Candidate has not yet responded.
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Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Campaign phone
330-715-7686
Education
Proud Alum of Cuyahoga Falls High School Bachelor’s Degree in Philosophy from John Carroll University
Training/Experience
Attained Master School Board Member Status from the Ohio School Board Association in recognition of my commitment to Service and Training, Cuyahoga Falls Schools Foundation and Alumni Association Trustee 2020-2024, District Policy Committee Member 2018-present, Athletic Council Member, Ohio School Boards Association Black Caucus Member 2018-2025 and Chair 2024, Ohio School Boards Association Northeast Region Executive Committee 2023-present, Board Member Keys 2 Serenity 2022-present, Akron Bar Association Grievance Committee 2024-present
Previous public office
Current Board of Education Member, Proudly serving our community since January 1, 2018
As the second longest serving member currently on the Board of Education, my experience and dedication to my role have shown the community that I am a proven and trusted leader. In my 8 years on the Board of Education, my colleagues have elected me to leadership 6 times showing their trust in me as well.
I have also represented our district on local, regional, and state committees and led a state committee last year which allowed me to further elevate the needs of our district and make sure our voice is heard.
I believe that real leadership must always be honest and transparent and our community knows they can turn to me with their questions and concerns and receive a real and honest response. I also continue to advocate for transparency which most often means making sure we are effectively communicating in advance of anything happening. I am also unafraid to disagree on an issue if I believe it is warranted.
My trusted and transparent leadership style makes me the best candidate.
These are reflected in our new strategic plan which I took an active part in helping develop:
Culture of Caring
Facilitating our Financial Future
Steering to Student Achievement
We must continue to work to find ways to make sure all students feel safe, secure, welcomed, and prepared for school each day. By bringing in a Director of Wellness and Success, hiring social workers, and launching our Black Tiger Family Center we have made strides in these areas. We need to do more to evaluate equal access to after school opportunities in our elementary schools as well as making sure all students feel they have at least one trusted adult at school.
We are making difficult but responsible decisions with our facilities and finances to stabilize our district. Having a successful opening of our 6-12 building is important and as the only candidate who has been involved in the entire project I bring key knowledge to the table. The new building will provide additional academic opportunities as well
Ensuring student and staff safety is critical to having healthy, happy, and productive learning spaces.
I was proud to be asked to present on this topic to other school board members this past May along with our district security supervisor and director of security. I personally researched ways in which school shooters most often get into buildings and then looked into technologies and systems that exist to make those entry points more difficult in our buildings. While I encountered some roadblocks, I refused to take no for an answer and both of my ideas, door alarms for propped doors and safety film on glass, have been implemented in all of our buildings.
As a board of education member, I believe it is my responsibility to go beyond just proposing an idea and hoping someone makes it work. As a board member, we can take real action by researching, evaluating options, and bringing real solutions to the table.
I’m committed to continuing to keep our district at the forefront of safety
I often like to say that the only thing we are a Board of, is Education. While we are expected to do so much else, and make thoughtful decisions about roofs and parking lots and so many other issues, we must always keep education at the forefront of decisions we make.
As a Board of Education member, I have been committed to deeply understanding how we work to educate our students from gifted education to special education and all of our students in between.
Supporting our educators by working to stop initiative fatigue has been key as well. Instead, we have been focusing professional development opportunities on highly skilled professionals who help do deeper dives into resources we already have and into existing realities such as digging into state standards to help make sure our students learn what they need to in each grade in order to succeed in the next.
We have also worked hard as a Board to prioritize highly quality educational materials to support our teachers and students.
World class education and experience to help Cuyahoga Falls schools.9
Financial and academic issues. Ohio ordered $4 million budget cut in 3 years. Only 49% of students are on grade level in math.
New high school has safety upgrades. Similar changes are needed for grade schools.
Complex problem. Need to work with all stakeholders. There is no silver bullet.
Campaign phone
3309624767
Education
BS Dietetics from The University of Akron MFCS Food and Nutrition from Bowling Green State University
Training/Experience
4 years serving on CFCSD Board of Education
Previous public office
Cuyahoga Falls City School District Board of Education Member
I believe I am the best candidate for CFCSD Board of Education because of my experience and dedication. When I first ran four years ago, I brought the perspective of a parent, volunteer, advocate, and PTA leader. Since then, I’ve added years of board service, many hours of Ohio School Boards Association training, and have earned the OSBA Aptitude Award twice. This award recognizes board members who demonstrate strong governance skills in six key leadership areas: vision, accountability, policy, community engagement, relationships, and advocacy. I am also a strong collaborator who values teamwork, listens to community members, and works hard to ensure decisions reflect both student needs and the district’s long-term future.
One of the most significant issues for our district is what public schools across the state and nation are facing: inequitable funding. These gaps continue to grow, leaving districts like ours in the difficult position of making hard choices while still working to give every student the education they deserve. For the past four years, I have advocated for fair funding by staying informed, contacting legislators, and building connections with decision-makers, and I will continue to do so. I also believe in keeping our community engaged and informed, because transparency builds trust and stronger outcomes. Another key issue is our mid-year move into the new 6–12 campus. While transitions can be stressful, our committees are preparing diligently, and I am confident this state-of-the-art campus will not only provide outstanding opportunities for students today but will also serve as a foundation for the future of education in Cuyahoga Falls.
Student, staff, and community safety has been a top priority during my four years on the CFCSD Board of Education. Through careful consideration and planning we have upgraded security equipment such as exterior lighting, cameras and door sensors to keep our schools more secure. We created a Security Supervisor role, dedicated School Resource Officer positions, and maintained police presence in our middle and elementary schools. We also partnered with law enforcement and community leaders—including the Police Chief, FBI, Summit County Prosecutor, and local judges—to provide students with education on online safety, decision-making, and real-world consequences. Safety is an ongoing issue, and I will continue to support proactive measures that protect our schools and give families peace of mind.
A high-quality, meaningful education should empower every student to discover their strengths and prepare for the future they choose. I believe the Board must champion opportunities that meet diverse needs—whether through updated curriculum, enrichment for gifted learners, or pathways like the Six District Compact that provide career training and job readiness. Programs like College Credit Plus open doors to higher education while still in high school. Just as importantly, we must ensure students are present to access these opportunities, which is why I’ve supported initiatives to improve attendance. Looking ahead, I will continue to advocate for programs that challenge, support, and inspire every learner—because our mission, Every Student. Every Day. Every Opportunity, is more than words; it is a commitment to our future.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Candidate has not yet responded.
Education
B.S. Civil Engineering, West Virginia University; M.S. Historic Preservation, Columbia University
Training/Experience
Owner, Aurora Research Associates LLC; Registered Professional Engineer; Silver Lake Home and School League PTO Vice-President; Substitute Teacher (2021-22); 4-H Club Volunteer Leader
Website
votecz.com
Previous public office
Silver Lake Planning Commission
I have been an engaged parent and volunteer in the Cuyahoga Falls School District since 2019 and have been regularly attending Board meetings for the past 6 months. I am running with a clear understanding of the hard work needed to maintain and strengthen public education. I believe that public schools deserve investment and support, not diverting of resources to unaccountable entities. At the same time, having worked as a consultant to government agencies at every level from local to federal, I understand the importance of making sound financial and strategic decisions for stewardship of public funds. Finally, as a 14-year small business owner, I have experience in project management, budgets, personnel, and collaboration, skills that are transferable and valuable as a board of education member. My priorities as a board member are academic growth and a caring, safe environment for all students.
Declining enrollment and expenses outpacing revenues are the critical challenges facing many school districts today, including Cuyahoga Falls.
- I will continue to work to improve academic outcomes with evidence-based curriculum and programs. Inspiring trust and pride in our school district both encourages families to enroll in our schools and gives our residents confidence that their tax dollars are spent wisely and effectively.
- I will work to form partnerships with non-profits, local government, businesses, and others to create programs that enhance education, growth, and health for our students. I see much potential for collaboration in areas like career exploration, life skills, extracurriculars, and community service.
- I will advocate alongside our community for policies at the state and federal levels that adequately fund public education and resist legislative overreach into local school decisions.
Improving school safety involves both increasing physical security and creating a supportive and responsive school environment for students. Cuyahoga Falls has made great strides in recent years in security measures in our buildings and I will continue to support implementation of best practices and the latest technology. For safety concerns related to student behavior, I support both clear behavior expectations with fair consequences and restorative practices that give students access to mental health services and help them learn to deal with challenges, emotions, and conflict in a healthy way. Some methods for achieving this include training for teachers and staff in supporting student mental health; follow-up support and resources; comprehensive social-emotional learning for students in internet safety, personal relationships, conflict and other topics; and social media/device usage limits and policies.
Diversity, equity and inclusion have become taboo words lately but acknowledging and supporting students with certain challenges does not have to come at the expense of others. No matter what words we use for it, I believe our district, from the classroom to the boardroom, needs to understand and address the needs of all students, including those with different racial, national and ethnic backgrounds, socioeconomic status, LGTBQ+ orientations, learning differences, medical diagnoses, family circumstances, and any other factors that may affect their educational experience. Every action, large or small, that the board takes should be in consideration of the well-being and success of all of our students. We must also work to address the financial issues facing public education, instill faith and trust in constituents through transparency and positive gains, and prioritize workforce quality through training, compensation, and accountability.
