ISSUES

I support the 2026 school levy. The simple truth is that an antiquated school funding formula has not kept pace with the cost of educating students in the modern world. The reality of that truth is a 3.6 million dollar budget gap in Columbia Heights schools caused by a change in compensatory funding formulas.

This budget gap may jeopardize teacher and support-staff jobs, critical building repairs, and important support for teachers, students and families. The 2026 local school levy must pass so we can continue to provide a high quality education to CHPS students and families while working to address systemic issues in education funding from the state and federal government.

I will work the CHPS Board and Superintendent to ensure these funds are maximized to support students, educators and families.

The Permanent School Fund Amendment is on the ballot this fall. A majority Yes vote from Minnesota voters would increase the funding formulas for the Permanent School Fund and increase funds distributed to districts, and cost nothing to Minnesotans. I fully support this amendment.

The people of Columbia Heights deserve strong schools that serve the entire community. The 2026 school levy is an important first step, but school levies should be rare. We need our state legislature to step up and permanently fix the way school funding works in Minnesota.

A school district’s primary responsibility is to equip each student with the foundational skills needed to succeed in the world. In other words, students must learn to read effectively and fluently now, to unlock a lifetime of literacy to learn.

The Minnesota Reading to Ensure Academic Development Act (READ Act) gives us a clear direction and responsibility to assure every student in Minnesota is reading at grade level. Columbia Heights has continued to be a model for how the READ Act is intended to support educators in their endeavor to improve literacy skills for all students.

In Columbia Heights, nearly all Phase 1 and Phase 2 teachers have completed necessary training, a Science of Reading based curriculum has been chosen, tiered literacy interventions are planned, and the district is ready to begin weaving the two together during this implementation year. My role as a board member will be to support this implementation, ensuring that educators have what is necessary to be successful in teaching students to read.

Teachers and school staff are what makes CHPS run. Their dedication to their students is unmatched, as we saw both during Operation Metro Surge last year and in the day to day work that they do.

I will work to ensure that resources are allocated to make sure staff feel safe, seen, supported and welcomed in the district, that they are given continued opportunities to grow their skills in teaching, and are compensated well for the work they do. I will also commit to being a listening ear to staff so they can share their experiences and needs as they are on the ground doing the hard work everyday.

• As a school board member, my primary job will be to help CHPS realize the Vision 2030 Strategic Plan. This includes making sure funding, staffing and facilities remain in alignment of each strategic priority.

  • All Belong

    • I will support the revision of school policies to ensure that all students, staff and families who enter through the doors of CHPS feel welcomed, affirmed and like they belong.

  • All Succeed

    • I will work to ensure successful implementation of the Minnesota READ Act and new Minnesota Social Studies and Math Standards. This includes ensuring the implementation of Minnesota Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MnMTSS) continues in CHPS and that focus remains on continuous improvement.

  • Creating Worlds of Opportunity Together

    • I will work to ensure clear communication from the school board and district to staff, students, families and community on outcomes, needs and opportunities for collaboration.

Our immigrant students come to school with a variety of experiences, knowledge, and culture. Their contributions to our community are vast and exceptional. The safety and security of our immigrant students is as essential as it is for any other student.

When any student’s safety is in danger, it is the job of the school and the individuals working in that school to do anything they can to protect students. Unfortunately, as we have seen in the last year, the safety of our immigrant students is in jeopardy, which means it is the responsibility of the district to take increased measures to protect them.

As a board member, I commit to making sure that schools, staff, and the superintendent have what they need to ensure the safety and protection of our immigrant students. This includes working with our city, state and federal elected officials to clearly prohibit ICE from coordinating with local law enforcement, and ensure this is also reflected in district policy. I will also continue coordination with local immigrant rights and community defense organizations as a partner at the district.

In order for students to learn, they must be in school and in the classroom. We know that part of being a kid means testing boundaries, developing their own autonomy and learning through experience.

As a long time educator, I have seen how non-exclusionary discipline practices including restorative practices, social emotional learning, and trauma-informed teaching practices can positively change the course of a student's trajectory when they make mistakes or go against community agreements. I commit to ensuring that CHPS has the resources to support staff to help students take accountability, learn from their mistakes, and be seen as a whole child rather than a choice they made.

Ensuring that all students feel welcomed and supported at school is one of my core values. No matter what identities a student holds, they should have access to curriculum and materials that reflect those identities. In addition, all students benefit when they see staff, teachers and leaders who hold the same identities as them. And, research shows that all students do better when they learn from and with people who come from differing backgrounds than themselves.

It is my job as a board member to ensure that all students, regardless of identities held, feel safe, seen and supported and to make sure that the necessary support and resources are available to staff, students and community to ensure this happens.

Columbia Heights Public Schools are better schools because of the diversity of its community. Our students deserve to be prepared for success in life and work beyond our walls, and the ability to understand, appreciate, and respectfully communicate across differences is key.

CHPS has committed to culturally responsive instruction and culturally responsive school leadership to meet our diverse students’ needs across languages and cultures. I will ensure that there are resources allocated for this work to continue, because we know that it is what is best for students and staff.

Extracurricular opportunities help students develop as a whole person and learn critical skills beyond academics. Students who are involved in extracurricular activities feel more connected to their communities. They also apply skills taught in the classroom to extend learning outside of the classroom.

It is my belief that funding extracurriculars must remain a priority. Since funding is continually a barrier in extra-curricular activities, I commit to working with the community to build and maintain partnerships that will increase student success, knowledge and belonging while attending CHPS.