I am running for the School Board to bring more oversight and a student-first mindset to our district. Here is how I plan to lead.
1. Smart, Student-Centered School Planning
DeKalb currently has too many empty seats, but mass school closures are not the answer—they rarely save money and often hurt student achievement. I will advocate for expert-led, cluster-by-cluster plans that prioritize student well-being over the interests of construction companies.
2. Transparent & Efficient Spending (E-SPLOST)
Our tax dollars must be managed with precision. I will fight for an E-SPLOST bill in November 2026 that clearly lists every project and closure upfront. No more “blank checks”—we must maintain our construction and maintenance budgets efficiently to save DeKalb families money.
3. Hiring a Permanent Superintendent
DeKalb needs stability. My top priority is appointing a permanent leader with the experience and integrity to fix long-standing problems. We need a partner who will roll up their sleeves and stay for the long haul.
4. More Teachers, Less Bureaucracy
Since 2023, central administration spending has skyrocketed while teacher funding has lagged. I will push for a leaner central office and more autonomy to school leaders who consistently meet performance and safety benchmarks and need less support.
5. An Exceptional Education for Every Child
As a parent of a student receiving Exceptional Education services, I know the system can work—but it shouldn’t be a “rare occurrence.” I will champion better dashboards and tracking systems so every parent can clearly see their child’s progress and resolve issues more effectively. I will also make it a priority to better understand why 700+ students leave our system annually to use SB10 vouchers and see how we can decrease that number.
6. Fixing the “Middle School Gap”
Our enrollment data shows DeKalb loses too many students during the middle school years. We must transform our middle schools by adopting best practices for instruction and focusing heavily on student mental health to ensure our kids stay and thrive through graduation. This includes introducing mandatory unstructured breaks for middle school students and better teacher working conditions.
7. Prioritizing Student Well-Being & Safety
- Guaranteed Recess: I will do my part to codify 30 minutes of daily, unstructured break time for all elementary students into Board policy.
- Athlete Safety: I will request a full review of athletic policies to ensure that practices and games are safe for students of all ages.
- Screen Guidelines: While we limit personal devices based on research, it is also important to review standards for Chromebook use.
8. Open & Honest Governance
I believe the public has a right to know how decisions are made. I will push to move more discussions out of “executive sessions” and into open meetings. You deserve a Board member who prioritizes transparency over closed-door politics.
9. Total Fiscal Accountability
I’ve spent the last six months analyzing our district’s finances. I will push for new transparency initiatives, including new reporting for contracts under $50K and ensuring all staff and Board member P-Card expenses be included in monthly public reports. We must eliminate waste and disclose all potential conflicts of interest.
10. Reviewing the Millage Rate
DeKalb taxpayers pay the highest millage rate in the metro area, yet we see significant waste. We must either prove our value through results or reduce the tax burden on our families by cutting the fluff from our budget.