The number one thing a school district can do to deliver a high-quality education to its students is to ensure there are excellent people working for those students. To attract and keep high-quality staff the district must:

• • Offer competitive compensation packages

  • Create healthy, supportive working conditions

  • Provide staff with the resources they need to do their job effectively

As a leader of my teacher associations, I have chaired several successful contract negotiations. I know what it takes to work with staff to negotiate contracts that are fair to the staff and the taxpayers.

Effective schools have effective leaders. Effective leadership relies on buy-in from the community the leader serves. As a member of the school board I will insist that parents, school staff, students,  and community must be involved in the hiring of administrators. 

Attracting and keeping an excellent staff, and increasing the resources available to the staff and students requires adequate funding. The Rochester taxpayer already endures high tax rates. I will work with and engage the City Council and our representatives at the state and Federal level to access additional sources of funding. 

The new elementary school, located in Ward 1, must be the jewel of the city. Every parent in town should want their student to attend this new school and every staff member should want to work there. Over the course of my teaching career I have been fortunate to work in two new school buildings. As a member of the school board I will request a seat on the Joint Building Committee. I will work with the city council to ensure that this new building will serve our students now and for the life of the new building.