Q1: Why focus on telling the story of public schools?

Public schools in Pinellas serve the majority of our families, but enrollment is declining.
School choice does not have to be a threat. It can be an opportunity.
We have to show new parents why public schools remain the best choice by highlighting successes, sharing real classroom stories, and making the case that our schools are places of excellence and growth.

​

Q2: How can empathy, especially strategic empathy, improve our schools?

Democracy works because we learn to understand one another, even when we disagree.
Teaching students, teachers, and staff how to practice strategic empathy builds respect and critical thinking.
It helps us see differences not as a threat but as a chance to learn.
This skill is as important as reading and math in preparing students for a diverse, democratic society.

​

Q3: What is your approach to safety and discipline?

Safety is both physical and emotional.
As Vice Chair of the Circuit 6 Juvenile Justice Advisory Board, I see the numbers behind suspensions and arrests and I hear the stories behind them.
Too often, we push kids out instead of addressing root causes.
We must move away from reactive programs and plant the seeds for long-term solutions that keep kids in school, supported, and on track.

​

Q4: How will you support teachers and staff?

Teachers need more than praise. They need to feel that they are succeeding.
We must create conditions where teachers see the impact of their work and have more wins in their classrooms.
When educators are forced to comply with directives they had no say in, morale erodes.
We need to listen, involve them in decisions, and focus on solutions that make their work meaningful and sustainable.

​

Q5: How will you improve communication with parents?

Parents deserve straight answers.
They should know why their children are being taught certain material and whether their child needs more support or is excelling.
We need honest, transparent conversations, not blame or politics.
The goal is to build trust between schools and families so we can work together for student success.

​

Q6: What about truancy and student engagement?

Attendance is fundamental.
If students are not in school consistently, teachers cannot do their job.
We need to address truancy as a community issue, working with families and local partners to keep kids coming to class and staying engaged.

​

Q7: Why emphasize youth sports and other extracurriculars?

Sports teach lessons that last a lifetime, such as teamwork, discipline, and resilience.
But we also need to support opportunities beyond the field, like dance, chess, and running clubs.
Extracurricular activities give kids purpose, build connections, and keep them engaged in school.

​

Q8: How will you improve collaboration across systems?

Pinellas is resource-rich but often siloed.
We have students involved with child welfare, the justice system, and workforce programs, yet the systems do not communicate well.
We must bring partners together so that support around each child is coordinated rather than pieced together.

​

Q9: Why does the at-large seat matter to you?

If this were not an at-large seat, I might not be running.
The fact that this seat serves all of Pinellas County reflects my own life here.
I attended Clearwater High, coached at East Lake High, and worked as a case manager in St. Petersburg.
My personal and professional journey touches every part of this county.
I do not believe many local officials can say that, and it is one reason I feel called to serve.

​

Q10: How do you approach politics in this race?

I know I may sound a bit naive thinking I do not have to play the political game to win.
But this is where I am different.
I am not tied to winning or losing. I am tied to impact, integrity, and influencing positive change.
I have done this my entire life and will not sacrifice what I believe is important. I believe in collaborating with people who think differently and avoiding the habit of dividing ourselves into categories and pointing fingers.
In August, maybe I will be proven wrong.
But the outcome of an election does not define me. The seeds I plant and the impact I have do.​​

​

Core Priorities

1. Physical and emotional safety in schools

2. A stronger story for public schools that wins back parents’ trust

3. Teaching critical thinking and strategic empathy

4. Better morale, recruitment, and engagement for teachers and staff

5. Real collaboration between schools, families, justice, child-welfare, and workforce partners