Dear Neighbor,

Please support me in my candidacy for the at-large seat on the Montgomery County Board of Education. 

My husband and I moved to Montgomery County close to 20 years ago for one reason - because we were told that MCPS was the best school district in the region.  In truth, except for the wonderful teachers we have met along the way, the overall experience has been mediocre.  In fact, the students of MCPS are currently facing their lowest achievement rates across all tested subjects of reading, math and science. Their attendance rates are low and getting lower and they tell us through school climate surveys that they are disconnected. 

Our children spend the majority of their waking hours at school and I am highly motivated to strengthen their school experience now.   Our children deserve to attend schools where they get pushed AND supported based on their individual needs - where they know people are rooting for them -  where they know they matter because of the strong relationships they have with both peers and adults no matter their race, language, religion, gender, or economic status. 

I am a 1st generation immigrant who grew up as a latch-key kid learning English and the customs and the culture of this country.  I was keenly aware of the impact of race, class, language access on the human experience ... and knew I wanted to make it better for children.  After college, I chose education because I wanted to help more and more kids prove what is possible ... and confidently step into their life with more choices and opportunities. I believed that if I had high expectations for my students and held myself accountable for their success they would flourish - and they did! 

I will bring to the board my professional experiences ... as an elementary school teacher who smiled with pride year after year knowing that my students were entering middle school ready, curious, and confident to take on more  ... as an innovative middle school principal who redesigned the school with student experience at the center and strengthened parent and community confidence in the school ... as a chief academic officer who brought coherence to academic programs and improved school culture for both students and adults making a systems of schools more joyful and rigorous... and as a deputy chancellor leading an entire school district’s efforts to strengthen and transform multiple systems including systems for talent & leadership development, student learning & interventions, curriculum & assessments, and innovations & community engagement.

My priorities:

1. Ensure that MCPS designs and executes an education program with student experience at the center.  Our students are letting us know in so many ways that schools are not working.  Our attendance, achievement, and engagement data tell us loudly that we need to redesign how we do schools. Our children deserve:

   • The highest quality curriculum to spark their curiosity and engagement.

   • Our trust.  They deserve to know their data and their perspectives should be included in the improvements to the school experience.

   • A robust option of enrichment and enhancing opportunities for connection and leadership during the school day as well as after school.

   • To learn from teachers who are both content experts AND human development experts so they can leverage their knowledge of both to engage and teach students.

   • School start times that make sense.

2. Ensure that MCPS remembers that people power this and are our greatest resource. MCPS should become the premiere destination for educators and school support staff. We need to:

   • Trust our teachers. Give them more autonomy to support students and incorporate their perspectives for improvements.

   • Prioritize competitively compensating staff for their expertise. 

   • Provide time and space for teachers to enhance and sharpen their craft.   

   • Ensure the staff feel valued and trusted by the district and school community. 

3. Deliver on smart governance and accountability. We need leadership and execution at all levels of MCPS starting with the board of education. Specifically the board should:

   • Be clear on the priorities for MCPS and make decisions based on those priorities instead of focusing on pet projects.

   • Ensure the district budget reflects the established priorities and be an effective advocate with the county council during the budget process.

   • Support and hold accountable the superintendent for achieving established priorities.

We can and must to do better. Our children and our community are counting on us.

Thank you for your support!