1. Why are you running for the Stillwater Area Public Schools Board of Education? From your perspective, what is the most important role of a Board of Education member?
I am running for the Stillwater Area Public Schools Board of Education because I see a need for new voices and new perspectives. I feel like our district is divided right now and whether that is from a financial perspective, between staff and administration, or because families do not always feel heard. I believe I am someone who listens, and I think we need board members who are willing to listen to the people directly affected by the decisions being made and bring those voices to the table.
For more than five years, I have served as the Chair of the Bayport Elementary Parent Group (previously the Andersen Parent Group). In that role, every decision I have made, from events and fundraising to how we allocate money has centered around what is best for our staff and students. I have worked with families, teachers, and school administration, and I have seen firsthand how important it is to listen, communicate, and work together. I feel like it is time to take those strengths and put them to the test in a larger role.
I believe the most important role of a school board member is to govern the district responsibly while keeping students at the center of every decision. That includes setting policy, making major district decisions, being a responsible financial steward, and, importantly, being a voice for the community they were elected to represent.
A school board member is elected by the community, and that community is putting its trust in that person to make difficult decisions on their behalf. I believe that trust comes with a responsibility to listen to staff, families, students, and the community and to make every decision with the students of Stillwater at the top of mind, every single time.
2. Why are you seeking our endorsement? What does the unions’ endorsement mean to you personally?
I am seeking the teacher’s union endorsement because I believe being a good school board member means being willing to work with and listen to the staff who are in our schools every
day. Our teachers and staff are the people who understand what is happening on the ground level of our schools. They have ideas, concerns, experiences, and perspectives that I simply cannot have, unless I take the time to listen to them.
To me personally, teachers and staff voices matter. When staff feels heard, respected, and knows they have a seat at the table, I believe the entire district operates more effectively. I want to be someone who builds that relationship and make sure staff have an opportunity to help shape the decisions that directly affect their work and our students.
I also understand that there will be times when I do not agree with the union, and there will likely be times when the union does not agree with me. I don’t think endorsement means we will agree on everything. To me, it means we are willing to have a conversation, listen to each other, and work together toward the best outcome for our students and staff.
When the board is making decisions that directly affect our staff, I believe they need to be at the table helping us understand the issue, identify potential impacts, and work through the best path forward. That partnership is important to me, and the union’s endorsement would mean that they see me as someone who is committed to listening, working together, and respecting the people who make our schools work every day.
3. How has your racial identity shaped and informed your world view? How are you actively working to expand your own racial and cultural lens?
I recognize that my own racial identity and experiences have shaped the way I see the world, and that I have not personally experienced racism in the way others have. I see that inequity in the world around me and in the news, on social media, and in my own community. There are things that can feel like basic rights or opportunities to some people that are not always given to others, and I do not think that is okay.
I try to be aware of those situations and, more importantly, I try to recognize when there are perspectives I may not understand because I have not experienced them myself. I try to listen, learn, and seek out perspectives that are different from my own rather than assuming that my experience is everyone’s experience.
I know that I will never fully understand what it is like to experience the world through someone else’s racial or cultural lens, but I am always willing to learn and do better. I believe that listening to people, understanding their experiences, and being open to having my own perspective challenged is an important part of that work.
At the end of the day, I believe every student and every person deserves to be treated with dignity, respect, and fairness. As a school board member, I want to continue expanding my own understanding so that I can better advocate for a district where every student feels supported, valued, and like they belong.
4. As put forth by the Minnesota School Board Association, what does governance mean to you in terms of the work of a Board of Education?
To me, governance means making decisions with our students at the forefront every single time. Whether it is a policy decision, a financial decision, a district initiative, or any of the many decisions a school board is responsible for, the question should always be: How does this impact our students, and is this in the best interest of the district as a whole?
Of course, students are not the only people we need to consider. Our staff, administration, families, and community are all important parts of our school district, and their perspectives should be part of the decision-making process. Good governance means listening to those voices, understanding the different impacts of a decision, and then making the best decision for our students and our district.
I also believe governance means understanding that you are elected to serve the entire community, not your own personal interests or agenda. A board member needs to be willing to work with people who may have very different opinions, remain non-partisan, and focus on the greater good. You may not always get the decision you personally wanted, but you have a responsibility to make the decision you believe is best for the district and its students.
5. What has been your personal involvement or knowledge regarding unions and collective bargaining? How would you, as a school board member, interact with union leadership?
I have never personally worked with a teachers union or been directly involved in collective bargaining. In my career, I have worked with finance teams within the healthcare field dealing with nursing unions, but I have never been at the bargaining table. I understand that unions are there to protect their members and make sure their working conditions, compensation, and other important issues are considered.
As a school board member, I think we need to look at the teachers union as a partner, not the enemy. Our teachers and staff are in our schools every day, and their voices, opinions, and needs are important to this district. They need to feel like they have a seat at the table when decisions are being made that affect them and our students.
The board and the union are not always going to agree, and I understand that. But I think we can still have a respectful relationship, listen to each other, and work together to find the best path forward for our staff and students.
6. Share examples of systemic and institutional racism that you have experienced or observed in Stillwater public schools. How will you work toward dismantling those barriers?
I have never personally experienced racism in our Stillwater schools, but that does not mean it does not exist or that it is not happening. I tend to think we have an amazing community and
amazing people in it, but I also know that my experience is not everyone else’s experience. Just because I have not experienced something does not mean I should not pay attention to it or assume our systems are working equally for everyone. I am not sitting in someone else’s shoes, and I know there is always more for me to learn.
I think representation is one area we need to continue looking at, especially when it comes to our staff. I know students and families want to see their cultures and races represented in their schools and feel like they have a seat at the table.
We need to make sure our curriculum, opportunities, discipline, achievement, and language access are working equally for all of our students. Every student who comes into Stillwater schools should have the same opportunities and the tools they need to succeed.
I also know that not every student has a good or safe home life. When they are in our schools, we need to make sure they have a safe place where they feel supported and valued, every single day. To me, working toward dismantling these barriers starts with listening to students and families, looking at the data, and being willing to recognize when something is not working and make changes.
7. How do you think decisions should be made that impact curriculum, assessment, staffing, and school management?
○ role of Teachers
○ role of Paraprofessionals
○ role of Administration
○ role of Board of Education
Decisions that impact curriculum, assessments, staffing, and school management need input from the people who are closest to that work.
Teachers: Teachers are closest to the classrooms and our students and are on the ground running every day. Their voices are vital when it comes to curriculum and assessment and because they have the day-to-day experience with what is working and what is not.
Paraprofessionals: Paras are also important because they work directly with students and see things from a different lens while still being right in the middle of the classroom. They often work with students who need additional support, and they can see what is working, what is hurting, and where changes may be needed.
Administration: Administration brings a bigger-picture view. They are looking at district goals, long-term strategy, implementation, policies, and finances. They need to bring that perspective while also working as a partner with teachers and paras and making sure their voices have a seat at the table.
Board of Education: The board’s role is to listen to all of these groups, ask the questions that need to be asked, and understand how decisions will impact our staff, students, and families.
Ultimately, the board is responsible for making sure those perspectives are considered and that the decisions being made are in the best interest of the district and our students.
8. How do you define collaboration? What does collaboration look like to you among your fellow Board of Education members?
I define collaboration as everyone having a voice and then working together to figure out what the next steps should be. To me, collaboration means being part of a team where everyone brings their own opinions, experiences, and perspectives, and we use those differences to help make better decisions.
As board members, we are not always going to agree, and I think that is important. A board that agrees on everything is not necessarily doing the best job for Stillwater. We need people who have different experiences and viewpoints who are willing to have open and honest conversations, listen to each other, and ask the hard questions.
We may not always walk away with the decision we personally wanted, but we should be able to respect each other, work together, and ultimately make the decision we believe is best for our students and our community.
9. What steps would you take to actively work on trust-building with each of these groups? a. District Administration (New superintendent & administrative team)
b. District Staff including paraprofessionals, custodians, food service workers, counselors, school psychologists, school social workers, secretaries, school bus drivers, early childhood educational assistants, community education staff, technology support staff, nurses, teachers
c. District Students/Families, including racially, culturally, linguistically, and socioeconomically diverse students and families
d. Fellow Board Members
e. Community at Large
To me, trust is built by being present, listening, and following through. I want people to know they can come to me with whatever is on their mind and know that I will listen. I may not always be able to solve the problem, but I can listen, understand the concern, and see what I can do next.
a. District Administration: I would like to build a strong and respectful relationship with the new superintendent and administrative team. I think communication needs to be open and honest, even when we disagree. I want us to be able to have difficult conversations while still working toward the same goal.
b. District Staff: I want staff to know that I am accessible and willing to listen. I think being present in our schools and at district events is important because it gives staff the opportunity to have conversations with me outside of a formal board meeting. I may not always agree with every concern or idea, but I want staff to know their voices are heard and valued.
c. Students and Families: I want students and families to feel like they can come to me and be heard. That means being present in our schools and community, attending events, and making sure communication is open. I also want to make sure we listen to families whose experiences may be different from my own and not assuming that one experience represents everyone.
d. Fellow Board Members: Trust among board members means being honest, respectful, and willing to listen to different opinions. We are not always going to agree, and I think that is okay. I want us to be able to have those conversations, work through disagreements, and ultimately come together around what we believe is best for our students and district.
e. Community at Large: I think being visible and engaged in the community is a big part of building trust. I want people to see that I care about this district and want to be involved. I will keep communication open through email and other forms and always make an effort to respond and follow through.
Overall, I want people to know that I am approachable, I will listen, and I will do what I can with the information and concerns brought to me. Trust takes time, but I think being present, honest, and willing to listen is where it starts. Showing that consistency is going to be key for the future.
10. Describe 2-3 current and future strategic directions that you feel are priorities for our district.
I think there are three big strategic priorities for our district right now.
First, we need to address our financial situation and be realistic about what the next few years may look like. I think we are going to continue facing difficult budget decisions and more cuts may be coming. Just because something was not on the cut list this year does not mean it will not be on the list next year. I do think we will need to look at an operating levy in the future, but before asking our community for more money, we need to show them that the board is making the hard decisions and making the right ones. We need to be responsible with the money we have and be transparent with the community about where we are financially and why decisions are being made.
Second, we need to focus on our enrollment and capture rate, starting with our youngest students. We need to understand why families are choosing other options and what we can do differently. I think we need to make sure a family’s experience from the very beginning of their time in Stillwater schools is a good one, and one that makes them want to stay through graduation. We have an opportunity to really look at where we are losing families and why and then use that information to make changes.
Third, we need to protect the things that make Stillwater special. We are going to have to make difficult decisions, but we also need to make sure we are not cutting away the things that help our students have a well-rounded education and make our district a place families want to be. That includes looking at academics, activities, arts, music, athletics, and the other opportunities that help students find where they belong and succeed.
Overall, I think our strategic direction needs to be about being financially responsible while still investing in our students and the future of this district. We need to make the hard decisions now, understand why families choose Stillwater or choose not to, and make sure we are building a district that students, staff, and families want to be part of.
11. In the next five years, there are bound to be greater economic challenges facing public education in Minnesota and in our district. How do you propose to address these challenges?
I think the biggest thing we can do is be strategic and plan ahead. In my career, we are always budgeting for the next year, forecasting the years beyond that, and looking at what could change our outlook down the road. We still must pay attention to the current year’s P&L and make sure we are managing what is happening today, but we also have to be thinking about what our decisions mean for three, four, or five years from now. I think the district needs to approach its finances the same way.
We know there are going to be more difficult budget decisions ahead, and we need to be looking at our financial picture now rather than waiting until we are in a crisis. That means having a realistic forecast, understanding what could change that forecast, and being willing to adjust our plans as those things change.
I also think we need to be very responsible about the decisions we make today because poor financial decisions can put the future of this district at risk. Stillwater is known as an amazing place to raise a family and an amazing place to go to school. We need to protect what makes our district special while also being realistic about what we can afford.
That may mean difficult cuts, finding ways to increase enrollment and revenue, and eventually looking at an operating levy. But if we ask our community for more funding, we need to be able to show them that we have made responsible decisions with the resources we already have.
To me, this is about balancing today with the future. We need to manage the current budget carefully while always asking, “What does this decision mean for Stillwater five years from now?” I want to make sure the decisions we make today allow this district to continue being something our students, families, staff, and community are proud to be part of for many years to come.