VOTE411 Voter Guide

I’ve been a public-school educator my entire career—totaling nearly twenty years in high schools, middle schools, and most recently the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. I've taught diverse classrooms, led district-wide curriculum redesign efforts focused, and helped prepare our next generation of teachers at UWL.

My academic background in Political Science and History, combined with a master’s in education, has given me both theoretical and real-world knowledge of educational policy and evidence-based instructional practices.

Most importantly, I'm a Holmen parent. I’m excited to be a part of maintaining the high levels of achievement at Holmen Public Schools, and to keep making our community a better place!

Three key issues drove my decision to run: student safety and belonging, supporting educators, and data-driven decision-making.

Every student deserves an education where they feel safe, valued, and supported, regardless of background or ability. I've spent my career working to close opportunity gaps and ensure all students can succeed. That commitment should guide every decision.

Our teachers and staff are the foundation of student success. However, declining enrollment creates financial pressures that threaten student programs and teacher retention. As neighboring districts compete for talent, we must think creatively about remaining competitive while preserving the comprehensive programming that makes Holmen schools strong.

Finally, I want to make decisions based on evidence and outcomes, not assumptions. My background in education has taught me the importance of using data to guide resource allocation and assess what's working, and adjust what isn't.

Yes. Recruiting and retaining excellent educators is the most important element in academic success. This requires competitive compensation, supportive working conditions, and intentional diversity efforts.

We must find creative solutions to remain competitive with neighboring districts while creating environments where teachers can focus on teaching—with strong administrative support, meaningful professional development, and genuine voice in decisions.

Recruiting diverse educators requires intentional work. A diverse teaching staff that looks like our community enriches learning for all students and helps every child see themselves reflected in school leadership.

I hope to be a bridge between all stakeholders–students, families, teachers, staff, administration, and the broader community. My job will be to listen actively, understand different perspectives, and make decisions that serve students first.

I'm committed to transparency—ensuring board decisions and reasoning are clearly communicated. Advocacy is two-way: explaining decisions while actively listening to students, families, teachers, and community members. Their voices must shape our deliberations. Transparency and accessibility build the trust essential for strong public schools.

Although Holmen continues to build new housing, the school district’s enrollment is actually declining due to a variety of demographic factors. Declining enrollment has meant that the district has had to freeze teacher pay and cut teaching positions. We're competing with neighboring districts for talent while trying to maintain comprehensive programming.

We need creative solutions: strategic use of reserves, careful resource allocation prioritizing classroom instruction, and building community support for sustainable funding through referenda when necessary.

State of Wisconsin Licensed Social Worker with 17 years of experience serving individuals with disabilities, mental health challenges, and older adults. Throughout my career, I have been committed to helping people achieve greater independence, dignity, and quality of life. This work has given me valuable insight into the diverse needs of individuals and families in our community.

I currently provide oversight to external stakeholders in Provider Relations and serve as a Contract Professional, where I am responsible for vendor management and Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs). In these roles, I have developed strong skills in collaboration, problem-solving and identifying inefficiencies.

I also place a high value on continuous learning and professional growth. To strengthen my skillset, I have earned certifications in Project Management, Supervisory Management, and AI Strategy.

I am a current board Member. Serving on the Excellence in Education Committee. (formerly DEI)

I am motivated to foster a sense of belonging and inclusion for every student in our district. I believe it is essential that all children feel welcomed and valued in our schools. To me, belonging means that students are comfortable asking questions in the classroom, have access to a variety of learning tools to support different learning styles, and feel empowered to stand up against bullying. It also means having opportunities to build friendships, discover personal interests, and participate in activities they enjoy, all while being encouraged to pursue their aspirations.

I am committed to supporting a school culture where every child feels safe and confident to be their authentic self. In addition, as a parent of three elementary-aged children in the district, I am motivated to gain a deeper understanding of district operations and decision-making processes. I am dedicated to making informed decisions based on facts and strongly advocate for greater transparency to our community

Given that state aid has not kept pace with inflation, our district, like many others across the state, faces significant financial challenges. As a result, districts are increasingly seeking community backing through referenda.

Should our community support the upcoming referendum, the district would be better positioned to maintain manageable class sizes, ensure adequate staffing for student services, intervention, and special education, and continue to offer competitive compensation packages. These steps are essential for recruiting and retaining an outstanding and diverse workforce.

Furthermore, the ability to provide high-quality facilities, safe learning environments, a wide range of academic and extracurricular offerings, and strong athletics programs will reinforce our district’s reputation as a District of Choice.

It is essential to engage the community through a variety of communication methods. While many community members increasingly rely on social media and digital platforms, others continue to prefer more traditional forms of communication. My role in advocacy is to support district transparency by ensuring information is shared clearly, accurately, and in ways that are accessible and easy to understand across multiple channels.

I also believe it is important to foster strong connections between the board and the broader community. Effective advocacy is not the responsibility of any one individual alone; it requires a collective effort. By encouraging open dialogue, curiosity, and thoughtful questions, we can build a more informed and engaged community that works together in support of our schools.

As noted above, if General state aid kept up with inflation, we would have millions additional in operating revenue. This presents challenges especially with inflation. Many don't know the actual costs to operate a school district. I didn't know until I was on the board! It costs hundreds of thousands to repair a track. It costs nearly a million to replace a roof, a quality roof, that will last. For my job I have always had to make cost-effective decisions. I am committed to ensuring that district resources are used wisely by prioritizing both quality and cost-effectiveness. That means planning carefully, making informed long-term investments, and focusing on the greatest value for students, staff, and taxpayers.

I have served on the Holmen School Board since 2022 and currently serve as Board Clerk, Wellness Committee Chair, and a member of the Human Growth & Development Committee. I am a Master Certified Health Education Specialist and will complete my Master of Public Administration degree in May 2026. I bring more than a decade of public health leadership experience, including 11 years partnering with local school districts on nutrition, safety, and student wellness initiatives. I also worked in state public health administration, collaborating with the Department of Public Instruction and managing a $2 million grant portfolio focused on student mental health and belonging. I was honored to receive a 2024 Rising Star Award and remain active in regional nonprofit and policy leadership. Most importantly, I am the proud mom of three Holmen students and am committed to strong schools and a thriving community.

Student belonging, Health & wellness, Community partnerships, Tax transparency

Our district generally has a fantastic workforce, but the financial struggles we face as a public school district have made maintaining competitive salary and benefits very difficult - this needs to be remedied. Supporting strong culture, positive leadership, and ensuring all of our staff feel they belong in our district can also help.

Advocacy is one of the most important parts of holding an elected office. I have relationships with elected policy makers and their teams at the local, state, and federal level, and stay in frequent communication with them about important education issues.

K-12 public schools throughout the state are facing extreme budget challenges. Among them are a lack of general aid increase for many years, no inflationary adjustments, lagging special education reimbursement, and unfunded mandates. The district's current operational referendum will help with our challenges, but advocacy at the state level is key to lasting change.