Why I Am Running for School Board

Strategic Vision for the Best District in the World

I believe in public education and that now is a critically important time to support our students, parents/guardians, teachers, administrators, and staff. In Kentwood, our superintendent is culturally responsive, student centered, and ready to ensure all students see themselves as part of and are represented in the curriculum. This opportunity is one of many reasons why now is an exciting time to be in Kentwood. As a board, we are ready to identify, analyze, and act on critically important issues including race, identity, accessibility, socio-economic status, and mental health. Each and every kid deserves to have a sense of belonging in their educational experience. As a board member, I want to build a culture where each and every employee is culturally responsive, believes in student voice, and works to foster a sense of belonging. As a proud graduate of KPS, I want every student to be encouraged and have access to rigorous, relevant, and transformative academic experiences.

My personal and professional mission is to help every KPS student and staff member live, learn, and work to their full potential as contributing members of society and part of a vibrant civic community. Unfortunately, there are opportunity and engagement gaps that prevent many of our students from making this their reality. In order to close these gaps, every student needs to see themselves in the curriculum and develop the skills and identity of an emerging scholar. To accomplish this, we seek to work with staff so they have the time, capacity, and learning to be reflective in their practices and more collaborative in their work so they can reimagine curricular, co-curricular, and extra-curricular activities. In Kentwood, our schools are the cultural hub of our community; I hope to remove all barriers to access at all levels for all members of our community.