Homegrown
LEADERSHIP

“in the interest of exemplifying leadership and humility."

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

1 Peter 4:10-11

Fighting for Sleepy Hole Borough

It’s imperative that we find ways to make our teachers’ workload more manageable. Our teachers are the heart of our school system. The Annenberg Institute at Brown University found in a recent study there were an estimated 55,000 vacant full-time teaching positions in the U.S. Suffolk Public Schools has over 100 long term subs covering unfilled positions. While competitive pay is a significant factor in attracting and retaining teachers, the climate and culture of our system is just as, if not more important. It is essential that our policies, our administration, and our relationship with the community supports the work of our teachers in the classroom.

Breaking Down America's Teacher Shortage Crisis in 5 Charts

School safety is a significant concern for the more than 15,000 students and staff in schools across Suffolk. Providing a secure, violence-free environment is paramount to ultimate goal of student academic achievement. School Safety needs to be a budget priority. The United States Census Bureau published population change estimates for counties nationwide on March 14, 2024. According to the estimates, Suffolk experienced the most significant increase in growth percentage compared to other cities in the Hampton Roads region and the sixth highest in the Commonwealth from July 1, 2022, to July 1, 2023. We need to make sure the growth of our emergency departments in Suffolk match the growth of the city. Another budget priority should be to procure and maintain state of the art security equipment.

A passion for special education led me to pursue that career path. More than 10 years as a special education teacher has given me valuable insight and tools I still use today as a special education advocate. As a mother of two kids with unique learning abilities and needs, this platform is very special and important to my heart. The SOLS recently released by the VDOE indicate our special education population continues to demonstrate gaps in achievement. Budget prioritizing brings not only salary support for highly qualified and experienced special education teachers, but also attention to much needed support services, programs, and equipment. All of our Suffolk Public Schools students deserve our very best and that includes students with disabilities.

Community engagement is involvement and participation in an organization for the welfare of the community. In order to build a bright future for the students at Suffolk Public Schools, the community needs to be engaged and invested. If we want the decisions of the board to reflect our community, we need the participation of the entire community. Every voice should count, not just those that shout the loudest. I believe it is my duty as a representative of the Sleepy Hole Borough to be the link between our school system and the community. In order for my vote to represent the community, it is imperative for me to incorporate the input, perspectives, and ideas of those I serve.

SLEEPY HOLE BOROUGH

Sleepy Hole Borough includes the precincts of Bellharbour, Driver, Bennetts Creek and Harbourview.

Homegrown LEADERSHIP

1 Peter 4:10-11

Fighting for Sleepy Hole Borough

SLEEPY HOLE BOROUGH

Homegrown
LEADERSHIP