.png)
Literature
​
Updates
​
March 23rd, 2021
​
Having experienced great difficulty navigating post-graduation plans myself, if elected I'll bring more attention to the opportunities available to students not seeking higher education.
​
Students should feel comfortable exploring internship programs, trade schools, apprenticeship programs, opportunities such as Chamber630’s Attainable Futures program, and careers in the fine arts.
As a board member, I’ll make sure all students feel prepared and informed on how to make educated decisions regarding their future. No student should feel as if they’re falling behind because every student grows at their own pace. Education needs to be adaptive and evolve alongside the individuals' needs. Providing an adaptive, blended, learning environment ensures your tax dollars are being utilized efficiently to best serve our students.
​
​
​
March 16th, 2021
I was delighted to have attended the BOE meeting in person this evening. I applaud the board's bold leadership in developing a swift and thoughtful plan for a return to in-person learning.
While this provides a well-thought-out first step, our work to build a more inclusive and transparent district must continue. A return to in-person classes alone will not solve the systemic issues students are faced with each day. The declining mental health of students existed as an issue long-before the pandemic, and it will exist long-after if board members fail to recognize the need for more inclusive communication with students.
​
A seat on the school board comes with a 4-year term, and with students set to return to in-person learning it isn’t enough to run on “getting our kids back to school” - Board Members need to be focused on the work that comes after.
​
As a member of the District 99 School Board, I’ll advocate for...
​
• Increased funding for accessible student mental health services
​
• Adaptive education that focuses on addressing the nuanced academic needs of every student
​
• Fiscal responsibility, open budget disclosure, and a pragmatic allocation of tax-payer funds
​
• Post-graduation job preparedness - not every student can afford to go to college and the district needs to better promote career paths for students from all socioeconomic backgrounds
​
• Transparent communication with the community by bringing students, teachers, parents, and staff into the decision-making process
​
Together we can build a more transparent and responsible District 99.
​
February 29th, 2021
​
Q & A:
​
1. What qualities would make you a good fit as a District 99 School Board member? How have you used/shown these qualities in other roles you have held or in general?
Board members ought to have students' best interests in mind when making decisions on their behalf, which means members have a duty to seriously listen to what students have to say and vote in an appropriate manner. Having attended, and graduated from, Downers Grove North High School, I have firsthand experience with how district policies impact students, and they’re not always as beneficial as they could be. What makes me a good fit for the Board is my ability to recognize just how powerful board policies can be on a student's ability to learn.
2. Why are you running for the District 99 School Board, and If elected, what issues would you most like to address in District 99?
I’m running to provide the District 99 School Board with a youthful, pragmatic voice to address the everyday needs of overlooked students. Having experienced great difficulty navigating post-graduation plans myself, if elected I would love to bring more attention to the opportunities available to students not seeking higher education.
3. Why is being a member of the D99 School Board important to you?
Being a member of the D99 school board will afford me the opportunity to give back to the community and help be a voice for students who have felt left behind. Public school is the place where students can safely discuss any ideas to better understand experiences different from their own, and the opportunity must be made available to all students. As a member of the Board, I’ll make sure the district is fulfilling that responsibility.
4. This past year has been an incredibly challenging one for students, families, teachers/staff, and community members. Is there anything that you would like our membership to know about your overarching philosophy to school re-opening, or anything else related to how District 99 has handled or should handle re-opening?
When the district can fully reopen, following State and County public health guidelines will be the most important step in ensuring district 99 will be able to safely stay open.
As a Board Member, my focus will be on making sure all precautions are being taken to safely reopen and stay open.
5. What do you see as the biggest challenge to returning to school in the fall (assuming we are fully able) after a school year of hybrid and remote learning? What do you see as the Board’s role in helping to facilitate this process?
The Board should do all it can to recognize the nuanced challenges facing students in this time of unprecedented uncertainty. The Board needs to allow for a student-led approach towards re-opening. It seems fair that the students experiencing the costs and benefits of hybrid learning be given a say in how the process is to be drawn out. If the Board’s role is to listen to the concerns of students and use that information to help create the most effective learning environment for everyone, then now is a moment to reach out to students for input and advice on how they would feel most comfortable moving forward.
