Together with fellow board members, district leaders, educators, staff, students, families, and our community, we have accomplished significant work on behalf of our students.

Improving Student Achievement

Supporting high academic standards has been one of my highest priorities as a school board member. Over the past five years, our district has made measurable progress on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments (MCA), with more students meeting or exceeding Minnesota's grade-level academic standards.

Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) Results

  • Math proficiency increased from 53.4% in 2021 to 58.2% in 2025.

  • Reading proficiency increased from 56.2% in 2021 to 61.0% in 2025.

  • 2025 marked the district's highest MCA proficiency rates in both math and reading during the five-year period.

Graduation Results

  • The district graduation rate increased from 91.1% in 2021 to 95.0% in 2025, the highest rate during the five-year period.

These results reflect the dedication of our students, educators, staff, families, and community, along with the school board's commitment to supporting strong teaching and learning.

While these gains are encouraging, there is still important work ahead. My commitment is to continue supporting strategies that help every student meet or exceed Minnesota's grade-level academic standards and ensure every learner has the opportunity to succeed.

Supporting Student Success Through Learning and Connection

Student success requires both strong academic foundations and the support systems that help students thrive. During my service, we have focused on strengthening instruction, expanding opportunities, and creating learning environments where students can engage, belong, and succeed. During my service, we have:

  • Supported the identification, purchase, and implementation of new elementary science curriculum and a phonics-based reading curriculum to strengthen foundational learning.

  • Established a more transparent curriculum adoption process that provides greater opportunity for community participation and feedback.

  • Supported a redesigned high school schedule that expands opportunities for students through increased flexibility, online learning, College in the Schools opportunities, Associate of Arts pathways, and professional certifications.

  • Adjusted district daily start times to better align the school day schedule with adolescent sleep research and support student well-being, while carefully considering the needs of elementary students, families, and district operations.

  • Expanded the Amigos Unidos program into middle school and created space for continued growth at the new Lake Elmo Elementary.

  • Adopted a district-wide personal device policy establishing a bell-to-bell restriction on personal devices for students in grades K-12. This policy supports focused classrooms, reduces distractions during instructional time, and reinforces a positive school culture where students can better engage in learning.

Responsible Financial Stewardship

Strong schools require both investment and responsible financial management. Despite unprecedented financial pressures, we have:

  • Protected classroom learning through a voter-approved renewal of district’s long-standing operating levy.

  • Modernized district technology through a voter-approved capital projects levy.

  • Implemented a priority-based budgeting process to align resources with the district's highest priorities and student needs.

  • Reduced more than $12 million in expenditures over the past three years while maintaining long-term fiscal stability.

I believe strongly in providing students with outstanding opportunities. Some reductions made in recent years affected programs and services that I value and would like to restore when financially possible. However, responsible governance requires that we live within our means, prioritize effectively, and ensure commitments made today can be sustained for future students.

Investing in Safe, Modern Schools

With the support of voters and in partnership with taxpayers, our district has made historic investments in our schools and learning environments, including:

Bond-funded improvements:

  • Improved safety and security at every district building.

  • Replaced and increased capacity at Lake Elmo Elementary and Bayport Elementary, two schools that were more than 100 years old.

  • Updated the high school entrance to improve safety, security, and accessibility.

  • Expanded Oak-Land Middle School.

Additional facility investments:

  • Supported the expansion of Brookview Elementary to meet enrollment needs.

  • Remodeled learning environments for the Bridge Transitions Program (ages 18-21) and the Alternative Learning Center (ALC) to better support students' unique educational needs.

  • Supported long-term facility improvements across all district learning sites.

These investments strengthen our schools and create learning environments that will serve students, staff, and our community for decades to come.

Leadership that Builds Trust

Throughout my service, I have worked to strengthen both our district and public confidence by:

  • Improving communication and transparency.

  • Modernizing district policies.

  • Serving as Chair of the Association of Metropolitan School Districts (AMSD)

  • Serving on the Minnesota School Board Association (MSBA) Delegate Assembly to advocate legislatively for public education needs.

  • Adding contract negotiation updates to the district website, increasing transparency around bargaining decisions that affect more than 75% of the district's budget.

  • Focusing every decision on what is best for our students and our school community, considering fiscal constraints.