​Safety is the foundation for all good things that happen in the classroom. 

​

Parents must feel that their kids are safe at school. Students who feel safe will come to school and be able to learn. When we achieve safe school cultures, great instruction can happen!

​

Crosswalks, e-bikes, drugs, special needs support in classrooms & on campus—all of these safety issues and more need continual work to make programs more effective. On some issues like e-bikes, we’ll work jointly with the city and law enforcement. I have experience in this kind of collaboration from working on the Community Services Commission.

​

The most important aspect of safety is school culture. You feel culture when you walk on a campus. If you see kids playing well together, see staff interacting, and feel energy in classrooms, you know the school culture is working. There’s a positive, proactive approach; everyone knows this is how we behave around here. And all students, regardless of learning ability or background, are given the support they need to advance their learning.

​

To have a good school culture at all sites, we need to develop systems that assure a great learning culture across the district. Our community-developed Master Plan will give us the basis for setting specific goals and following through. I have experience helping the Principal at Summit Academy develop collaboration goals for school culture together with the entire staff, parents, and students.

​

Controversial Policies

​

In the last two years, the TVUSD School Board has passed some high-profile policies. Here are my positions on these actions and policies.

​

Policy on the teaching of Critical Race Theory, or CRT

​

​At their first meeting in December 2022, the board voted 3-2 to pass a policy that bans the teaching of Critical Race Theory in our schools. It was passed abruptly by new trustees who lacked an understanding of existing curriculum or policies and who did not consider parents’, students’, and teachers’ concerns, even though those concerns were expressed by many speakers at the meeting. 

​

Please know that CRT is not taught in any Temecula public schools, and there was never any plan to teach it here. This CRT ban was not needed. Parents can easily see their children’s assignments and grades online and email their children’s teachers with any questions. And existing policies state that any parent who objects to books or learning materials their child is given has the right to ask for an alternative assignment.

​

I believe the CRT policy should be rescinded as soon as possible. It immediately caused division and stress in our community for students, families, and teachers. It also caused a lawsuit against the district, and we do not need school funds diverted to lawyers. As your trustee, I will meet with our district staff and attorneys to determine the best way to go about removing this policy and the lawsuit associated with it. 

​

It is important to note that I will be only one vote on the school board. To make any changes, the community must also elect other trustees who believe the policy is bad for our district. I will encourage our new board to act swiftly to avoid any further distractions from our focus on education.

​

Parental Notification Policy

​

In August 2023, the board voted 3-2 to pass a Parental Notification policy that required teachers, administrators, and school counselors to promptly notify parents in writing if a student asks to use a different name (even a nickname) or different pronouns, or to be treated as a gender other than their sex assigned at birth. 

​

I’m a parent and a grandparent, and I understand parents’ concerns about being involved in any major change in their students’ lives. As a TVUSD teacher and administrator, I also know that school personnel urge students to discuss any major change with their parents. I’ve heard some wild rumors about schools and gender issues. Let me assure all parents and community members that I will work hard as a Trustee to encourage the best possible communication system that connects parents, teachers, and administration as they work together for student safety and success.

​

​In any case, the Parental Notification policy the board passed is against the law. The California Department of Education has notified TVUSD that it cannot implement the policy. Because it is against the law, I would vote to rescind this policy. Public schools are required to follow the law, and as a trustee, I must follow the law.

​

Flag Policy

​

​In September 2023 the board voted 3-2 to pass a policy that eliminates all flags from school classrooms and campuses except the U.S. and California state flags. Any other flag requires the Superintendent’s approval. The board majority stated that the policy was to make sure a U.S. flag was in every classroom. 

​

I strongly believe that the American flag should be highlighted on our school campuses. And in fact, state law requires an American flag in every classroom and at every school site.

​

But other flags have a place in schools, too, and they should not have to require special approval. Teachers use college flags and sports team banners to relate to students. Championship flags hang in the gym. Flags from supporting businesses are on school fences. Student club flags are in classrooms.

​

The 3-2 vote for a new flag policy was clearly aimed not at American flags but at rainbow flags. The policy was divisive and unnecessary and made some students feel unsafe at school. I’d like to discuss it with parents, students, and teachers and determine how best to handle flags that some find offensive.