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With a seat on the Forest Hills School Board, I will continue to add value to our community by contributing my experience and educational expertise to Board collaboration, always asking "What is best for children?" in order to help all learners reach their individual potentials, supporting the district’s 21st Century learning programs, and prioritizing the continued physical and psychological safety of staff and students. My life's work has and continues to be education. On your ballot this November 5th, I hope you will choose me to continue to serve you and all Forest Hills residents.
As I sat down to my very first meeting -- a Finance Committee meeting -- in my very first month of being a new school board trustee, Superintendent Dan Behm told me that the next couple hours would be "a lot like drinking from a fire hose." That day I knew I had a lot to learn, but what I didn't realize was that the fire hose wouldn't turn off for another four years! As a general rule, it takes a couple years to really understand the job of a school board member -- that's why our terms at FHPS last six years. Fortunately, when I was elected to the board, the collective years of its sitting members' service totaled to over fifty years and I experienced a board culture of mentorship and collaboration.
I learned experience matters.
I learned experience matters.
During that first peaceful year I learned what board service was all about, just in time to put it to the test through a pandemic, a return to learning plan, community division, overwhelming mental health and behavioral challenges, staff shortages, a bond campaign, interviewing and choosing a board member to fill a surprise vacancy, retiring a superintendent in spring rather than the usual winter, identifying the need for and hiring an interim superintendent, and searching for and hiring a superintendent, all while maintaining fiscal responsibility with a balanced district budget. "Fire hose" may have been an understatement... but I certainly know how to be an excellent school board member now.
Experience matters... and I have it.
Experience matters... and I have it.
With twenty-two years of experience as a high school teacher as well as a coach, director, clubs and publications advisor, and instructional coach, I am confident in my knowledge of education from a variety of angles as an employee.
As faculty for Davenport University, I now bring some unique, current, and highly relevant knowledge of what students need to succeed educationally after high school.
Additionally, I know the Forest Hills community as someone who has lived here for twenty years and the district as the parent of two children currently attending FHPS schools.
As a board member, to understand finance and operations, I spent my first two years of board service on the district's Finance Committee prior to putting my passion for and experience in education to best use during four years on the Curriculum Committee. After three years of learning and building confidence as a board member, I took on the Board Secretary position for a year, and then Vice President for the past two years, demonstrating leadership and additional duties within the team.
Furthermore, over the years I have completed MASB (Michigan Association of School Boards) classes and workshops and have attended the MASB annual fall conference more than once; I am committed to growing my knowledge as a board member. Six years has included a great deal of learning, but there is still so much more knowledge and experience to be gained... and shared as our board changes over the years as new board members are elected.
Let my experience work for our district and community.
Let my experience work for our district and community.
It’s clear to me that our community is proud that nearly all students attending our district’s schools graduate and that our students’ college readiness and proficiency levels in English and math far exceed the state average. We are indeed a destination district. Talented and dedicated faculty, staff and administration ensure we continue to make you proud by implementing curricular and operational strategies aligned with our district's vision. It is the school board's responsibility to provide governance and direction through policy adoption, budgetary management, and overseeing the superintendency. Once our new superintendent has had time to settle into FHPS, we will design and implement a strategic plan, setting the direction for the next several years of our district. With your vote in November, let me continue to put my experience, knowledge and love for students, education and this district to work for our community so we can continue to make you proud.
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