I am running for office because District 6 deserves someone who cares about our kids, teachers, and the future of our public schools. I was originally inspired to run after hearing about the private school voucher program. I reached out to our current District 6 school board member to express my concerns that this voucher system would pull public money out of public schools. She never returned my calls or even replied to an email saying she received my message. I was incredibly upset that a person elected to represent our public schools in Knox County would advocate against their best interests. I decided then and there that I would ensure District 6 had a strong advocate for public schools by stepping up to run for the School Board.
I was born and raised in Hardin Valley and attended school at Karns and Hardin Valley. I have a unique perspective to bring to the table as a former student of District 6 schools.
I am also the daughter of a counselor. I was raised with the tools of navigating conflict management my entire life. I am very skilled at building bridges, mending relationships, and reaching meaningful compromises.
As a former theatre educator, I’ve worked with children of all ages. My work in the theatre has also primed me to solve problems creatively on a shoestring budget. The theatre is often underfunded, just like our public schools, but we are expected to make magic happen, and we always manage to find a way to do just that.
I believe the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office are to govern transparently, responsibly, and in the best interests of our public schools and community.
Transparency: people deserve to know how decisions that impact them are being made and where their money is going within Knox County Schools. I intend to hold systems, elected officials, and myself accountable to our commitments.
It is vital to govern responsibly. My actions have consequences that impact the entire county, not just District 6.
I am not running for personal gain, but to be of service to the community and an advocate for every child, teacher, and public school. It will be my responsibility to listen, advocate, and serve our community.
I am an excellent listener and communicator. I understand that true connection and effective communication are essential to find solutions. If we listen to one another with curiosity and the intent to understand, we can create better schools together!
Having experienced our schools through the eyes of a child and a teacher’s helper, I understand what our teachers and students really need, and I have no qualms about speaking up on their behalf. Our teachers need coverage so they don’t have to hold their bladders for eight hours. Our students need developmentally appropriate schoolwork. Our school buildings need renovations so that our kids and teachers are safe in our schools. We have real problems, and I will not turn a blind eye to them.
My top three priorities are to keep public funds in public schools by saying NO to the voucher expansion. With proper funding and budgeting, we can support our educators by promoting a better work environment, ensuring a good work/life balance, and providing school supplies. Finally, we can and should prioritize our children’s well-being by providing more mental health services, focusing on developmentally appropriate curriculum, and disincentivizing overly stressful assessments. We cannot expect our students to thrive if they do not feel safe physically, mentally, or emotionally in our schools.
To put it more simply: 1) Protect Public School Funding. 2) Support Our Educators. 3) Promote Overall Wellness for Our Kids.
I am just like you. I'm a mom who got fed up with the way our public schools are being defunded, the way parents' and teachers’ concerns keep getting brushed off, and how our kids are continuously being let down as a result.
I am here to represent you, regardless of what you believe politically. When a firefighter gets a call to put out a fire, they don’t first ask who you voted for; they just help. When I receive a call from a teacher, a parent, or a community member, I won’t ask either; I will just help.
Everyone deserves representation that cares about them. When I say I care, I mean it. I turn that care into action. I use my unique skill set to find creative solutions to difficult problems to create meaningful change in Knox County.
