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Age
62
Occupation / Current Position
Retired
Education
BA in Business Administration from Michigan State University
Experience & Qualifications
10 + years of Experience on the Kalamazoo Public School Board. Past Executive Director of SLD Read, Vice Chair of Shared Prosperity Advisory Board of the City of Kalamazoo, parent of 2 promise kids
Campaign Mailing Address
3532 Old Colony RD., Kalamazoo, MI 49008
I am passionate about the importance of education and the pursuit of lifelong learning. I was on the Kalamazoo Public School Board from May 2008 through December 2018, and was reappointed to the Board this year. I am currently the Vice President of the Board, and have served as the Vice President and President of the Board in the past. I have 25 years of experience with SLD Read. The importance of literacy, especially for struggling students, has been a focus in my professional career. I have a proven record of leadership, experience and collaboration that is critical to the success of our students and school board.
KPS has strong leadership and a committed and caring staff. The diversity of our student body and breadth of student opportunities are unparalleled. We are fiscally sound and our facilities are well maintained. We have incredible community support from voters, parents and the nonprofit community. Our students benefit from the amazing gift of the Kalamazoo Promise.
We can continue to improve upon: (1) early childhood literacy and strengthening our reading curriculum; (2) alternative learning strategies for students below grade level; (3) safe and welcoming learning environments for all students; (4) improved parent/guardian communication.
I will support improved communication between school principals, teachers and parents by providing information through a variety of pathways, including direct communication and electronic communication (e.g. website information, emails etc.). I will also work to create and support programs that help parents navigate social media, strengthen parenting skills, and strengthen the literacy skills of their children.
Kalamazoo has a wealth of nonprofits that support our students. I believe a more focused effort to create stronger collaborations between KPS and the nonprofit community will result in a bigger positive impact.
Safety in our buildings is a priority for not only our district, but for every district in the country. We must make sure our buildings are secure and staff are trained to take action in case of an emergency. The Board should actively monitor that all buildings have a support system in place and that we are working with local law enforcement so that they can share best practices for keeping our children safe.
The Board has a strong anti-bullying and anti-cyber bullying policy as well as a weapons policy. Each has specific procedures that need to be followed at the building level. These are critical in keeping our buildings safe for all.
