Closing Statement—Rural Madison Forum

Friends, the choices you will make about who will serve you on the School Board are important ones.

The Board is facing difficult challenges and it will face more in the next four years.  We must have in place the kind of people who are prepared to meet those challenges. 

I believe school board members must be passionate and articulate advocates for public education, both in the community and in our relationship to the Board of Supervisors.     I believe I am such an advocate.   I am convinced that the health of our Republic depends upon a high quality public school system that meets the needs of all students. 

Secondly, members of the school board should have the intelligence, wisdom, and experience necessary to the task.  School Administration bears primary responsibility for creating an environment that fosters excellence in our students.  If am elected, I will bring my nearly 25 years experience in higher education to bear in helping the Board guarantee that the Superintendent and Administration provides effective leadership.  We must hire the best, bring out the best in those we hire by providing professional development opportunities and through good formative evaluation processes, and promote those who perform the best— all without regard to race, gender, creed, sexual orientation, or personal friendships. 

Finally, School Board members should be people of the highest integrity.   If you don’t know me well enough, I encourage you to talk to the people who know me and have dealt with me.  I hope that they will convince you that I can be trusted to be honest, open, and fair.  I assure you I will strive to be all that.