Personal Statement

I first became involved in advocating for a better public education system when my son was physically assaulted by his middle school teacher. Identifying the role race played, I quickly learned that sending my children to school and showing up to conferences was not enough to ensure they were receiving a quality education in a safe and healthy learning environment. I began to connect with other families, teachers, administrators, and community groups to work collaboratively in addressing the issues that students of color were facing more broadly. We worked together to address structural inequities by ensuring that district policies were enforced and that the adults tasked with educating our children were being held accountable. I have learned that building relationships with various stakeholders, particularly from communities of color, is paramount in working to push for policy changes, enforcement of current policies, and accountability of educators and administrators in the district to underserved students. Most importantly through my advocacy, I have been able to help develop the leadership of other parents facing similar challenges. By continuing this work, our district will have a diverse group of families working together to ensure a quality education for all students.