Top Priorities
My main priorities for the Kirkwood School District are all part of one overall objective – to ensure we stay ambitious. I believe we can achieve wonderful things for our students and community if we seize the following opportunities:
To Attract & Retain The Best Educators & Staff.
There are a lot of things schools can do to improve academic results for students, but research shows that the quality of instructors is one of the most important. I believe that our educators, administrators, and support staff are absolutely imperative to the quality of our district and our students' experiences. As a Board Member, I will be mindful of how policy and other high level decisions may impact our staff. Our district benefits from creating work environments that ensure staff feel safe, heard, and valued.
To Ensure We Use Our Resources Wisely & Strategically, Prioritizing Students & Remaining Mindful Of Long-Term Needs.
We are in times of uncertainty in many areas of public education. Enrollment is declining for most districts due to lowering birth rates. There are a lot of new developments taking place at the state level that are having unpredictable impacts on public education funding. We are incredibly fortunate to be in a solid financial position here in Kirkwood, thanks to smart, careful planning from our administrative teams. However, we need to hold that position by continuing to be vigilent. That is why I want to make sure we are prioritizing our spending on tools and programs that have the most direct impact on our students while allowing us flexibility if we need to pivot in the future.
To Encourage & Support Academic Outcomes For Student Groups.
Kirkwood is a high performing district for most of our students. That said, we are not immune to the challenges most districts face when it comes to helping some of our students overcome cultural obstacles. Our School Board has been focused on tackling some of these issues and I remain committed to asking tough questions about how our curriculum and resources will assist us in our mission. I would love to see us close the opportunity gap for our students of color, increase engagement in STEAM subjects from our female students and students of color, improve academic supports for our students with IEPs, ensure our English Language Learners graduate on a path to success and independence, and ensure every Pioneer gets what they need to achieve their full potential.
To ensure we thoughtfully evaluate investments and drive focus on our strategic initiatives.
One of the key responsibilities of school board members is to evaluate and vote on financial investments and plans. I want to do my part to think critically about these decisions, constantly looking at how expenditures benefit the most students and help the district meet our goals. District funding involves a very direct relationship with all KSD citizens regardless of their student enrollment status. I hope to remember that overlap and honor the duty that comes with being elected to this office.
To Further Broaden Opportunities For Post-Graduation Success.
More than 50% of college graduates have student loan debt. Between my family and my husband's family, we have a robust number of family members who built successful, wonderful lives through military service or through trades. I am grateful that Kirkwood has a number of programs that offer students options to start building career-readiness through skill-building programs and certifications. Not only would I like to see us increase the offerings available, but I would like to see us integrate those tracks into more of our discourse and mindsets. As a Board Member, I would be in a position to ask about those opportunities and push for student access to more, even if they are not on a college-track.