MY FOCUS
Our academic success is possible if we prioritize children’s needs above all else. I will work with fellow board members to enhance student success in District 7, and for all children of our community. I will bring creative and well-reasoned ideas, a fresh perspective, and willing collaboration as a fervent and forthright child advocate. We can do better!
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Literacy has been aptly identified by Dr. Watts as SCCPSS’s “North Star.” The Science of Reading (SoR) program is to be implemented in our schools and has shown impressive success in other school systems– Mississippi garnering, perhaps, the most acclaimed success as they rose from last in the country to second place for reading scores (+). My desire is to champion our future success with SoR by advocating for literacy to remain at the top of the agenda when determining funding and allocating resources.
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Attendance has been cited as our second greatest challenge. If we want our children to learn to read, they need to be in class. While there may exist benefits to online learning, in-class instruction is necessary for face-to-face interactions, socialization, and psychological health (+). I support a continued effort to identify and address the specific challenges many children and families face in their efforts to be present at school. We must implement standards that are clearly defined and enforceable, recognizing and showing compassion for unique situations in our community. This requires adequate staffing of social workers, counselors, and attentive teachers.
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Transportation will remain an issue if we do not offer competitive pay for the drivers who are tasked with safely and responsibly transporting our children to school. Funds must be apportioned accordingly. Indeed, we must remain attentive to the needs of all members of the SCCPSS team who each play a role in the pursuit of not only academic excellence, but in making schools joyful environments where children love to come each day.