Why are you running for CCSD Trustee? What is your vision of success for this role? 

I am re-running for CCSD School Board Trustee, District C because I am eager to continue making students the center of our work and serve as the community’s advocate for quality public education. I am the incumbent, and have gained knowledge and insight to strengthen our district’s focus on student outcomes. My goal is to continue supporting our school system with the knowledge that I’ve gained over the last three years through governance to create stability for our kids, families, and staff.

I am proud to share that District C has shaped me into who I am today. I graduated from Mojave High School and attended UNLV. I’ve made an intentional choice to raise my children in District C where they will benefit from the beautiful diversity and strength of our community. I believe our community is extraordinary and deserves board members who are experienced, understand their role as members of a team focused on improving student outcomes.

My vision for success for this role is to continue to unify the board and community on the future of our district, with a special emphasis on student success.

How do you define student success? What experience do you have and what role do you intend to play in advocating for student success?

Student success includes academic and wellbeing outcomes for pupils, including academic growth, academic achievement, mental health, and receiving access to and obtaining college and career ready options.

When I campaigned in 2020 I was laser focused on improving student outcomes. I said:

If elected as CCSD Board Trustee for District C, my top three goals during my first term in office will be centered on student achievement, including:

Goa 1: Seek monthly educational presentations and progress reports from the superintendents during the board meetings to further understand student achievement data gaps and progress.

Goal 2: Pass and oversee a responsible budget including, at minimum, a quarterly budget presentation during the board meeting.

Goal 3: Advocate for increased funding from community leaders, families and ultimately the legislature to adequately support our schools.

I am humbled to share that I’ve worked collaboratively with my colleagues to accomplish all three goals. In my second term I intend to dive deeper into student outcomes and ensure that every student in our district is beyond proficient in math and english language arts, has social-emotional support and are prepared to graduate from our district college and career ready.

On the 2022 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP), fourth-grade students, in Nevada, scored 6 points lower in math and 7 points lower in reading when compared to 2019. If elected, how can you use your position to ensure Nevada stops following this national trend and starts leading the way for student outcomes?

The district is demonstrating gains in reading in math for students based on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAPE). In the 2022-2023 school year, 54% 4th-grade students tested at or above NAEP Basic in reading, 65% 8th-grade students tested at or above NAEP Basic reading. Additionally, in the 2022-2023 school year, 65% and 4th-grade students tested at or above NAEP Basic math, 54% 8th-grade students tested at or above NAEP Basic math.

As a board member I’ve worked with my colleagues to monitor math and reading results for our district using MAP test data. I’ve also supported investments in updated curriculum, tools, and training for staff.

During my second term I plan to continue remaining focused on improving student outcomes and continue to see the gains we’ve seen over the last year into the future.

What, if any, barriers currently exist to educational excellence and equity for every student? If elected to the Board of Trustees, how will you help eliminate these barriers?

Across the district our students face a range of needs. District C, has one of the highest levels of concentration of poverty and transitional/unhoused families. It can be easy for people who have not lived the lives of our students and families to judge their circumstances, however when there are systemic community wide challenges, it should give us all pause.

The district has a range of partners from municipalities to nonprofits who support students and families remove barriers that hinder academic achievement. I am grateful for these added supports because it allows the district to focus on the learning environment for students.

In terms of the learning environment, research indicates that the number one indicator for student success is a highly qualified educator in their classroom. As districts across the country face teacher shortages, like Clark County, it has required creative solutions to generate our own talent and incentivize educators to teach in the schools with the greatest need. For example, as a member of the board I have voted for partnerships with the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) to create pathways for our paraprofessionals to expedite and earn their teaching credentials. Recently, the school district was recognized for the success of this partnership by Secretary of Education, Miguel Cardona.

During my second term I intend to focus on supporting our students in the urban core and ensure the district does whatever is needed to create sustainable academic progress.

What do you believe are the top three most persistent challenges facing the CCSD Board of Trustees? What is an example of a bold approach you would propose to address one of those challenges?

1. Selecting and retaining the next Superintendent.
2. Remaining focused on student outcomes and monitoring progress.
3. Strengthening community trust and image.
4. Political tensions between the needs of specific community advocacy groups and the board’s responsibility to govern on behalf of all students.

All of the above challenges are interconnected. They all have the capacity to impact the board’s ability to focus on student outcomes, which is a current initiative of the board. Through our focus on community meetings to guide the development of the board’s goals, the board has already taken bold action. I’ve made a personal commitment to strengthen the board’s direction by focusing on student outcomes.

In January four appointed members were added to the Board of Trustees. How will you leverage the expertise of these appointed members to best serve students? Do you think the appointed members should be voting members? 

As Board President I worked with my colleagues to ensure a smooth transition and training took place for our newest appointed members. This includes ensuring their participation in briefings, meetings with the Superintendent, participation in all district related activities, and local and national training.

AB 175, as written into law, excludes appointed members by municipality from voting privileges.

Research suggests that more than 50% of a board meeting should be focused on student outcomes. How would you ensure the board allocates this amount of time to student outcomes?

As Board President I’ve led an initiative to ensure the board’s primary focus is on student outcomes. Beginning this year we agreed to a multi-year process that begins by engaging the community to provide insight and feedback on desired goals of the board. The intention is for the community sessions to take place this year, followed by review of our policies to ensure we are monitoring progress, and evaluating the superintendent based on the goals. There will also be a self-evaluation component for the board to ensure it continues to remain focused on student outcomes.

If elected to the Board, how would you approach challenging conversations and/or criticisms that might arise from fellow Board members, stakeholders, and the broader community?

Throughout my term I have gained experience to lead authentically and with kindness in the face of criticisms. I intend to continue leading in this manner and remaining focused on our students and families.

What key indicators would you use to assess the performance of CCSD’s Superintendent? How would you hold the Superintendent accountable?

In 2021 and 2023 I supported the revision of the Superintendent Evaluation Protocols (BS/E-1) and Superintendent Evaluation Criteria (SE-1.1). The combined policies provide the Board of Trustees a comprehensive set of guides to establish goals before the beginning of the school year for the board and Superintendent, monitor progress through public meetings of the goals, and provide a summative assessment at the end of the year.

During my second term I plan to utilize these policies to establish goals and ensure that our board and Superintendent are successful in reaching student outcome focused priorities.

In a recent survey, 77% of Nevada residents agreed that parents should be able to send their children to the public school they feel is best for their child, even if it is outside of their neighborhood. Do you agree? Please explain your reasoning.

Yes, and CCSD currently has schools that provide families the choice to attend schools outside of their neighborhood through magnet schools options and Change of School Assignment (COSA). Over the last several years I’ve voted to add more magnet school options for our students.

The following question was submitted by a current public high school student: How will you ensure students are put at the forefront of the decision making process as a member of the Board of Trustees, and what accountability measures would you put in place to make sure this happens? 

Student success has been at the forefront of my decision making while serving on the CCSD School Board of Trustees; and it will continue to be a priority in my second term.

For example, during my term I’ve worked with my colleagues to receive feedback from students on important issues. Last school year the Student Advisory Council met once a month to provide the Board of Trustees recommendations on a topic of importance to their peers, Chronic Absenteeism. This year the school district implemented many of the students recommendations and as a result have increased student attendance districtwide.