Consistent Investment in Our Schools

I believe there is no smarter investment for taxpayer dollars than in public education. Our communities have and will continue to experience growth and prosperity by ensuring that future generations are prepared to respond to the modern challenges of our world. In fact, the symbiotic relationship between strong public education and vibrant communities is well-documented. Studies consistently show that community investment in public schools is linked to upward economic mobility, in addition to increases in both self-worth and good decision-making in young people.

While it’s important that members of the school board advocate for taxpayer support of public education, it’s also absolutely essential that they engage in critical examination of district budgets. Analysis and scrutiny on both the revenue and expense sides of the equation help ensure that each dollar is being spent wisely, with the intent to maximize impact.

I do not believe that these two concepts are mutually exclusive, and I know firsthand the great responsibility that comes with managing resources entrusted by others. Over the past four years, the Board and district leadership have implemented creative solutions to ensure that needs for capital projects, curricular innovation, and personnel have been met while maintaining sound fiscal stewardship of the limited resources we have available. Going forward, we must continue to anticipate needs and identify strategic investment opportunities, demonstrate the return on investment of taxpayer resources, and maintain the trust of the community as responsible financial stewards.

Communication and Relationship Building

Proactive, consistent communication from school district leadership is a cornerstone of accountability and trust in any community. Area residents deserve timely, transparent updates in formats that reflect how they consume information, in addition to opportunities to both hear from and engage with school board members outside of official board meetings. Given the recent discontinuation of our local newspapers, maintaining open lines of communication and developing creative solutions to ensure community members throughout the district have the information they need to remain informed is more important than ever.

I’m prepared to face the challenge of maintaining effective communication in our communities. Through COVID, the strategic planning process, a superintendent search, teacher contract negotiations, and more, I have remained responsive and connected with constituents in formal and informal settings. I believe in authenticity and transparency in communication, and as an Eastern Carver County School Board member, I take my duty to maintain open lines of communication with community members seriously while serving as a vocal advocate for public education in the district.

That said, there is more to do. Now that I have had some time to better understand the nuances of the role, the unique challenges we face in Eastern Carver County, and the opportunities that point us toward the future, I look forward to more opportunities to build and maintain relationships across the district. I have appreciated the chance to get to know our students, staff, leaders, and community members by virtue of serving in this position, and it will be important to proactively cultivate those relationships in the years ahead.

Increased Sophistication in Data-Driven Decision-Making

Closing achievement gaps, improving outcomes, and rectifying systems that perpetuate educational injustice are laudable goals, and they’re critical to delivering on our mission of exceptional, personalized learning for ALL. The great news is that we have made progress on these goals over the past several years through our Consent Decree, Strategic Plan, and by hiring our district’s first executive leader in research and assessment, among other initiatives. Now that we have laid this strong foundation and are seeing early indications of positive impact, we have a fantastic opportunity to accelerate our improvements in student learning and development by using increasingly nuanced data to drive our decision-making.

There are several examples across our district of the value of knowing where our students are in their learning, what they need to make progress, and how to get them there. One in particular, the recognition of Chanhassen Elementary as a National Blue Ribbon School in 2023, is a perfect example of the interplay of the hard work and dedication of our talented teaching staff coupled with a sophisticated approach to data analysis resulting in personalized intervention to improve learning outcomes. Building leaders and educators alike have become highly literate in the interpretation of disaggregated data, and the result is a culture that understands the power of assessment as a driver of positive change.

Increasing capacity in data literacy across the system while sharing best practices of what’s working to improve effectiveness will allow us to continue to build on these successes. As a Board member, my strong background in assessment and evaluation has helped advance the conversation in the boardroom, and I believe that my expertise will continue to push our leaders and staff to think critically and creatively about what to measure and effective responses to the challenges and opportunities illuminated.