VOTE411 Voter Guide

My formative professional years were spent in finance, running FP&A and risk management analyses for media companies. I suspect many of our challenges in the years to come will pertain to our district’s finances. Additionally, I’ve spent years as an executive in the entertainment industry – notorious for its challenges in wrangling the large and diverse teams required to produce films. Working cohesively and incorporating a wide variety of perspectives in your approach is mandatory to achieve success. I was a Division I athlete in college, where the importance of coming together to achieve common purpose is paramount. I also coach numerous baseball and basketball teams in Lake Oswego, and enjoy working to bring out the best in every child.

The district must be in compliance with Federal and State policies. There are distinctions between law and "Dear Colleague" directives, however. Current OSBA guidance for our district is to maintain the present course on our policies pending any changes to applicable legal requirements, and I support that approach.

Budget, Enrollment, and Proficiency scores.

We must prioritize the classroom experience, and work to preserve our support specialists and music/art/STEM programming. Balancing quality of instruction with support services will be the secret sauce required to confront budget constraints.

Enrollment decline is another obstacle we must approach proactively. There are macroeconomic elements in this equation, but there’s also state and community engagement work to be done to move the needle on this challenge.

Proficiency scores are another issue, particularly as we navigate future budget discussions with Salem. This is becoming a resource vs. accountability question for Oregon, and we must work towards reversing these trends to move forward.

I am a parent (of three), an educator, and a life-long Oregonian running for Lake Oswego School Board to ensure that Lake Oswego preserves and expands on its reputation as the #1 school district in Oregon. I am so grateful that my children will be able to participate in Lake Oswego’s outstanding K-12 education system for the next twenty years. My first priority on the School Board will be maintaining our district's academic successes, despite a projected budget shortfall. I was a classroom teacher for eight years, and I taught Spanish classes at the high school and college level in both Maryland and Oregon. I am currently a curriculum content creator, who also grades exams for the International Baccalaureate Organization.

With a M.S.Ed. in Education Policy from Johns Hopkins University, I have a deep understanding of the politics surrounding education. We are facing a difficult time in our nation in regards to education funding and the restrictions that are now attached to these federal education funds. Our District relies on federal funding to feed our students and support our SPED programs, and we cannot do without these funds. We must find a way to continue to receive this funding, without sacrificing our ideals as a school district.

My number one priority as a School Board member will be to ensure that our students can compete academically on a national level, from Kindergarten through AP and college prep courses. We must provide rigorous academic offerings throughout the district. We must adopt and promote effective curriculum, backed by current research and best practices. And we must explore options for expanding learning time and educational opportunities in our district, so that our students can achieve equity by being provided the same opportunities offered to students in other states in our nation.