Community Service: Prior to moving to Kansas and Baldwin, I served as an adult leader in Cub Scouts (Outdoor Activities and Committee Chair), youth sports coach, and Chair of a Preschool Board for 4 years at Christ the King Church in Newbury Park, CA.   

As preschool Chair, I was faced with the challenges of increasing enrollment, creating and managing the budget, guiding the Director on resolving various student, teacher and parent issues, and intermediating between the Director and Pastor/Executive Committee to ensure the vision of the school was being met.  Over my two terms as chair, we created the environment to successfully increase enrollment, increased teacher pay and managed budget to bring the school to a positive cash balance at the end of each year. 

Since moving to the community, I was an advocate to get kids back in school after COVID and have advocated for fair tax policy at the USD and County level.  I’ve assisted community efforts to oppose industrial wind and solar projects on our precious Douglas County farmland.

Our family has donated to Baldwin Education Foundation and the Douglas County Community Foundation through attending their local fundraising event. 

What is your motivation for running for office? I am running for Baldwin USD 348 School Board for several reasons:
(1) Within Kansas and our Baldwin community, we need to elevate our pursuit of academics by empowering staff to focus on 'the fundamentals' and build strong-minded, confident and disciplined students. I envision students who thirst for learning - both while attending USD 348 and upon graduation.  Creating such a culture and environment maximizes "Student Outcomes" in their adult life. In this pursuit, I’d like to focus on identifying the reasons Baldwin has relatively low graduation rates and higher chronic absenteeism than more successful public schools.  I’d also like to focus on improving STEM and CTE success in Baldwin by fostering summer pre-college learning, connections with local businesses for after-school and summer internships, and drawing in community experts to bring ideas and resources to shape these programs.  

(2) Our Baldwin community also needs a School Board that is accountable towards achieving such student outcomes - and holds administrators and staff accountable. I desire to bring more accountability to USD 348 by setting the bar high for student outcome goals. We need more rigorous engagement between the Board, administrators and staff to maximize performance. When performance is lacking or mistakes are made, we need to determine the root causes, acknowledge mis-steps, accept responsibility, and re-chart the course. 

(3) Public education is one of the most important responsibilities of local government. It is also our largest local taxing agency. As such, USD 348 must lead the way in transparency and integrity to our citizens. Patrons deserve to have easy access to information, truthful conversations about the issues, and a clear understanding of the priorities.  Patrons also deserve truth and respect in taxation.  I’d like to see improvement across the spectrum in the transparency of the next Board.

What is one major issue Baldwin City USD #348 is facing currently and how would you address it? There are many issues facing our district.  One in particular is a lack of strategic prioritization, lack of goals that are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely), and lack of a transparent plan to the public in how we achieve such goals.  The district currently has a 4-page “strategic plan” with over 35 bullet points, but no direction as to what is a priority over the coming few years, or detail in what will demonstrate success and what resources are needed to get there.  A new board needs to define short-term, medium-term, and long-term goals so it can effectively prioritize governance when it comes to managing administration and directing budget.

What is your vision for Baldwin City USD #348 5-10 years in the future? Baldwin had a great deal of uncertainty over the next decade.  Our growth model is not the same as other communities due in part to the current limited ability to build new homes and businesses that will substantially add to our tax base.  Outside of the city annexing land, the rural portions of the district have limitations on parceling large tracts of land to build new homes.  There are other unknowns and headwinds due to high taxes, unknown impact of the Panasonic plant 20 miles away, and open enrollment that must be patiently examined and managed.  

Broadly, my vision is for Baldwin to develop a compelling educational product while being fiscally responsible, which will benefit both our current community and attract new members.  USD 348 must aspire to bring a greater portion of our community together than we currently have. 

Over the 5-year period I would like to see the district pay off it’s current bond debt early and “right-size” a new improvement bond in the 2027-2028 time that does not overburden taxpayers.  In the meantime, I’d like to focus on building a model for success with a few CTE programs that can be the inspiration for others (Ag Ed/Sciences being one) and using more greatly local resources like Peasley Tech.  I’d like to resolve current issues with transportation by partnering with city government and community to ensure our most vulnerable are getting to school safely.  I’d like to strengthen the commitment of Baker for our sporting field needs while making strategic incremental improvements to USD-managed areas.  If we  demonstrate good governance, we will build stronger community support over this period.

By 10-years, I’d like to see 75-80% percent of our students achieving “success” within 5 years of graduation through earning some type of post-secondary accreditation.  I’d like to see a culture of accountability and transparency in tackling problems become the standard.  I’d like young families of our alumni have a desire to start their businesses and raise their own children in our community because it offers better opportunity for them here than elsewhere. .

What personal characteristics and/or abilities do you have that qualify you for election to the School Board? I am a problem solver, strategic thinker, and optimist (“there is always a way”); this leads me to ‘dig in’ to understand a variety of factors associated with a problem and use multidimensional thinking to prioritize and chart a course for success.  I also do my best to live by a code that focusses on caring for others, driving for truth, and being accountable.  Though I have a defined value system as a compass, I am a person that takes feedback and reflects on it.  

As an elected position, I believe Board Members must also advocate for both the students within the district and taxpayers (patrons) who fund the teachers, administration, and facilities. Parents, including myself, desire Academic Excellence, a safe environment, and adequate facilities for their children. Patrons desire thoughtful taxation policy with transparent justification and good stewardship of their tax dollars. Elected School Board members must both guide administrators and listen to them to ensure policies, budgets, staffing and curriculum are serving the students and the community of patrons.  I believe I’m a candidate that uniquely considers the School Board role in this way – that we are here to serve all.