VOTE411 Voter Guide

I am motivated to serve on the school board because of my deep roots in this community and my professional experience in public stewardship. As a 23-year Livingston County resident with a son entering his senior year and a daughter starting her freshman year, I have a deep personal stake in the success of our schools. My early background in education as a substitute teacher, long-time youth coach and my current community involvement, keeps me grounded in what matters most: the future of our students.

Professionally, my career has been rooted in leadership and finance. In my current role as Livingston County Chief Deputy Register of Deeds, I am held to strict standards of accuracy and integrity to serve our county. I approach the School Board with that same gravity. I am ready to bring my managerial background and my passion for our community’s kids to the board to ensure Howell Public Schools continue to deliver the high-quality education our families expect and deserve.

What makes me the best candidate is my public sector leadership, fiscal accountability, and youth development roots. A school board’s duties are fiscal oversight, policy alignment, and building community trust; my 20+ years of managerial career prepares me to excel at exactly that.

First, I bring award-winning public administration experience. As the Livingston County Chief Deputy Register of Deeds, I interpret and follow statutes to protect public records. My commitment earned the 2025 Michigan Chief Deputy of the Year Award and a Congressional Recognition.

I bring strong financial oversight. Whether managing county funds, cutting rejection rates by 8%, or exceeding profit goals by 18%, I maximize resources. I will ensure our budget is managed conservatively and strategically.

Finally, I bridge policy and people. From West Point/MSU to coaching youth and organizing courthouse tours, I am invested in our community. I am ready to provide stable leadership for Howell Public Schools.

Our biggest educational strength in Howell is our 'Portrait of a Highlander' pathways. We don't force a one-size-fits-all education. Student may take advantage of our 14 AP courses, graduate into a career through our Construction Trades and Health Occupations or thrive in our elite Robotics and Performing Arts. Students have the tools to build their own future. Our weakness is shared with many districts statewide: secondary math proficiency gaps. While our reading benchmarks remain solid, state data shows our student math proficiency drops as they transition into the upper grade levels. As a candidate with a strong financial and managerial background, I look at these proficiency gaps as a resource and strategy problem. We need to ensure our teachers have the specific instructional frameworks, targeted coaching, resources and math intervention tools they need. It is especially critical in the middle school transition years—to bring those math scores up to match our high standards.

My community involvement spans years of active service, civic leadership, and youth mentorship. First, I drive civic leadership and events. I recently coordinated Livingston County’s 250th Celebration of American Independence Firework Event, bringing together 8K–10K residents. I also serve as a Co-Organizer and Volunteer for Wreaths Across America in Fowlerville, honoring our veterans and their sacrifice. I have been honored twice to serve as the event's keynote speaker.

Second, I am passionate about historic preservation and education. Each year, I conduct roughly 26 Historic Courthouse Tours. These groups include second-grade field trips, homeschoolers, adult education, and various other groups sharing our local history.

Finally, I have spent decades in youth sports and mentorship, coaching Dansville Freshman Football, Brighton and Pinckney Youth Baseball, and Pinckney 8th-grade football. My time has always been dedicated to the families of Livingston County.

I believe strong public schools benefit everyone, not only families with children in the district. Excellent schools help make Howell a community where people want to live, raise families, and build businesses. They contribute to strong property values, a skilled workforce, and a community that can thrive and prosper.

Every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, and I want Howell to remain a district our community is proud to support.

Since being appointed to the Board in June, I have gained an even greater appreciation for the opportunities we provide students and the responsibility of governing a district well.

Our community has made a significant investment in our schools, and I want to protect that investment through responsible stewardship, transparency and accountability, while keeping students at the center of our decisions.

I bring experience in education, family engagement, advocacy, community leadership, and school governance. For 8 years, I have brought families and organizations together, used data, navigated complex systems, and turned community needs into action.

My literacy and special education advocacy has strengthened my understanding of how differently students experience our education system.

I have served in local and statewide leadership roles and spent 14 years volunteering in Howell schools.

Since joining the Board, I have pursued governance training, studied policy and finances, visited schools, and asked questions to better understand our district. I know good governance requires listening to different perspectives, asking difficult questions, and making decisions based on evidence.

I bring experience, curiosity, collaboration, and a willingness to do the work.

As Livingston County's largest school district, one of Howell's greatest strengths is the breadth of opportunities we can provide.

Students can access Spanish immersion, specialized programs for students with disabilities, advanced coursework, career and technical education, work-based learning, and multiple pathways after graduation.

We also have dedicated educators and strong graduation outcomes.

Our challenge is ensuring those opportunities translate into success for every student. We need continued improvement in literacy and math achievement, attendance, student engagement, and effective interventions for struggling students.

We must also ensure students can access the opportunities that best meet their needs. We need to look beyond district averages and ask: Who is succeeding? Who isn't yet? What is working, and what should we do differently?

Showing up for my family and community is important to me. I serve on the Howell Board of Education and Livingston Parent Advisory Committee, lead the Great Start Livingston Family Coalition, and work with Help Me Grow and the Livingston County Literacy Coalition.

I have volunteered through my church, the Howell DDA and Howell beautification efforts as a Master Gardener; mentored through Reaching Higher and Big Brothers Big Sisters; participated in Scouting; supported Howell Recreation; and served through PTOs, boosters, school improvement, and many HPS district initiatives. I also helped lead the effort to pass Howell's 2023 school bond.

Some of my most meaningful involvement is simply helping other parents understand what's happening in our schools, connect with resources and know how to make their voices heard. I believe involved families help build successful students and stronger schools.