1. What experience do you have that has prepared you to be on the School Board?
My background in developmental psychology means that I’m well suited to understand how children learn and grow, and how to read and implement research findings. My job as Temple’s IRB Director means that I prioritize ethics and have extensive experience navigating committee meetings and developing a consensus when there is disagreement.
2. What do you think is the most pressing issue facing our school district right now?
The most pressing issue in the short term is hiring back the administration positions that were vacated as a result of the scandal at Jamison, particularly the superintendent position. In the long-term, the school district will need to diligently budget for the upcoming teachers’ contract as well as the needed renovations to our schools. Our students, and those that support them in the schools, deserve air conditioning.
3. Do you think schools should be maintained as sensitive locations for all students regardless of immigration status?
Schools should absolutely be a sensitive location for all students, regardless of immigration status. Children and teachers should not be concerned that their friends or students will be snatched away during the middle of a class or during arrival and dismissal.
4. Do you believe all students should have access to public education, regardless of immigration status?
Yes, our schools should be concerned with educating students and providing safe spaces for our children to learn and grow. They should not be concerned with checking immigration status or withholding learning opportunities.
5. Do you think school discipline is best handled by the principal’s office and school staff or by police officers in schools?
The vast majority of discipline issues can and should be handled by the principal’s office and school staff. Help and support from law enforcement can be appropriate when navigating violent threats or actions.
6. Do you support sex education classes in our schools?
Sex education should absolutely be taught in our schools. Our children will learn or hear about sex regardless, so it’s best that they get factually correct information from our qualified educators.
7. Do you believe it is important to teach all people’s histories in schools, including those of African, Asian, Latine, Native American, and European descent?
It is a long-held truism that those who do not know history are doomed to repeat it. Similarly, learning about and being exposed to other cultures, traditions, and histories is an enriching exercise that our district should embrace.
