On April 5, the League of Women Voters of Richardson hosted a thoughtful discussion about the challenges and opportunities ahead for RISD. I appreciated the opportunity to share with RISD voters my priorities: supporting student achievement and strengthening communication across our district.

Hear more on the issues our neighbors asked about, including our nonpartisan elections, how we can support all of our RISD schools—including those in District 2, and how we can learn from recent years to improve community engagement in difficult decisions.

Accountability is about facing challenges—and monitoring progress toward goals—honestly so that we can make necessary adjustments and get our students what they need to succeed. When we look at RISD’s 2027 Board Goals, are we using our progress measures to drive continued improvement?

Vouchers, as proposed in SB2 and HB3, threaten to siphon critical resources from our schools, reduce accountability, and exacerbate inequities. While the battle over vouchers largely plays out at the state level, our local school board trustees have an essential role in advocating against harmful legislation, managing financial challenges, strengthening our public schools, and engaging with the community.

Public education is too important to be reduced to party lines—after all, these races are nonpartisan for a reason. That’s why I’m committed to running a nonpartisan campaign. ... The future of our children and our communities depends on leaders who are willing to put politics aside and make decisions that truly benefit students.