Qualifications and Experience

Education: Charlotte School of Law, J.D., 2016; American College of Education, M. Ed. in Educational Leadership, 2012; University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, B.A. in Spanish, minor in Education and Ethnic & Racial studies Political experience: La Crosse County Board of Supervisors (Wisconsin), District 10 Supervisor 2002-2004; Candidate Mooresville Town Board 2007; volunteer for countless campaigns I know what it means to serve the public because I have been doing so since 2002 when I was first elected in Wisconsin, and I continue to do so every day in my classroom. I have spent my career fighting to improve public education across the state, advocating for children and families, and working to ensure North Carolina is a great place to live.

Biography

Originally from Wisconsin, I moved to North Carolina when I accepted a teaching position in Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools. I have worked in our public schools since 2004. I have been active with Iredell-Statesville Association of Educators, and North Carolina Association of Educations since 2006, and have worked as an advocate for our schools and communities.

OS1 Questions:

1. Do you believe that all children in Iredell County, regardless of where they live, are entitled to the same quality of education?

Yes.

2. Do you think that all children in Iredell County are currently receiving the same quality of education?

No. We have two different K-12 school systems, and with that, there come differences. Mooresville is able to locally supplement its schools whereas the Iredell-Statesville is not. With different per-pupil expenditures comes different quality of education.

3. Do you think that the level of funding for public schools in North Carolina is adequate? If not, do you think it’s the County’s or the State’s responsibility to increase public education funding?

Not at all. The North Carolina Constitution makes it the state’s responsibility to ensure all students have access to public education, and current North Carolina law makes funding such education the state’s responsibility. If counties or municipalities want to do more, or go above what the state does, such as supplement positions or salaries, they are and should be entitled to do so, but the future of our children should not be dependent upon such additional funding. Funding needs to be restored to pre-recession levels

4. Do you support the proposed Iredell County ¼ cent sales tax increase on the November 6, 2018 ballot?

As long as it is actually used for our public schools.

5. If you do support the proposed sales tax increase, do you believe that the local School Boards are best equipped to decide how to use additional sales tax revenue for our schools? If not, who is best equipped to make these decisions?

Absolutely

6. Are you aware of the recent North Carolina School Report Card which graded all schools in the Iredell County?

Yes, and it is socioeconomically biased and does not provide a true reflection of what is happening in our public schools.