Priorities
// Community Collaboration //
I will continue my commitment to work with all community members to make a lasting impact.
Healthy and vibrant communities work together. I believe that the School Board, City Council, Park Board, School District, Police, City, and Local Businesses need to work together with Non-profits to serve the greater good. Simi Valley is a warm, engaged community with a huge force of residents who are actively working to make our town a better place. I will seek and support shared initiatives that will further our community’s wellbeing.
// Good Governance //
I chose to run for office because my biggest value is being of service and creating opportunities for others. We have great schools in Simi Valley, which is why we attract students from surrounding communities. I am committed to honoring parents, teachers, and students as a voice of advocacy and problem-solving. I will focus on supporting programs and initiatives that foster opportunities for our children and their families.
As Trustee, my role is to bring sound judgment, steady guidance, and real solutions to our public schools, teachers, and students.
// Student Equity – Opportunity //
All students deserve a learning path that fits their individual needs.
Providing every student with the tools they need for individual success should be our goal. For me, student equity involves a range of individualized, educational assets that are based around student support. They include school counseling, smaller class sizes, tutoring, addressing special education concerns, and, of course, support for the trades through programs and mentorship.
// School Safety //
School safety in Simi Valley is a top priority for me.
I will support school safety programs that allow our children to develop their quest for knowledge without the emotional burden of bullying or violence. Living in Simi nearly all my life, I am grateful to the teachers, neighbors, and community members who helped invest in my safety. There were always safe adults at school who I could trust. Additionally, I have witnessed the police force here in Simi work tirelessly to provide a safe community for all of our families.
// Planning for Future Learners //
As a former student and parent of students in Simi schools, I have witnessed many great programs that our district has taken the lead in implementing. Three of these are TK/PRE-K, Dual Immersion, and School of Choice. I have the robust perspective of “what school was” paired with “what school is.” This makes me the most uniquely qualified candidate to serve on the school board. I will use this to seek new revenue streams for the district that will in turn make our community a more vital, attractive place to live. I believe these types of programs attract the types of teachers that we remember fondly. Additionally, they engage current students to seek one of the world’s most important professions.
We must stay ahead of the curve to provide opportunities for our parents, teachers, and students for generations to come.
// Arts Integration //
I’ll advocate for STEM, Music, and the Arts in our public schools.
It surprised me to learn that over 80% of the marching band at Syracuse University are actually engineering majors. Additionally, Ithaca College actively recruits theatre students for their pre-law program. In my years of service, I’ve had the privilege to witness the growth paths of hundreds of students. It is apparent to me that music makes great mathematicians, theatre makes great public speakers, and design/art-making preserves natural curiosity. School-based Arts programs foster whole-person development that lights the fire in students to become lifelong learners. I have witnessed the exponential value that a dynamic learning mindset provides. As a business person and team leader, this is the common attribute I require for every member of my team. In my experience, this curiosity and quest for knowledge is a driving force in any successful career. I will bring this belief with me to my role on the school board. I’ll advocate for Music and the Arts, alongside Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math.