I am running for this position out of a pure desire to serve our children.
As a mom of two toddlers, I have a vested interest in the long-term success of the Aspen School District (ASD); we plan to be involved in the community for many years to come while our children enter and progress through the school system. Through my professional experience, I have learned to pick apart and decipher lengthy legal documents, ensuring proper compliance, and overseeing the grant department with my time at a non-profit medical research facility.
I am not easily overwhelmed; I’m able to look at the big picture and create plans that lead to success in accomplishing our goals. I am diligent in my research and open to new ideas and opinions. I have the time needed, the discipline, the commitment, and passion to be a successful member of the ASD Board. Furthermore, like all of you, I love our valley, and I believe the success of our students and the culture of the school permeates into the community.
An effective leader on the board would be proficient in navigating grant funding, business administration, legal document review, and compliance – all of which I have professional experience. Most importantly though, I believe we need someone who is open to considering differing opinions and listening to all voices prior to making decisions. Governing our schools is a group effort; as community members, educators, and parents, we want and deserve to be involved in the decisions affecting our district. Effective change is made by listening to others with diverse perspectives yet maintaining the ability to hold respect for others.
There is a youth mental health crisis nationwide in which social media has played a huge role in endangering our children. I am proud of our district for deciding to enter litigation with these major social media companies. There needs to be standards for children using these platforms as well as accountability, which is something the district is seeking. It is not an option to turn a blind eye. Let’s rise above, and teach our children how to be good friends, let’s show them what genuine relationships are and how to love our neighbors despite our differences.
I feel strongly about the importance of parental involvement in our schools. Any time spent on our children is time well spent. We only have a short opportunity to impact our children’s education and cement in critical thinking skills, so they can apply their education to everyday life and translate that to good decision-making. Now is the time to stand up and support our district in whatever capacity we can. Research shows that parental involvement leads to improved academic outcomes – regardless of race or socioeconomic background – and has a positive effect on students’ school engagement, motivation, social and emotional skills, and decreases delinquency.
We need to remain focused on creating the best learning opportunities for our children and encourage them to be enthusiastic learners and critical thinkers, as these skills will help them seek answers. With this in mind, I’d like to address the legislation that has been passed in our state regarding race, culture, sexuality, gender identity, and the reduction of parental rights (HB19-1192, HB19-1032, HB23-1003).
I believe we need to be teaching our youngest children, in age-appropriate ways, about their body, how to respect others, and what to do if someone crosses a line. However, I believe this is the role of the parent, not our elementary teachers. We do not want to place too heavy of burdens on our children or teachers, as this will ultimately inhibit the success of our children in their education. These types of intimate conversations should be held personally by the parents or guardians of that child, so that the family can then gather around and support the child collectively. The legislation that has been passed in our state opens doors to issues such as these and is absolutely something we need to consider when selecting future board members.
Thank you, all, for allowing me the space to voice my commitment to the education of the children of our valley. It is my hope that you would trust me to be a partner with you as we continue to navigate the best way to educate our children and allocate our resources. And finally, I want to thank our educators for their unwavering commitment to show up every day and put the education of our children above all else.
This content was originally published here.