Campaign Platform
Miller Creek School District is at a turning point. The decisions made in the next few years will determine the district's financial sustainability and the shape of our community for many years to come. I believe I am the right person to help the district make the right decisions and ensure a bright future for all our students.
Campaign Goals
Closing the Achievement Gap
- Every child in the district deserves a high-quality education, regardless of their background
- There's a 40 percentage point gap in test scores between disadvantaged students and their peers
- Only around one-third of our disadvantaged students are meeting state standards
I am running to ensure our district takes concrete action to fix this problem, so that every student receives the support they need to succeed.
Transparency, Oversight, and Accountability
- Sustainable leadership requires learning from challenges, not just managing crisis-to-crisis
- The district has not demonstrated an appetite for learning lessons from its mistakes
- We must evaluate the decision-making processes that caused them in the first place, so we can move forward with confidence
I am running to bring greater transparency, proactive oversight, and long-term accountability to the district.
Community Engagement
- A thriving school district depends on active, representative community involvement
- Only 54% of parents participated in our most recent Youth Truth community engagement survey
I am running to ensure every family has a seat at the table and a meaningful voice in our schools.
Issues
Yes on Measure N
I fully endorse and support Measure N to provide desperately needed funding to repair and maintain our school facilities. Most of our buildings are 60 or 70 years old, and investing in maintenance now will save costly emergency repairs down the road.
Budget & Fiscal Oversight
The district has gone through trying times and made difficult choices to reduce deficit spending and get back into the black. As a board member I will carry on that tradition and ensure that the district meets its obligations as prudently as possible, while building back its reserves and laying the foundation for a more successful future.
Artificial Intelligence
As an engineer, I'm deeply familiar with the promise and perils of AI. Our students need to prepare for a world where AI is commonplace, while still learning the critical thinking skills that will help them succeed.
I believe that AI should be used sparingly and with intentionality. Also, AI adoption can be a significant expense at the district's scale. The point of the work students do is to build their skills, and nobody benefits if the district pays for the students to have AI do their work for them.
New Housing & Enrollment
San Rafael is undergoing much-needed housing growth, and that brings with it new students. The district estimates potentially dozens of new students moving in within the next several years. This is a very welcome development, as it will help offset the enrollment declines that the district has struggled with in recent years.
As a board member, I will encourage the district to make sure that every new student has a place in our community, and that students attend school near their neighbors to support efficient transportation and community building.
Teacher Support & Retention
Teachers are the backbone of a successful school district. They are the ones interacting with and supporting students each day, and the district should be supporting them in turn with competitive pay, comprehensive training, and professional development. As a board member, I will support our teachers and make sure they have the resources they need to do their best work and help our students succeed.
Special Education
As a parent of children with special needs, I am very familiar with the unique challenges this community faces. A welcoming and inclusive school environment is crucial to each student's success, and this goes double for students in special education. I believe it's critical to meet each student where they are and find cost-effective ways to give each kid the free and appropriate public education they are entitled to.
Board Engagement
School board meetings are the primary way for members of the community to share their thoughts and ideas with the board trustees and district representatives. However, the meetings are not very inclusive. Providing childcare at meetings, offering language translation services, and recording meetings would go a long way toward helping more families make their voices heard and potentially encouraging a more representative and diverse board.