1) Keep Dollars Close To Scholars – Far too many expenditures remain outside of our school buildings. Year after year, our budgets remain tight, so we must work to ensure that our dollars and our resources remain as close as possible to our children so that they may reap the benefits!

2) Staff Support & Retention – Instability and uncertainty hurts our scholars. We must work to retain the amazing educators that we employ so that learning remains uninterrupted. That means better pay, stronger support systems, and feedback loops that let us know what is going well and where we must improve. 

3) Funding The “Extra” – Let’s face it, children don’t always find school intriguing. That is why we must work to fund what makes it magical. Project-based learning, field trips, extracurricular opportunities, clubs,  sports, etc –  All of these make our scholars want to come to school. 

1) Strengthen Partner Relationships – Many of us have heard it, time and time again, “GRPS doesn’t work well with others”. And I have seen firsthand how we sometimes get in our own way. We must work to foster and strengthen the partnerships that uplift scholar success. By approaching collaboration with openness and a willingness to improve, we can move beyond community perceptions and continue to build systems of support that our scholars deserve. 

2) Expand The Community School Model – Community School programs, such as KSSN, drive collaboration with stakeholders across our community, including businesses, non-profit organizations, churches, individuals, and others.  We must work to expand the Community School Model across our district to meet the holistic needs of our families. This, in turn, will begin to remove barriers, such as access to healthcare, food, and family resources, that often prevent scholars from attending school regularly and thriving academically.

3) Support Our Immigrant Community – As one of the most diverse districts in the area, we must work to ensure that our schools are welcoming and inclusive spaces for all. As a board member, I worked to pen a “sanctuary district” resolution that aimed to codify our current practices of protecting our immigrant community and I will continue to help lead that work.

Additionally, we must continue to strengthen our work with partners such as the Hispanic Center of West Michigan, the Literacy Center of West Michigan, Tree Tops Collective, and so many others that play a critical role in supporting our immigrant communities.

1) Model Courageous Dialogue – Many have described the GRPS School Board as a “rubber stamp board”. I, along with other colleagues, have worked to address this perception by  encouraging open dialogue, asking tough questions, and challenging the status quo. If re-elected, I will continue to work on making this a priority.

2) Increase Transparency & Public Trust – From our budget decisions, to building and program consolidation, to staffing, there is a lot happening in GRPS. We must work to increase transparency in these decisions so that folks are aware of our processes and, even when there is disagreement, understand how we came to the final decision. And when we fail to meet our commitments, we must hold ourselves and each other accountable. Only then can we build a strong foundation of trust with our constituents.

3) Speak Honestly About Our Challenges –  GRPS, like every other district, is not without its challenges. But the way we address difficult issues is important. We must not only speak honestly about the issues we face, but work to confront these issues with measurable solutions that are developed alongside our most important stakeholders, our families and staff.