My platform for election to the Board incorporates three principles: Transparency, Accountability, and Community. Those principles will guide my decision-making in all facets. As a Board member, I believe it is important to be accessible and accountable to the community. I encourage all parents, teachers, students, and community members to reach out to me with their concerns, comments, and suggestions.

I also respect the privilege of overseeing the education of the children living in D428, as well as the responsible stewardship of your tax dollars. Over the course of my campaign, I have had the opportunity to speak to hundreds of parents, teachers, and community members, and they have all expressed the same concern: we need to improve out student outcomes! This is a nuanced problem, as there are a variety of factors that contribute to the District’s current scores, such as the high poverty rate and chronic absenteeism, which data has shown adversely affect student achievement. I believe the District has already identified elements that are within its control, such as the reduction of classroom size, which will be improved with the opening of Mitchell Elementary.

I believe the next step toward achieving this goal is to increase our investment in hands-on instruction. My plan for D428 is to recruit and hire additional paraprofessionals, reading specialists, and math specialists for our elementary schools because our elementary students represent the greatest return on investment. If we are successful at getting more students reading at or near grade level in elementary school, those students have a higher ceiling for achievement.

I believe we can achieve this goal working within our existing budget. Despite spending approximately $150 million per year, D428 only spends approximately $60 million per year on hands-on instruction in the classroom. The School District represents 61% of the annual property tax bill. As such, it is critical that the Board works with these other entities in an effort to make our district more attractive to outside investment. If elected, I will work closely with other taxing bodies (the City of DeKalb, DeKalb Park District, DeKalb County, etc.) as well as the Enterprise Zone to attract additional residential, commercial, and industrial development to D428.  The effect of new investment cannot be understated. In 2016, D428's annual budget was $79 million. In 2024-25, the budget exceeded $150 million. During that same period, D428 lowered it's property tax levy five times.

The takeaway is clear: increasing the property tax base provides for greater educational funding than increasing the property tax rate on individuals living in D428. If elected, my goal is to continue growing our tax base with outside investment, which will create opportunities to lower the tax burden for taxpayers living within D428!