1. Are you a precinct committeeman? If yes, for how long? 

Elected this year 

2. Tell us a bit about yourself. What made you run for school board? 

My family and I have lived in Fountain Hills for 18 years. We have cherished this area and love the small-town atmosphere. The school district plays an enormous part in our great community. Our children and families need a local school to attend. We began our journey 12 years ago, as foster parents. This led us to the doors of McDowell Mountain Elementary School when our foster kiddos turned 3. If it wasn’t for such a caring staff at the elementary school guiding us and teaching us how to advocate, we’d still be lost today. The staff at the schools give so much of themselves to help the students and families. It’s such a different atmosphere in Fountain Hills School District than the other larger districts around us. We heard horror stories from other foster parents about their districts and the trouble they had accessing services for their little ones. I was so happy to praise Fountain Hills Unified School District to our friends. While others were fighting to access services and educations for their foster babes, Fountain Hills School District was advocating alongside us and showed us how to champion for our children. This past Christmas, I had a group of local moms contact me and share some of the struggles the parents and the district were having. After a few conversations with these moms, they encouraged me to run for school board. I realized during these moments that we needed to make a change in our district and town if we hoped to keep our caring school. We sat down as a family and discussed what the issues were, how and if we could help, and the next steps if I decided to run for school board. It was during these conversations, that my teenagers reminded me that we encourage them to be the change that they want to see. This led me to the next steps of researching the neighborhoods, our school district, and talking with others. During my research, I found that our town has approximately 3400 children under the age 18 and less than half of them choose to attend Fountain Hills Unified School District. I was shocked! While, I think school choice is fundamental, I still think we can make Fountain Hills Unified School District our students and parents first choice! Based on these staggering numbers and the projection of only 686 pupils in 8 years, I believe that our town and schools are at critical stage. We need to breathe life back into our school which will then help our local businesses and populace. Over the past two years many have lost confidence in our local school. I believe by electing a school board that is willing to work with the various organizations throughout the community, listen to the concerns of the families and teachers, as well as provide transparency and a vision to revitalize our district we can become the families’ first choice for their son’s and daughter’s education again. I love our town and overall have loved our school district. While nothing or no one is ever perfect, we can all strive to do better. The parents felt that I would be able to advocate for our citizens and schools and they really were the final push in why I decided to run for Fountain Hills Unified School Board. Bottom line, running for school board isn’t about me; it’s about our children, our community, and our future! 

3. Do you support sexual education of children in the classroom? At what age do you believe this is appropriate, and do you believe that a parent should have the opportunity to opt out? 

I do not support sex education of children in the classroom. This is a conversation that should happen in the home. If a school district does have a sex education class the parents should be allowed to opt out. Currently in Arizona, sex education is an opt in class. 

4. Do you support the idea of parents being the sole stakeholders in their children’s lives? 

Parents should be the sole stakeholders in their child's life. 

5. What is your position on critical race theory, social-emotional learning, LGBTQ inclusion, and equity issues in the classroom? What do you know of Bloom365 and Corwin Press and what are your opinions? 

We need to eliminate CRT, SEL, LGBTQ, and equity issues from our schools and get back to teaching the basics in our classrooms. We have seen a large decline in our test scores and I believe that is due to the distractions caused from these divisive topics. 

6. Based on the limitations and powers of a school board member, what’s your platform? 

We need to get ideologies out of the classroom and focus on a quality education for all children. We do this by recruiting, retaining, and supporting quality teachers. 

7. What do you believe to be the biggest issue impacting K-12 students in Arizona? 

Crashing test scores/lack of a quality education 

8. How do you think the state should support public education? Do you believe in expanding school vouchers? 

Did not answer. 

9. Do you have a plan to fund renovations of schools in your area that are run down? 

Yes - please reach out to me via my website for further information. 

10. Do you have a plan to address the shortage of teachers? 

Yes - please reach out to me via my website for further information. 

11. Do you support allowing retired military or police officers, who pass background checks, to work or volunteer in our schools to prevent mass shootings? 

Yes 

12. Please feel free to add any additional information you would like voters to know about your candidacy. 

Did not answer.