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Age
52
Occupation / Current Position
Civil Engineer
Education
B.S. Civil Engineering, Michigan State University
Experience & Qualifications
I have served on the Lowell Board of Education since 2023. I started a small engineering firm in 2009 and am responsible for all operations of the business. I have been involved as a volunteer in the school district for the past 20 years. I serve as the Treasurer for the Alto Downtown Development Authority and the Lowell United Methodist Church and serve on the Schneider Manor board.
Campaign Phone
616-644-6529
I have served on the Lowell Area Schools Board of Education for the past four years. I serve on the Facilities Ad Hoc committee and I have attended trainings to improve my understanding of the complicated funding systems involved.
I serve as the Treasurer of the Alto Downtown Development Authority where I coordinate facilities projects, pay bills and manage financial reports. I serve as the Treasurer of the Lowell United Methodist Church where I process payroll, pay bills and create financial reports.
I own a small engineering firm where I am responsible for all operations. I also own and operate a farm with my husband and manage the financial and regulatory responsibilities required.
The methods used to educate students have changed dramatically across the globe in recent years. Some of these changes have been beneficial and it is becoming evident that some of these changes may be detrimental. We need to use an evidence-based approach and utilize the knowledge of our teachers and staff to determine what methods will work best to help our students learn the skills that they will need after graduation. We need to be willing to admit when things aren't working and make the changes that are needed. We also need to make sure that we are considering students of varying skill levels when we make these decisions. What works for a high-performing student may not work for a struggling learner.
Public schools are facing a huge amount of uncertainty today. They face declining enrollment, changes in funding, new curriculum requirements, constantly changing federal and state laws, and huge shifts in educational methods. Schools are also facing changing public perceptions of the role of public education. This uncertainty creates distractions that make it more difficult to provide an effective student education. It is important that the administration and the school board keep up with these changes and create plans to minimize disruptions for students. They need to be disciplined - reacting but not overreacting - to stay focused on the goal of preparing students and supporting teachers and staff.
My priorities are ensuring that our main focus remains on providing a quality education for our students that prepares them for their responsibilities after graduation. To do this, we need to make sure that we are spending money on the things that make the biggest impacts on our students' learning. We need to ensure that our students are not only receiving high quality instruction, but we also need to insure that they are safe, supported and ready to learn. We need to make sure our buildings are comfortable and well-maintained. We need to ensure that our teachers and staff earn competitive wages so we can hire and retain the talented and motivated people that can help our children learn to the best of their ability.
Age
55
Occupation / Current Position
Teacher, West Catholic High School
Education
B. A. in History Education from Michigan State University; M. Ed. in Secondary Education from Grand Valley State University
Experience & Qualifications
Board Member since 1998; 33 years experience as a teacher; lifelong resident of Lowell area; Graduate Lowell High School Class of 1989
I have served on the Lowell School Board for 28 years. I have worked with four different superintendents. We have led the District through good financial times and bad times. As a lifelong Lowell resident and LHS graduate, I have a good understanding of the community. As a certified teacher with 33 years of teaching experience, I bring a knowledge of educational processes.
Lowell Area Schools already posts strong achievement scores. We outshine most of the demographically comparable districts in the region and statewide. There is always room for continued growth. The District needs to continue to support teacher development in research-based teaching practices. The District needs to continue its work of curriculum evaluation and alignment. Students with achievement deficiencies need to be identified at an early point and given the academic support necessary to fill in the gaps.
Public schools today face many challenges. There is a demographic challenge of declining birthrates across many districts in the state. This can require districts to downsize/rightsize to adjust to new realities. Another challenge is the uncertainty of funding. Each year the state budget process makes it difficult for districts to plan for the future when so much depends on state funding levels. The perennial challenge of education is meeting students' social and academic needs—giving all students the tools and resources they need to be ready and able to learn.
Balancing school budgets requires school administrators to allocate scarce resources in ways that preserve as much of the academic priorities as possible. The mantra is to keep cuts “away from the classroom” as much as possible. Districts need to maintain healthy fund balances to weather economic downturns and to be able to handle emergency spending needs. Districts need to be prudent in working with collective bargaining units to negotiate contracts which are fiscally sustainable (personnel costs are the largest portion of every school budget). Opportunities for grants and other funding streams outside of the foundation allowance need to be pursued.
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