VOTE411 Voter Guide

I'm an educator and advocate committed to equitable education. With degrees in Counseling (Rowan) and Marketing (UW-Seattle), I serve as Bend-La Pine School Board Director developing equity policies. I co-founded the Father’s Group nonprofit creating youth leadership opportunities and serve on Oregon’s African-American Education Council. As COCC’s Afrocentric Program Coordinator, I mentor students through college prep programs. I’ve led town halls on racism, expanded college access in underserved communities, and taught self-advocacy through student organizations. I believe diversity and collaboration drive meaningful change. Running for re-election, I’ll keep fighting so every child can thrive.

The District must follow all federal and state education laws, including those protecting students with disabilities, ensuring equal opportunity, and upholding anti-discrimination standards. Compliance is critical, but we should go further—using these policies as a foundation to create truly equitable schools. As a School Board Director, I’ve focused on not just meeting legal requirements but also addressing systemic gaps in access and outcomes. This means proper staff training, transparent policies, and community engagement to make sure every student benefits.

The most pressing challenges facing our district’s schools are academic loss and finding ways to equitably close the gap through remediation, mental health support, and school safety—and each demands urgent, strategic action. First, we must address inequalities by expanding culturally responsive curricula and targeted academic support for marginalized students. Second, we need to prioritize mental health by increasing counselors and training staff in trauma-informed practices—an area where my background in counseling and psychotherapy directly informs solutions. Finally, school safety requires proactive measures, including restorative justice programs to reduce conflicts and stronger family-community partnerships to foster trust.