I’ve been talking with a lot of you about my goal to increase communication from the school board to and from the community. Because communication builds trust and trust helps lead to success. I’ve also been asked a lot about very specific issues and I can share my thoughts and experiences but I’m not a policy person, an educator and barely a politician.
But the bottom line is this: I want every child in Shaker to feel safe—physically and mentally. I want them to thrive throughout their entire Shaker career, because they have the support, the interventions and the opportunities they need to succeed—no matter what resources they have outside of school.
And I want our teachers, staff and professionals to have the tools and resources they need to do their jobs.
Because let’s be honest: I don’t trust our government to set us up for success.
In fact, they are working against us—refusing to pass sensible gun laws, cutting funding, stripping away mental health and family support, limiting healthcare access, even pulling back on nutrition programs for kids, in schools!
Ultimately, my wish list—my ultimate wish list— is universal pre-K, free lunch and breakfast for all, a 504 for every parent who requests it, a paraprofessional for every kid, and universally free access to school sports. Are there resources for those who need them? Mostly, but not all.
These shouldn’t be seen as extras. They should be part of what it means to go to school in Shaker. Because when we normalize support, we normalize success.
Our district motto is: “A community is known by the schools it keeps.” Too many people have never heard it. But I want us to live it. I want our community to take pride in our schools again—to celebrate the amazing work being done while also recognizing the struggles we face.
The truth is, our nation isn’t set up to help public schools succeed. It never was and doesn’t look like it ever will be soon. But here in Shaker, we can be bold. I want to serve on the school board to do my part—and I want all of you to be part of it too. Because communication matters. When the public is informed, engaged, and heard, the whole community is stronger.
Shaker has its challenges—but we are amazing. Together, we can make sure our schools reflect the very best of who we are.
