Career: I am the Business Manager and Director of Human Resources at Heartland Plumbing. My second career is a very busy mom of four - my kiddos are involved in a lot of activities.

Education Experience: I have a very unique education experience. I am married to a public school teacher of 20 years. Having children on complete opposite ends of the educational spectrum, I am well versed in Special Education and the IEP process. I have spent many hours volunteering in the schools and classrooms. 

Community Service: I have spent the last 8 years serving on the PTO Board for the Primary and Intermediate Centers. This year I transitioned into serving on the site councils for both the Junior High and High School. I am a Friends of Baldwin Academy of Dance and Voice Board Member. I volunteer my time at events like Winter Workshop, School Book Fairs, setting up meals for teachers throughout the year, Bullpup Stroll and many other school related activities. 

What is your motivation for running for office? Plain and simple. The future of our children. I want to make sure our education professionals have the resources they need to obtain the best outcomes for students. I want to set the course for hiring and retaining the type of teachers that are passionate about educating our kids. I want to keep a neutral educational landscape for our students. 

What is one major issue Baldwin City USD #348 is facing currently and how would you address it? There are many issues facing USD 348 that could be addressed here. A priority for me is the question of how to provide Career and Technical Education to our students with aging facilities and a lack of funding.  Currently, BHS does not have the space and resources to accommodate additional CTE classes.  Our new agriculture class is being taught out of a Jr. High classroom rather than at the high school due to lack of space.  This is a classroom that needs space for equipment and possibly a greenhouse to prepare our students for Ag related fields. The culinary program lacks a commercial grade kitchen. Students must purchase their own Computer Programs such as Adobe products, in order to prepare themselves for classes in web design and other tech fields. The reason being the school does not have the space or resources to provide computers with those programs available. Our current shop classes are taught out of a building about the size of a garage with equipment that is outdated at best.  That is not the type of equipment that is being used in the Construction and Service industries these students are working towards.  As we look to the future success of our graduates, we have to remedy these issues, or risk setting them further behind their peers.

What is your vision for Baldwin City USD #348 5-10 years in the future? USD 348 has a 5 year plan in place that currently has several target areas they plan to focus on.  One of those is Supporting the Needs of Students and Staff.  To me, this should be the main focus of this plan.  Teachers across the nation are burning out at a rapid rate.  Baldwin is not immune to this as teacher turnover has been on the rise. Educators that choose to stick around do a fantastic job, but oftentimes find themselves stressed out, overworked, and apathetic towards their profession.  These feelings have a tendency to bleed over into the classroom and affect the students as well.  When I visit with the teachers about this, pay is usually the last thing mentioned as a factor to burnout. Student behavior, more and more expectations and underappreciation top the list.

We as a community must support our educators better.  Most people working in our schools can’t put a face with some of the current school board members or school board candidates. Our educators need to know who is representing them and making decisions on their behalf. Board members should actively seek out information and suggestions from our education professionals.

Outside of that, I want to see unity in our community. I want to see us working toward the common goal of serving our children and giving them the best educational experience possible. Over the last few years, a divide has come to Baldwin City, unfortunately, with school politics at the center of it all.

What personal characteristics and/or abilities do you have that qualify you for election to the School Board? I have been in business management for 18 years. I have done every level of the business from answering phones and making schedules to running the business in its entirety as CFO. After obtaining my Master’s Degree in Business Administration with specialized certification in Human Resources from Baker University, my career has been focused as a Director of Human Resources. Within my role as HR Director, I am tasked with approving payrolls, seeking out and negotiating health benefits, developing and coordinating company policies, ensuring compliance with the organizations and government agencies we work with, implementing employee training and development and finally, interviewing and hiring employees. One of my strong suites is being solution oriented. I am very good at listening to and considering all angles of a situation and using resources I have available to help provide a solution. Aside from my business experience that I feel would serve me well as a board member, I believe that I have many experiences within the schools and community that have also prepared me. I am passionate about volunteering my time in the schools and helping to support teachers in any way that I can. I have a high level of passion to see students in our district succeed in whatever direction their life may take them. These skills and abilities are all great but I believe the greatest of those I possess is that I am a mother. I am an advocate for my children, and for yours.