As a mom of four children raised in Albany’s schools, including a child with disabilities, I understand the diverse needs of students and am invested in making sure Albany’s schools succeed. I was inspired to run during last year’s teachers’ strike after hearing stories from educators, telling us their experiences of violence in the classroom. These stories mirrored what my own child was telling me. That was the moment I knew it was time to get involved.  ​

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SCHOOL SAFETY. One of my children witnessed violence in Albany’s schools. This experience affected her deeply, making it difficult for her to succeed in school. Last year, educators and classified staff reported hundreds of incidents of student violence resulting in injury. This issue is urgent and must be treated as such. ​

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To start, we must listen to teachers. Educators experience firsthand what happens in classrooms and hallways. They know what resources are needed and where to support safer learning environments for students and staff. We must also listen to students and their parents. Students share the experience of an unsafe learning environment with their teachers, and parents know the devastating impact unsafe learning environments have on the well-being and academic success of their children. I will listen to teachers. I will listen to students. I will be an advocate for parents. 

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Students, educators, and staff deserve safe and welcoming schools. A learning environment that is safe and secure protects the physical and mental well-being of students, educators, and staff (and parents!). These conditions are crucial for academic success and the overall development of our children. When students know their schools are safe, they will attend consistently and thrive because they can focus on learning instead of staying safe. I take school safety seriously and will focus on finding real solutions that will support our students, educators, and staff. I know providing a safe and welcoming learning environment will improve attendance and learning outcomes, and retain strong teachers and classified staff. And that will help our children. 

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​SPECIAL EDUCATION. I raised my four kids in Albany’s schools, including a child with disabilities. Special education is important to me because it’s personal. I am fortunate to have four kids who all took very different paths in education. This helped me understand that there are all kinds of kids needing all kinds of support. I believe we should honor the diverse learning needs of all students. This includes making sure students with disabilities and their families are not left out of the conversation. They are an important part of our community and deserve to experience a sense of belonging. I believe education should be accessible to all - no one should be left out of the conversation. I will fight to make sure all students have equal access to the best education possible and that students with disabilities are always included. ​

 

I believe we can do better for our students with disabilities and their families, and I will push for that if elected. While the state oversees how special education services are delivered, districts are responsible for providing these services. Funding is tight, and licensed teachers and classified support staff are hard to come by. We can acknowledge these facts and admit defeat, or we can find a way to serve our students better. School boards create budgets, set policies, and negotiate contracts - their impact on special education services is significant. I believe we can do more with the district’s limited funding to attract talented special education teachers to our district and increase the number of aids supporting students and teachers in classrooms. As a member of the board, I will be an advocate for students with disabilities and their families and prioritize optimizing the funds we have to better serve students. 

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MENTAL HEALTH. After witnessing violence at school, my daughter struggled with anxiety. This interfered with her learning because she was often too afraid to go to school, and when she did find the courage to go, she struggled to focus. She was afraid that what she had seen would happen again, or would happen to her. I learned that the school-based mental health services available to her were extremely limited. As a parent already scared for my child, this news was devastating. 

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In addition to physical safety, we have to prioritize supporting the mental health of our students, educators, and staff. To do this, we must have school-based mental health services that are effective and accessible. I will be an advocate for this cause because I believe supporting the mental and physical well-being of our students, educators, and staff will help public education achieve its goal of providing equitable, accessible, and quality education for all children. 

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COMMUNICATION. But change – progress – cannot happen without communication. The purpose of a school board is to connect a community to its schools, giving the community a say in school-related decisions. I believe students, families, educators, staff, and the community deserve to be seen and heard by the board members elected to represent them. Listening fosters trust, builds relationships, and is critical to effective communication. If elected, I will listen. You will be heard. You will be seen. And your voice will be respected. I will be transparent and responsive to the needs of students, families, educators, staff, and the community. I will be a bridge connecting the board to the community it serves, not a wall. I believe everyone deserves a seat at the table, which makes me a strong problem-solver, collaborator, and communicator.

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As a volunteer at Albany Civic Theater, I’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible youth and gifted educators. This experience has given me hope for our community’s future and inspired me to fight for a better one. If you care about the same things I do, please show your support by voting for me in the May 20th Special Election.