My promise to you.

As a member of the Board, my first and greatest concern must be the educational welfare and academic performance of all students attending Appleton area schools. I shall promote the best interests of the Appleton Area School District as a whole; adhere to educational and ethical standards; and focus my efforts and Board action on policymaking, goal setting, planning, and evaluation.

A focus on two critical topics:

Recruitment and retention: I have had the opportunity to experience first-hand the passion, dedication, and energy the teachers have for education and their students. This experience really brought home to me the tremendous impact of connecting dedicated and skilled teachers to motivated students who are ready to learn.

Therefore, if I am selected to serve, I will focus on attracting, retaining, and helping to develop great teachers. With more than 25 years of leadership experience in the private sector, I know great people make great organizations. We must have great teachers to have great schools, and with the looming teacher shortage, this may become a major future issue.

Equity in education: My daughter Erin is a person with significant disabilities and is a success story that came out of the AASD. The District and her educators went above and beyond in helping Erin reach her full potential and has made a profound difference in her life.

Ensuring that students with intellectual disabilities, physical disabilities, or emotional or mental health issues receive the support and education needed to reach their full potential is of paramount importance to me. For someone with a disability, the educational experience is life-altering and affirming, and can be the critical difference necessary to achieve their full potential.

AASD has a strong tradition of creating success for every student, every day, and finding creative and innovative programs to continue AASD’s tradition of excellence will be a priority. Key areas of focus include inclusive education programs, high-quality transition planning, and appropriate specialized services.

Education is the great equalizer. Every student needs to be made to feel welcomed and valued in school.

My role as a School Board member:

Establishing strategic goals and objectives: The Board must establish a clear vision and set high expectations for teaching and learning to support strong student outcomes.

Set policies to support strategic goals and objectives: The Board, working closely with the superintendent, establishes policies that translate the goals and objectives into action plans. AASD’s budget should also be considered as one of the key policy decisions for the Board.

Governance: Governance starts with clear and specific strategic objectives and well-formulated policies that assign responsibility, authority, critical performance indicators, and timeframe for achievement.

Relationship to the superintendent: A strong relationship between the Board and the superintendent is a key factor for success. The Board acts as representatives of the community and leads in setting goals and objectives for the District.

Relationship to the community: Community leadership is best demonstrated by acting as trustees and advocates for the best interest of the students, teachers, and the District.