Candidate Profiles

I want to make sure students and staff are fully supported in our district – all students and all staff. Part of truly supporting students and staff is understanding how a school board functions. As an educator with over 20 years experience, a union leader, and a father, I know the important role school boards play in setting policies and providing direction to administration. We’re facing unprecedented challenges to the mission of public schools from both Des Moines and DC. My experiences, values, and skills have prepared me to help us meet those challenges collaboratively.

I have attended school board meetings both in Iowa City, where my children attend, and in West Liberty, where I have served as union president and teacher. Since announcing my candidacy I have been able to closely follow issues raised at ICCSD board meetings through attending and meeting with current teachers, students and parents, and board members.

My three priorities are ensuring we support and respect all students, ensuring support for high quality educators and administrators, and providing steadfast leadership during these challenging times.
Support and respect for all students mean addressing individual needs while creating safe and welcoming environments for all learners. As a board member, I will advocate for policies that best serve students with opportunities within the classroom and beyond while ensuring additional supports are available for students who need them.

A critical part of ensuring students’ success is ensuring they have high quality educators and administrators in every school. Iowa City has done a great job attracting and retaining quality staff, and as a board member, I will always support collaborative efforts to ensure that their concerns are addressed. Far too many experienced educators have left the field due to the increased pressures on education, and it is up to the board to provide them a reason to stay.

With state and federal education policies that often undermine public education, it is incumbent on all leaders in education to advocate for our communities and our schools. I will always speak up on behalf of the students and educators of our district, and will work with community partners to ensure that we can meet the needs of students.

The Iowa City Community School District has a well earned reputation as a destination district both for students and for educators. The range of opportunities our district provides for students with high quality programs, facilities, and educators is incredible. As a parent and community member, I have appreciated the district’s focus on innovation and opportunities while focusing on meeting the diverse needs of our students. I have been proud to see the district tell their story through their Game On approach in responding to the state’s misguided “school choice” policies.

I see a need for an increased focus on communication both within the district and with the community. In particular, I want to ensure that teachers are able to share their concerns with administrators and for those concerns to be brought forward to the board. This is critical to supporting our educators so that they can focus on providing quality education for our students.

The district has made significant changes over the last several years to trim the budget, but chronic underfunding from the state is likely to continue. Protecting the programs and people who directly support our students, particularly those with additional needs, will be my focus when making difficult financial decisions. We need to prioritize funding areas that have the most direct impact on our students’ learning.

I have followed the district’s facility plan as a parent for many years, and have looked at it much more closely as a candidate for school board. I support the investment in facilities that offer opportunities for our students, particularly given the increased competition for student enrollment under the state’s misguided “school choice” policies. I appreciate the current focus on both athletic and arts facilities, as they will support students with a wide variety of interests.

Just as programs and staff that directly support students need to be protected in light of current underfunding, additional funds should go to the people and programs with the most impact on student learning. This includes lowering class sizes and spending more on programs from nutrition and transportation to student mental health and well being.

While I have heard (and share) concerns from teachers and parents on the impact of state legislation on district curriculum, I believe that we have the right people in place to navigate the changing curricular landscape. I have great faith in our educators, who are experts in their fields, and their ability to develop and implement curriculum that best meets our students’ needs. I appreciate the district’s focus on offering consistent instruction across classrooms and schools while allowing for individual teacher agency within their own classrooms.

For me to be an effective school board member, it is critical that I both seek and accept input from parents, teachers, and district staff. Having been in education for a long time, I have, at times, seen a disconnect between the reality in the classroom for students and teachers and what is reported in board meetings. I am committed to hearing from a wide variety of stakeholders and to be better able to make policy decisions as a board member.

Districts across the country are facing increased violent behaviors in the classroom. As a board member, I look forward to being part of the process of maximizing the safety of educators and students. I support the district’s focus on supportive rather than punitive measures–it is our responsibility to serve all of our students, particularly those with higher needs. This won’t prevent all incidents, but in the long term it will lead to better outcomes for our students. I look forward to learning more about district protocols for responding when violent incidents occur. Quick response by building administrators in the moment is critical, as is following up with support for teachers and students who are impacted. Ultimately, safety often depends not on reactive plans but proactive community and relationship building. This too needs to be emphasized.