What are your top three priorities if elected to your local school board? Please provide a ranked list with a brief explanation for each priority.

Top Three Priorities if Elected: 1. Expanding Early Childhood Education: I've witnessed firsthand how early learning experiences ignite a child's curiosity and set the foundation for lifelong success. Our district offers programs for young learners, but challenges persist, especially for children with disabilities. I am committed to expanding access to high-quality early education, advocating for increased funding, and building partnerships to ensure every child starts their educational journey on solid ground. 2. Enhancing School Safety: As a parent, I understand the anxiety that comes with school safety concerns. Every child deserves to feel secure in their learning environment. I will work to implement strong security protocols, provide comprehensive training for safety personnel, and foster partnerships that prioritize prevention and support, ensuring our schools are places of peace and learning. 3. Supporting Educators and Staff: The success of our students is deeply connected to the well-being of our teachers and school staff. I will advocate for smaller class sizes, up-to-date resources, expanded mental health support, and fair wages for all staff members. By lifting up our educators, we create an environment where students can excel.

If elected, how will you engage families and the community in district decision-making and student success?

Engaging families and the broader community is essential to student success and to building a school district that truly reflects the needs, values, and voices of those it serves. If elected to the Brandywine School Board, I will work collaboratively with fellow board members, school leadership, educators, and families to implement the following strategies: 1. Enhance and Expand Existing Communication Channels Open, transparent communication is the foundation of trust between schools and families. The Brandywine School District has established avenues like the Parent & Citizen Advisory Committee (PCAC) to facilitate information sharing and gather community input. Building upon these efforts, I will advocate for the development of regular community forums, comprehensive newsletters, and interactive digital platforms. These tools will keep families informed and actively involved in district decisions, fostering meaningful dialogue. Moreover, by incorporating translation services and user-friendly interfaces, we can ensure that every family, regardless of background, feels included and heard. 2. Establish a District-Wide Volunteer Program There is immense untapped potential within our community—a wealth of skills, experiences, and passions waiting to be shared. By establishing a district-wide volunteer program, we can connect this community treasure with the needs of our schools. Imagine retirees mentoring students, local artists leading creative workshops, or professionals providing career guidance. This program will not only enrich our students' learning experiences but also weave stronger bonds between the schools and the community, creating a network of support that extends far beyond the classroom walls.​ 3. Foster Strong Community Partnerships Imagine a network where local businesses, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, and cultural institutions come together with our schools to enrich the educational experience. By forging these partnerships, we can provide mentorship programs, internships, after-school activities, and comprehensive support services. Such collaborations not only enhance student engagement but also address challenges like chronic absenteeism, offering real-world experiences that bridge classroom learning with future opportunities. Together, we can build a community that wraps its arms around every student, ensuring they feel supported and valued By working together to implement these strategies, we can create a more inclusive, transparent, and supportive educational environment—one where every student is uplifted, every voice is valued, and our schools truly reflect the heart of the Brandywine community.

If elected, what are three questions you would ask in your first month to better understand the district’s needs and challenges?

1. Addressing Academic Gaps and Learning Loss The academic disruption caused by the pandemic is still being felt across our district. Many students continue to face challenges in core subjects like reading, math, and science. To close these gaps, I will advocate for targeted, data-driven interventions such as high-dosage tutoring, expanded after-school enrichment, and engaging summer learning programs. These supports should be tailored to meet individual student needs and be available across all schools. I will also work to build partnerships with local colleges, universities, and nonprofits to supplement district efforts and ensure we’re reaching as many students as possible. With careful budget planning and alignment with student achievement priorities, we can ensure these efforts are sustainably funded. 2. Strengthening Mental Health and Emotional Support Student well-being is directly tied to academic success—and right now, too many students are facing emotional challenges without enough support. I will advocate for increased funding to hire additional school counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals. I also support the integration of social-emotional learning (SEL) throughout our curriculum to build students’ resilience, empathy, and interpersonal skills. As someone who has overseen eight consecutive multi-million-dollar budgets as Council President without voting to raise taxes, I understand how to responsibly allocate funds to meet the most urgent needs—mental health being one of them. We must prioritize well-being if we want our students to thrive both in and out of the classroom. 3. Ensuring Educational Equity Across the District Despite our district’s strong intentions, inequities remain—from outdated facilities and technology to uneven access to advanced coursework and support services. As your school board member, I will push for comprehensive equity audits to assess where these disparities exist and guide data-informed decisions. Equity isn’t just a moral obligation—it’s a smart investment. Ensuring that every child, no matter their zip code, has access to high-quality teachers, curriculum, and learning environments is essential to closing achievement gaps. While the district had previously faced projected shortfalls—such as a $1.3 million local year-end fund balance deficit—the successful passage of the February 2024 operational referendum provided critical financial breathing room. This phased-in tax increase is expected to generate approximately $15.6 million in additional local revenue over two years, stabilizing district operations and helping to protect vital programs and services. Even with this additional funding, we must remain strategic and transparent in our financial decisions. I will bring my proven record of fiscal responsibility to the table, ensuring every dollar is spent wisely and in service of our students' success.

“My combined experiences as a mother, lifelong advocate, and public servant give me a well-rounded, deeply personal, and practical understanding of both the challenges and opportunities facing our schools today. As President of New Castle County Council for eight years, I led with transparency, fiscal responsibility, and a commitment to the people I served. I oversaw multi-million-dollar budgets, wrote and passed legislation, and worked closely with families, educators, and local leaders to drive meaningful, community-centered change. These experiences have sharpened my leadership, strengthened my policy-making abilities, and deepened my dedication to public education. In addition to my public service, I launched a small business in October 2024 that offers business support services. As a business owner, I’ve gained valuable insight into workforce readiness, the role of technology in today’s economy, and the critical need for students to graduate with real-world skills. Managing a business requires strategic thinking, adaptability, and a clear understanding of operational efficiency—all of which I bring to the table when it comes to setting priorities, evaluating programs, and promoting innovation within our schools. Together, these experiences uniquely position me to serve on the Brandywine School Board with both compassion and competence—always focused on what’s best for students, educators, and families.”