I am honored to have my name on the ballot to support the children, families and community in Downingtown! I’m running for the School Board because I want the best for our kids. My vision is to see every child thrive in the Downingtown Area School District. MY PLATFORM:
I have 3 priorities as School Board Director:
1-I am a huge fan of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. I want every child to feel
valued and included at school. We should have the best resources available to include and support students and teachers of all backgrounds—all nationalities, orientations, ethnicities, beliefs, and abilities.
2-I am also passionate about Full Day Kindergarten. Although Downingtown is an outstanding school district, this is an area where Downingtown would benefit by catching up with our neighbors. Half-day kindergarten is a relic from another time, when children typically did not attend preschool and kindergarten was a child’s first classroom experience. I was a public elementary school teacher for 9 years. These days, in order to give reading, writing and math the time they need, half-day teachers are unable to include recess or make much room for creativity. Half-day K also places strain on Downingtown families. Too many families resort to charter schools to make school work for their children. Their energy—not to mention thousands of tax dollars every year—leave DASD. Transitioning to Full-Day Kindergarten will keep money in our district in the long run. By giving our children the full day, we will be able to foster their love of learning and nourish their mental health, while at the same time, we can give them more robust academic readiness. It can even help to close the achievement gap for disadvantaged families and even the playing field for students across the district. It’s a win-win.
3-My third priority is our children’s mental health. The last year and a half have been hard on our community. Now more than ever, we need to let our children know they are supported and have places to turn when they need help. As School Board Director, I will do everything I can to make sure our children are able to get the support they need. If you have a question for me or an idea for the school board, reach out! Email me [email protected] . I would love to connect.
