I am a former educator and received my bachelor's degree from Ball State University in French Education and my master's degree from IPFW in School Counseling. I was a French teacher for 9 years and a guidance counselor for 8 years with my most recent position at North Side High School in Fort Wayne Community Schools. I have 3 children that attended FWCS and are currently finishing up their college educations at Rose Hulman, Trine, and IU. I've enjoyed my nearly 8 years on the FWCS School Board and hope to serve another term so I can continue to advocate for our public schools and our newest ventures including 3DE and Amp Lab. FWCS is on the cutting edge for education with these new programs!
In addition to my board service, I am also a volunteer for two grassroots groups - Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education (NEIFPE) and Indiana Coalition for Public Education - Northeast. My interest in these groups stems from the so-called "reform" movement in education. In the past several years, I have become very concerned about what is happening to public education. Our public schools have suffered financially due to the surge in school vouchers. I have seen an increase and over-emphasis in high-stakes testing. I have witnessed the devaluing of the education profession as teacher unions have been minimized, salaries are stagnant, and demands for data and test prep have increased. I fear that public education will no longer be the cornerstone of our democracy and our education system will be privatized. My children received quality education in Fort Wayne Community Schools. As a parent and an advocate for public education, I want to insure that public schools can continue providing quality education and that public schools are a viable choice for all children.
What are your memories of school? Mine are many. I had wonderful teachers who taught me more than what was in a textbook. I learned life lessons; I learned about myself, my community, and my importance within that community. I am a better person today because my teachers saw in me qualities that I didn't know I had. I fear that children will no longer have the memories that I have. Will they be able to spend an afternoon on the school playground learning about softball, then taking the lessons from the field into the classroom to calculate batting averages? Will children and their teachers take the time to create sets and props and costumes to produce a play that they perform in front of their parents and grandparents? Will students visit the Field Museum or the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago? Will they have the chance to look upward to see a skyscraper touch the clouds in a cityscape they have never seen before? Or will our children be spending countless hours preparing for tests that are supposed to determine if they are college and career ready? Will they be turned off by school because there is no time left for the arts, for sports, for field trips? Will children be holding back tears as they take a 72 minute reading test, then wait for the results to see if they have been promoted to the 4th grade?
Public schools should be funded appropriately so quality education is a viable choice for all children. Public schools should continue to be a place where all children are welcomed and educated equitably and to high standards. Public schools are and should continue to be the pride of our communities. They create the leaders of tomorrow and are important to all citizens. I invite you to join with me in the fight to keep public schools the cornerstone of our democracy.
In addition to my board service, I am also a volunteer for two grassroots groups - Northeast Indiana Friends of Public Education (NEIFPE) and Indiana Coalition for Public Education - Northeast. My interest in these groups stems from the so-called "reform" movement in education. In the past several years, I have become very concerned about what is happening to public education. Our public schools have suffered financially due to the surge in school vouchers. I have seen an increase and over-emphasis in high-stakes testing. I have witnessed the devaluing of the education profession as teacher unions have been minimized, salaries are stagnant, and demands for data and test prep have increased. I fear that public education will no longer be the cornerstone of our democracy and our education system will be privatized. My children received quality education in Fort Wayne Community Schools. As a parent and an advocate for public education, I want to insure that public schools can continue providing quality education and that public schools are a viable choice for all children.
What are your memories of school? Mine are many. I had wonderful teachers who taught me more than what was in a textbook. I learned life lessons; I learned about myself, my community, and my importance within that community. I am a better person today because my teachers saw in me qualities that I didn't know I had. I fear that children will no longer have the memories that I have. Will they be able to spend an afternoon on the school playground learning about softball, then taking the lessons from the field into the classroom to calculate batting averages? Will children and their teachers take the time to create sets and props and costumes to produce a play that they perform in front of their parents and grandparents? Will students visit the Field Museum or the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago? Will they have the chance to look upward to see a skyscraper touch the clouds in a cityscape they have never seen before? Or will our children be spending countless hours preparing for tests that are supposed to determine if they are college and career ready? Will they be turned off by school because there is no time left for the arts, for sports, for field trips? Will children be holding back tears as they take a 72 minute reading test, then wait for the results to see if they have been promoted to the 4th grade?
Public schools should be funded appropriately so quality education is a viable choice for all children. Public schools should continue to be a place where all children are welcomed and educated equitably and to high standards. Public schools are and should continue to be the pride of our communities. They create the leaders of tomorrow and are important to all citizens. I invite you to join with me in the fight to keep public schools the cornerstone of our democracy.
