Indiana public schools are governed by school boards whose members are elected in Tippecanoe County. These board members establish the direction, set goals and define the structure of their school district by adopting policies through the authority granted to them by the state legislature. Powers the boards retain are related to property, facilities, personnel, salaries, transportation, school lunch, educational materials and supplies, levy taxes, budgets, insurance and much more. They are accountable to the public.
Education
B.S Building Construction Management from Purdue University with Graduate Certificate in Construction Management from Purdue University
Experience in Leadership and Management
I am currently a project manager for $50-$100M industrial agriculture construction projects. I also have experience leading multiple PTAs (Parent Teacher Association) in Detroit, MI, and various church and non-profit groups such as MOPS (now known as the Mom Co.). During my time away from the construction industry when my kids were young, I found a second career and passion for public education by supporting the Detroit Public Schools Foundation with accounting and grant management/compliance.
Campaign Video
I am running because I believe that I have relevant skills and experiences that will serve our schools well. I have a passion for ensuring that every kid has access to a quality education regardless of their family circumstances, which led me to advocacy work in Detroit, and ultimately a second career with the Detroit Public Schools Foundation. Now that I am back in construction as a project manager, it's difficult to be a school volunteer during the work day, but this is a way I can still serve and use my gifts, talents, and experiences for our schools.
I support the WLCSC operating tax referendum that is on the ballot again this fall, which currently covers about 25% of our budget. I like the plan to adjust the rate to make up the difference of what the state cut, with the ultimate goal of keeping local taxes and our revenue the same. That's currently the biggest hurdle that we know of, but it's hard to predict what the next challenge will be. I also have experience thinking outside the box and working with grants that support initiatives such as mental health programs, whole child supports, and career and technical education opportunities.
While educating children is a school’s main focus, students spend a lot of time there. This puts schools in a unique position to help identify concerns early, with the goal of helping connect families with local healthcare professionals. At the same time, schools have limited resources, and we can’t expect teachers to be both educators and mental health professionals. This is why investing in counselors at our schools is so important. Supporting students also means supporting teachers with the resources, training, and systems they need. Schools should serve as a bridge, connecting students and families to the appropriate support so every student has the opportunity to succeed.
Investing in mental health, as established in the prior question, is one way to help deal with the safety issues relevant to our schools today. The other is working with local police departments to establish a team of School Resource Officers (SRO), which WLCSC has done. I really appreciate that there's a team available, but also that each school has a primary SRO assigned to them since consistency fosters relationships. And also having comprehensive safety plans in place that get reviewed and tweaked periodically to ensure they are still the best plan.
While I don't like unfunded mandates from the state, like the recent cell phone ban, I do appreciate the intent to keep the students focussed in class and allowing our teachers to decide when and how to utilize technology in their classrooms. We need to make sure that we have a comprehensive policy on the use of AI in the classroom. It should ensure that our students don't rely on AI as a shortcut to learning, but also allow enough exposure to how to use it in ways that will make them university or industry ready after graduation.
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Campaign Phone
4012060718
Education
Masters Degree in Information Technology Management
Experience in Leadership and Management
20 years as a USAF officer I have filled various leadership positions. Flight Commander of a space operations crew of 22 was my most recent.
I am a longtime resident of West Lafayette, and my children have attended West Lafayette schools from WLES to WL Jr/Sr High. I have a personal connection to this community and a strong interest in seeing our schools continue to serve students and families.
One of the Air Force’s core values is “Service Before Self,” and that is something I have carried with me throughout my life. Since retiring from the Air Force in 2020, I have been looking for meaningful ways to become more involved in and give back to the community that my family and I call home. Running for the school board feels like a natural way for me to serve.
My immediate priority would be to support the approach the school board has already taken by adding the referendum to the ballot. I believe that local funding is necessary if we want to maintain the quality of education West Lafayette families have come to expect without significant reductions in staff, programs, or services.
At the local level, I think we also have a responsibility to carefully examine spending, look for efficiencies where they make sense, and prioritize spending that directly support students and classrooms. The reality is efficiencies alone cannot make up for lost revenue. That is why I believe the referendum is an important tool for protecting the programs, teachers, and educational opportunities our community values.
There are several ways to approach this problem. First, students who are struggling need to know where they can go for help and have access to qualified mental-health professionals. I would want to look at whether our current counseling and mental-health resources are sufficient for the number of students we have.
Additionally, I think prevention and school connectedness are important. Students who feel like they belong and have meaningful connections with other students and adults are better positioned to deal with the pressures they face. We should encourage students to become involved in athletics, clubs, music, academic teams, or other activities where they can develop those relationships.
Student and staff safety is one of the fundamental responsibilities of the school corporation. That includes not only responding to serious threats, but also preventing problems before they occur and making sure our schools are places where students and staff feel safe every day.
The district already has a number of measures in place, including a School Resource Officer, school safety specialists, emergency drills and procedures, and policies for addressing threats, bullying, and other safety concerns. I think the board's responsibility is to regularly evaluate those measures and make sure they continue to meet the needs of our schools.
My military experience taught me the importance of being prepared before an emergency occurs.
Technology is going to continue to change, and I don't think schools can address that challenge simply by trying to keep new technology out of the classroom. We need to teach students how to use it responsibly and effectively.
Students should learn how to use AI as a tool that can assist the learning process, not as a way to avoid the learning process. They need to understand when using AI is appropriate, how to tell if the information it provides is accurate, and when using it crosses the line into cheating. Those are skills they are going to need in college and in the workplace.
I think our goal should be to prepare students for the world they are going to enter. Technology isn't going away, it should be used responsibly.
Campaign Phone
4128417312
Education
MS in Economy and Finance
Experience in Leadership and Management
4-Year WLCSC School Board Member
Campaign Video
Great schools are built through commitment, collaboration, and a community that puts students first. That belief is why I’m running for re-election to WLCSC school board. As a parent and current board member, I am committed to ensuring every student has access to an excellent education in a safe and supportive environment. I believe we must support our administrators, teachers, and staff, be responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars, and listen closely to our community. I hope to build on the experience of the past four years and continue serving with collaboration, transparency, and a clear focus on what is best for our students.
To mitigate the impact of funding cuts, WLCSC needs a balanced, long-term approach. This includes proactive budgeting and financial planning, regular spending reviews to identify efficiencies while protecting classroom priorities, and early renewal of the current referendum at a higher rate (0.5706/100 NAV) to help offset declining referendum revenue. We should also pursue grants and supplementary funding, including community support through our education foundation (WLSEF). Most importantly, we must plan ahead, closely monitor changing revenues and expenses, and make thoughtful decisions that balance educational excellence with long-term financial stability.
Schools should take a proactive and supportive approach to students’ mental health issues. WLCSC already uses an MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) framework to identify student needs and provide timely academic and behavioral interventions, with additional counseling, family support, and outside mental-health services via partnership available when appropriate. We should continue evaluating these resources to ensure students receive timely support while keeping families appropriately involved and educators focused on their educational roles.
WLCSC addresses school safety through prevention, preparedness, early intervention, and coordinated response. The district works closely with law enforcement and has 3 full-time School Resource Officers (SROs), with 1 assigned to each school building, maintains safety plans and background check for employees, and provides staff training for emergencies, suicide-prevention and student safety. It also uses counseling, Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), behavioral interventions, and mental-health resources to identify and address concerns early. Ongoing reviews of safety practices and collaboration among schools, families, and community partners help support a safe environment for both students and staff.
Information technology like social media can strengthen communication and learning, but it also raises real concerns about distraction, cyberbullying, and misinformation. AI has made knowledge more accessible, expanded opportunities for personalized learning, and improved teacher productivity. However, excessive reliance on AI may discourage intellectual struggle, curiosity, independent discovery, and critical thinking, while potentially weakening genuine human connection. I believe WLCSC should help students develop the judgment and skills to think critically and use technology responsibly, while maintaining appropriate safeguards to protect learning, student well-being, and safety.
