Questions & Answers

What is the importance of the District 3 School Board to residents of Mahomet-Seymour?

We entrust the school board with our most precious commodity—our children! The School Board is vitally important as they set the vision and the priorities that guide the district in teaching and shaping our future.

The community also entrusts the board members to represent them and to make decisions on their behalf. It is exceedingly important that each board member conduct themselves with the utmost integrity. The community should be able to count on board members to tell the truth and to do the right thing. As a board member I will operate with integrity and be a member the community can trust.

Why are you qualified to be on the School Board?

I am a mom, a professional educator and an economist.

I’m a mom who participates and pays close attention to what is happening in the schools. I have a heart for the kids of our community, I want to support our teachers in educating our kids, and I want to see the Mahomet-Seymour school district advance on a path of excellence.

In addition to being a mom, I have been a professional educator for over 25 years. I have a PhD in economics and teach both economics and statistics at the University of Illinois. I understand first-hand what it is to be an educator—both the rewards and the challenges. As a teacher, academics are near and dear to my heart. I believe that my knowledge and experience in education will add to the board and serve the community well. My training as an economist will allow me to lend valuable insight as our board sets priorities to accomplish our most important goals. I look forward to using my professional skills to help our district find a way to accomplish more of the things we value.

If elected, what is something you want to accomplish on the School Board, and how long will it take?

One of my highest priorities as a school board member will be transparency. Communication is the bedrock of trust. Trust is earned, and it is through honest and truthful relationships that trust is built. I believe that in order to best serve you, the community, the board and the administration must engage in as much dialog and open, transparent communication as possible. I will make it a focal point as a member of the board to advocate for the improvement of timely and clear communication from the district.

I am also very committed to collaboration. Teachers, parents, board members, administrators and community members should all be on the same team working together to provide an excellent education for all our students. I believe that true strength comes when we work together. Mahomet and Seymour are small communities full of invested, smart and giving people. I believe we are stronger when we value and utilize all of these varied skills and as such, one of my priorities will be to ensure mechanisms for the community to bring their thoughts and ideas to the board; and then take those ideas and find a way to use them to accomplish great things for our kids.

That is the goal—to accomplish great things for our kids. Our ability to meet the needs of ALL kids right where they are is vital to our success. This can only be done if the district supports and stands behind its teachers—equipping them with the resources they need to be the most successful. I welcome the opportunity to bring a fresh perspective and new ideas to the way we interact with our kids to be most effective and make them successful across the spectrum.

Is there anything else you would like to say to an undecided voter?

I am excited about this opportunity to serve the community of Mahomet-Seymour. As a school board member I will stand up for what I think is right for our students and won’t give in to pressure to compromise my values and integrity. I want to represent our community well within the district and as such I want to connect with the students, teachers, parents, and other community members and truly listen to the voice of the community. I hope that you will reach out to me if you want to know more.