Today's graduates will need more than academic excellence to thrive in the 21st Century. I support the goals of Portrait of a Graduate. I want to encourage the development of curiosity, empathy, resilience, balance, creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking skills.

When students and school staff feel safe and respected, engagement grows and learning is improved. It is more than simply the right thing to do, schools are obliged by law to create a school climate that is safe for all students.

The West Sonoma County Union High School District has been operating with a structural deficit for a decade. It is important for the new school board to work diligently with school administration and community stakeholders to identify ways to balance the budget while also aligning with community values and priorities.

I served on the Sebastopol Union school board from 2010 - 2019 while that district was facing many of the same issues that the West County High School district is currently facing. I had the good fortune to work with and learn from some very skilled administrators and take part in professional development opportunities which will allow me to serve the community well on the high school board now.

California schools, while required to follow many statutory practices, also have a great deal of leeway in the form of "Local Control." Local Control requires a commitment to actively seeking and evaluating community stakeholder input. I am familiar with the tools to ensure that these things happen, such as fostering robust school site councils, seeking stakeholder engagement around the annual planning document, the Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP), and ensuring that the English Learner Advisory Committee meets regularly and provides meaningful insight to administration.

I have continued to follow local and state public education issues and legislation after concluding my tenure on the SUSD board. I believe that a solid public education for all of our youth is one of the best ways to ensure a healthy, thriving society.