Guía de Votantes

Parkland has responded to the COVID-19 pandemic with data and science based planning. Providing our standard of educational excellence, while maintaining safe and secure facilities has required the cooperation of all stakeholders and I have supported this effort 100%. Beyond the pandemic, Parkland parents know their children have the academic, art, and athletic resources needed to prepare our students for the 21st century. Accountability, both educationally and financially, ensures that our district remains a nationally recognized leader. I have been an integral part of this collaborative effort for 24 years. I pledge to continue to work with our Administration, Professional Staff, and Support Staff to maintain our pride in our excellence.

The health and well being of all students and staff is a top priority. As a school board director I will listen to the input from professionals in the school district as well as input from parents and students to determine the best course forward.

As a current school board member, I supported keeping our schools open all year this year. While it was a hybrid instructional mode, we were able to keep our students and staff safe and minimize the spread of the COVID-19 virus with our adherence the board-approved health and safety plan. With the availability of the J&J vaccine for our teachers, I voted in favor of bringing our elementary students back 4 days a week.

Parkland School District has implemented various mental health programs that are available to all students. We have updated curriculum, added various educational technology programs and ensured that all students have devices and internet access. I have supported (and will continue to support) all of these initiatives.

The hope is, by the time I am on the Board, the pandemic will be a memory. Given that, safety and security of ALL students, teachers, and educational facilities is my top priority. Collaborating with administrators, teachers, students, and the community is essential to maintaining a healthy and supportive learning and working environment. I will work to provide teachers and administrators with appropriate equipment, technology, and resources to ensure ALL students reach their maximum potential through relevant and rigorous learning experiences that prepare them to be global leaders.

As a parent, I have seen the challenges of the pandemic on the mental and physical health of both kids and parents. New scientific research suggests that kids are less likely to contract COVID-19 or to get seriously ill with it. CDC has also revised their school safety guidelines per this research. These combined with the improved availability of the vaccines will enable school districts to open the schools for in-person education now, much before the new board gets seated in Dec 2021. I support common sense safety measures like appropriate mask usage, good hygiene practices and 3ft distance to continue until local herd immunity is achieved. Fully integrated online/hybrid options should continue to be available for families that need them.

Research shows attention to mental health is key to school safety plans. Students must feel safe in order to focus and learn. Along with running drills, and following pandemic safety guidelines, school districts must address issues of mental health such as depression, anxiety and trauma. Having and following comprehensive procedures designed by experts to address all of the above issues, allows us to continue educating students while keeping their health and well-being in mind. As a school board member, I will work collaboratively to address students’ physical and mental health concerns within our district, and advocate at the local, state and federal levels for policies that support student learning within a safe school environment.