Professional Experience
CEO for several mental health clinics, including a non profit organization
Educational Qualifications
Master administration amd Master Science leadership
Campaign Phone
863-812-6127
I am running for the School Board because I believe every student deserves a high-quality education in a safe, supportive environment. I want to help make thoughtful, student-centered decisions while working collaboratively with parents, teachers, staff, and the community. If elected, my top priorities are: (1) improving student achievement by supporting strong academics and addressing learning gaps; (2) supporting and retaining excellent teachers and staff by ensuring they have the resources they need; and (3) increasing transparency, accountability, and community engagement through open communication and responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.
As a parent and active member of our community, I understand the importance of providing every student with a safe, supportive, and high-quality education. My professional experience has strengthened my leadership, communication, problem-solving, and financial decision-making skills, while my involvement in the community has taught me the value of collaboration and listening to different perspectives. I will bring a practical, student-focused approach to the School Board, make informed decisions, and work respectfully with families, educators, staff, and community members to help every student succeed.
Recruiting and retaining great teachers requires more than competitive salaries, although fair pay is essential. Polk County should continue advocating for competitive compensation while creating a positive work environment where teachers feel respected, supported, and heard. Reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, expanding mentorship for new teachers, providing meaningful professional development, recognizing outstanding performance, and offering opportunities for career growth can improve retention. When teachers feel valued and have the resources they need to succeed, they are more likely to build long-term careers in our district, benefiting both students and schools.
Every family wants the best educational option for their child, and parents should have choices. At the same time, traditional public schools educate the vast majority of our students and must have the resources to provide a high-quality education for every child. As more public funding is directed to vouchers, we must ensure public schools are not left with fewer resources to meet the needs of students, especially those requiring specialized services. My focus will be on strengthening Polk County's public schools so families continue to have confidence in choosing them.
Yes. If a school receives public tax dollars, it should meet clear standards for financial transparency, accountability, and student safety. Families deserve confidence that public funds are being used responsibly and that students are receiving a quality education. While charter and private schools may have different missions or instructional models, they should be held accountable for academic performance, sound financial practices, and compliance with health and safety requirements. Accountability should follow public funding, while allowing schools flexibility to innovate and meet students' needs.
Professional Experience
Former Chief Executive Officer of a Foster Care Agency, Senior Program Officer,
Educational Qualifications
Bachelors of Arts - Psychology, Masters in Business Administration, Law Degree
Campaign Phone
8632599424
I’m running for School Board because Polk County schools shaped my life and my family. As a foster youth, I attended 12 schools where educators saw my potential. As a parent, I also saw how hard it can be when my child with an IEP wasn’t receiving the services they needed. That experience strengthened my commitment to accountability and support. I want every student to get the services they’re entitled to, every teacher supported, and every family heard. I plan to move from survival to service.
My top three priorities are simple: ABC access to quality education, Backing, supporting and retaining great teachers and staff, and connecting our community to schools and students. Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, every educator.
I grew up in Foster Care here in Polk County and went to 12 different schools. After graduating from Chain of Lakes Collegiate High School I went on to University of South Florida to get a degree in psychology, received a masters in business from Florida International University and then a Law Degree from Florida State University. I have worked as a independent living mentor with the Department of Children and Families, worked my way up to Chief Executive Officer of a child welfare organization. I currently work as a Senior Program Officer for child welfare reform. What I will add to the board is lived experience of a child who received IEP Services as well as Executive Business experience as well as policy experience.
Polk County can do more to attract and retain teachers by improving both pay and working conditions while also being creative about revenue. We should fully leverage programs like Step Up for Students to expand course offerings and bring additional funding into our schools and get them approved so homeschool and private school students can opt into courses that may be of benefit from them. We can also explore long term investments like adding solar to school facilities to reduce utility costs and generate savings that can be reinvested into classrooms and staff.
Every child deserves access to a high-quality education, regardless of the type of school they attend. My concern is that when public dollars leave our district without adequate accountability or without fully funding our public schools first, it becomes harder for school districts to recruit and retain great teachers, maintain safe facilities, expand career and technical education, and provide the services many students rely on every day. Public schools educate every child who walks through their doors, and they should be funded at a level that reflects that responsibility. My priority is ensuring Polk County's public schools and any other school receiving tax paying dollars to operate it.
Yes. If a school receives public tax dollars, it should meet a common standard of accountability. Taxpayers deserve transparency, and families deserve confidence that every publicly funded school is providing a quality education. While charter and private schools should have flexibility to innovate, that flexibility should not come at the expense of oversight. Schools receiving public funds should demonstrate sound financial management, qualified educators, compliance with state and federal laws, and measurable student outcomes. Accountability should follow the funding. If public dollars are invested, the public has a right to expect transparency, responsible stewardship, and a commitment to student success.
Campaign Phone
850-404-1000
I'm running to put Polk County students on a path toward real academic excellence. Currently, our district ranks 55th of 67 counties in student achievement and fewer than half our students graduate ready for college or career, an unsustainable trajectory I believe demands urgency, not excuses. I'm committed to providing the leadership to change that course. My top priorities are increasing academic achievement across the district; recruiting, better-paying, and retaining great teachers; and making sure every graduate is prepared for life after high school. I want Polk County Public Schools to be a district current and prospective families choose with confidence. Currently, we lose too many to options within Polk and in other counties alike.
My experience spans government, corporate, and nonprofit leadership. I've worked in multiple state capitols and in Tallahassee advancing K-12 education reform laws, and I have close relationships with our legislative delegation and the Florida Department of Education. I was appointed to this board last year, so I will bring a full year of board experience to the role if elected. That matters: if Polk County wants more funding and influence in Tallahassee, seasoned board members are essential. I also bring corporate experience from Walmart and Spectrum, where I managed complex operations and budgets, and nonprofit management experience as founder of Lakeland Leads (now ConnectEd Polk), which brought new educational programs to Polk families.
Salary matters, and I support continuing to move Polk County toward competitive pay. But retention is about more than a paycheck. Teachers stay where they feel supported, respected, and able to grow. I support expanding mentorship programs that let experienced teachers take on leadership roles without leaving the classroom, reducing unnecessary administrative burdens, and creating clearer paths for advancement tied to performance, not just seniority. As we raise academic outcomes across the district, we also become a more attractive place for educators who want to be part of a high performing team. Investing in our teachers, their working conditions, and their professional growth is one of the most important things this board can do.
The impact of vouchers is families have more choices than ever, and Polk County Public Schools cannot rest on its laurels or cling to antiquated practices in order to thrive in the current climate. My focus as a board member is making sure Polk County Public Schools is the destination families choose because it is excellent, not because it is the only option available. That means improving academic performance, supporting teachers, expanding strong career and technical programs, and increasing the number of A-rated schools in our district. Competition should push all of us to get better, and so far, it has. I believe our energy is best spent strengthening our public schools, so they earn and keep the trust of every family in this county.
Accountability and safety standards, like background checks, financial transparency, and basic safety requirements, should apply to any school receiving public dollars, and Florida law already requires much of this. That said, private and charter schools typically receive less funding per pupil than traditional public schools, and they carry their own built-in accountability: if parents stop choosing them, they close, or they will not open where families are already satisfied with their local public schools. That is why I believe the best strategy in this environment of choice is not more regulation, but making Polk County Public Schools so outstanding that families choose them first.
