I'm a school social worker and a mom of two young girls, and I’m running for school board because I believe our schools should put kids at the center of everything we do. I have nearly two decades of experience working in and around public schools, and I’m excited for the opportunity to bring that experience to our community. Here’s what I’m passionate about:

• Student-Centered Schools: All our decisions should center around what’s best for kids. That means creating schools where every student feels safe, supported and engaged so they can learn and grow. It also means grounding our decisions in the needs of our students and our community as a whole. When we put students first, we create environments where both students and educators succeed.

• Supporting Teachers: Great schools start with great teachers, and we’re lucky to have some of the best around. When we invest in meaningful teacher training, give educators the tools they need, and create a supportive school culture, we set teachers up for long-term success. Strong leadership at the school level and clear, consistent support around behavior and classroom management are critical to reducing burnout and making sure excellent teachers stay in our district long term.

• Data-Based Decision Making: When we use fact-based decision making, we can better understand what’s working well, where students need additional support, and how we can create solutions that truly make a difference. I believe in taking a close, thoughtful look at school data and using it to guide our programs, policies, and resource decisions. This approach keeps us accountable, ensures resources are used effectively, and helps every student get the support they deserve. I’ve worked with districts to build strong systems for collecting and analyzing data, and I’m ready to bring that experience to Washington Township.

• Supportive School Culture and Climate: A positive school culture and climate allows teachers to focus on teaching curriculum instead of constantly managing behaviors and classroom disruptions. This is why strong school cultures and climates are strongly correlated with improved academic outcomes. I’ll advocate for meaningful training and ongoing support for both teachers and administrators, especially in positive behavioral interventions, consistent disciplinary practices, and strong classroom management. With strong school cultures and climates in place, our teachers can focus on what they do best: teach academics.  

• Collaboration and Communication: We’re a small district, and we have a big opportunity to use that to our advantage to truly listen to each other. I’m committed to working closely with teachers, principals, and staff to understand what they need to succeed and create the best possible environment for our students through open, transparent communication and collaboration. This also means improving communication between families and the district, ensuring that parents and families are aware of what’s going on, feel heard, and are up to date on decisions and the reasons behind those decisions, whenever legally possible.

The next three years has the potential to bring a lot of change to our town. Between (1) planning for increasing student populations due to the proposed developments on Newburgh Road and Kings Highway and (2) potential changes to state and federal funding policies, we need Board Members with a background in education who can make thoughtful, student-centered decisions. My background gives me a deep understanding of how all the pieces of our education system fit together and allows me to make informed choices that put our kids first.