to enhance teaching and learning—not as a substitute for sound instruction, creativity, or human connection. Educators must receive meaningful professional development to integrate AI thoughtfully and ethically, while students should learn to evaluate its capabilities, recognize its limitations, and use it responsibly. By pairing innovation with rigorous instruction, we can ensure every student is prepared to thrive in an increasingly complex and technology-driven world.
When concerns arise, I believe they should be addressed through a transparent, consistent review process that includes parents, educators, and subject-matter experts. I will listen to families, respect differing perspectives, and ensure every concern receives thoughtful consideration. That said, curriculum and instructional materials should be guided by educational standards, age appropriateness, and professional expertise. My role is not to advance political agendas, but to ensure our classrooms provide students with a high-quality education while maintaining trust, transparency, and accountability throughout the decision-making process.
Declining enrollment did not happen overnight. With stronger long-term planning and more proactive monitoring, many of these challenges could have been identified and addressed before school closures became necessary. The district must regularly evaluate enrollment trends, engage families early, and invest in programs that meet the needs of today's students. To recruit and retain outstanding educators, we must offer competitive salaries, meaningful professional development, opportunities for career advancement, and a workplace where teachers are respected, supported, and empowered to succeed.
Public schools are the foundation of our communities and should remain our state's top educational priority. While families should have educational options, the rapid expansion of vouchers has diverted critical funding from neighborhood public schools without requiring the same level of accountability, transparency, or public oversight. Every school receiving taxpayer dollars should meet high academic, financial, and student accountability standards. I will advocate for fully funding our public schools, strengthening the programs that attract and retain families, and ensuring every student has access to a high-quality public education regardless of their background or ZIP code.
Student safety must always be the School Board's highest priority. Orange County Public Schools has made important investments in campus security, threat assessment, and anti-bullying initiatives, but safety requires continuous evaluation and improvement. We must continue strengthening mental health services, ensuring students have trusted adults to turn to, expanding bullying and cyberbullying prevention programs, and maintaining strong partnerships with law enforcement and families. School safety requires a comprehensive approach that prioritizes prevention, early intervention, and a positive school climate where every student feels safe, supported, and ready to learn.
