VOTE411 Voter Guide

I have 26 years of experience serving on the Lansing School District Board of Education. In reality you are never fully prepared as things change with every election and with every change of a superintendent. Yes, I know the mechanics, but the human factor is always the tricky part.

The basic requirements of the school board are to hire or fire the superintendent, pass a balanced school budget, and to prepare and enact school policies that are consistent with the state law. The other roles that are as important are to participate in committee work, advocate for proper teaching methods and programs that are data based, and to insure safe and welcoming schools in our school district. Finally, insure that our school children have the best opportunity for success.

My priority remains the same as when I started this journey in 2000. I truly believe in public education and I know that I bring a different perspective to the decision making-process with the explicit objective of making the best education available to all children. At this time, I am seeking a four year term to ensure that our strategic plan, which the board approved at our meeting of September 10th, is fully implemented and that our current bond projects are successfully completed. Additionally, I will continue to monitor our budget and work with our superintendent to ensure that we have the resources to provide the needed support to all our students and employees.

Teaching at J.W. Sexton High School (2016-2018) was the formative experience of my young adult life (Go J.Dubbs). Students in my class were hungry, students in my class were homeless, and I felt powerless to do anything about it. I stepped away to prioritize my health after I stopped feeding myself. My time as a teacher in the Lansing School District shapes my perspective and gives me a foundational understanding I can build upon.

Outside of the classroom, I volunteer at the Mid-Michigan Tenant Resource Center, and I’ve advocated and organized with my neighbors for tenants’ rights, climate policy, and democracy at the City, State, and Federal level.

Today, I’m working at Eaton Rapids Middle School in a Special Education classroom with students determined to be autistic or emotionally impaired. This is my second year working in Special Education on a permit, I’m organizing and facilitating IEP meetings, providing direct instruction, and deepening my experience as a classroom teacher.

Lansing School Board is responsible for approving and amending school district policy, approving the school district budget, and overseeing the hiring and firing of the superintendent. The School Board holds public meetings and creates avenues for community engagement and critical community feedback.

As local elected officials, Lansing School District Board Trustees act as ambassadors and advocates for our community in halls of power here in Lansing, Washington D.C., and elsewhere.

Together, Board Trustees are tasked with constructing and maintaining the vision for the Lansing School District. I want to see a Lansing School District prepared to meet the needs of our community now and into the future.

This is a Housing First campaign. The Superintendent has already said publicly that the Lansing School District has more buildings than other districts with similar student populations. I would work collaboratively with stakeholders to ensure that all buildings not needed by the Lansing School District remain in public hands and are prioritized for housing redevelopment.

Access to the yellow bus through 12th grade is the number one issue I hear from neighbors when I’m out knocking doors in our community. In recent Lansing School District history, the decision was made to end access to the yellow bus after students get to high school. Conversations with neighbors point toward finding the means to reverse this decision.

Other issues that matter to me include: Accessibility in the form of 2-way hybrid public comment at all Board meetings, Teacher Retention, AI Regulation, Skilled Trades, Infrastructure Improvements, and serving my community as a teacher on the board.

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