What would you like us to address?

Thank you for bringing this up! I absolutely think it's something worth looking at. There's actually discussion at the state level about expanding recess requirements and establishing a minimum 30-minute lunch for K-8 students, which speaks to how important movement, outdoor time, and a chance to recharge are for our kids. As a mom, educator and BOE candidate, I think we should be asking: Are our kids getting enough time to move, socialize, decompress, and simply be kids during the school day? If there are ways we can create more of those opportunities while still meeting their academic needs, I think we should explore them. Our kids need time to learn and time to be kids.

My grandfather taught me that you can’t build anything sturdy on a weak foundation. I believe that’s true not only when building a house, but when building relationships, communities, and schools. The support of the community is the foundation of a strong public school system. It is a place where parents, neighbors, teachers, administrators, and students come together to shape the future of the next generation. We may not always agree, and that’s okay. What matters is that we can respectfully work through our differences and always come back to our common purpose: doing what is best for our kids. Every family who calls Wyckoff home should feel that our schools are a place where their children are safe, supported, challenged, and prepared for their future. I believe that same principle needs to guide our Board of Education. A strong Board should have members who bring different experiences and perspectives to the table, but who are willing to put personal differences aside when they arise. My leadership and communication skills will allow me to listen, collaborate, and work with every member of the Board, even when we disagree, to find common ground and move forward together. I also believe we should lead by example. If we expect our children to listen to one another, communicate respectfully, work through disagreements, and treat people with kindness, those are the same qualities they should see from the adults leading their schools. Our Board should model the community we want our children to grow up in. Protecting our schools means listening to our community, asking the hard questions, looking at the facts, and making thoughtful, transparent decisions with our students at the center. And when I say I’m going to do something, I take that commitment seriously. I may not be able to accomplish everything on my own, but that’s why there’s a team of us and I will always do everything in my power to see it through. That is the foundation of our strong school system that I want to help protect and strengthen: a community that listens, a Board that works together, and schools that put our kids first.

Awesome question! I believe a strong public school system has great educators, strong leadership, engaged families, and trust in the people and systems that keep our schools working. How would I help protect it? Listen. Learn. Ask questions. Work together. Hold leadership accountable. Follow up. Trust is earned when people feel heard, respected, and confident that decisions are being made thoughtfully and transparently. As a Board member, I believe it is my responsibility to listen, to all of the people impacted by the decisions we make. Not just leadership. Not just the loudest voices. All of us. We are a community, and we each bring different experiences and perspectives to the table. Listening is an active part of leadership. It means asking questions, seeking to understand, considering different perspectives, looking at the research and facts, and thinking carefully about how our decisions affect our students and our community. But listening is only the beginning. The Board has a responsibility to ask hard questions, hold leadership accountable, and follow up. I believe our schools should be a partnership, not the work of one person or a small group making decisions in isolation. We may not always agree, and that’s okay. Disagreement isn’t dysfunction, it’s an opportunity to learn. When we are transparent, listen, and work together, we have the opportunity to make better decisions for our students. Our schools belong to all of us. A strong school system isn’t just one that performs well, it’s one where people trust that their voices matter.

What makes a strong public school system is balance. It’s a system where high academic expectations are paired with comprehensive support for the whole child; their mental health, physical health and social development. It’s a culture where top tier educators feel valued and equipped to stay and where parents are true partners in their children’s education. As a current health and physical educator I see how educational policy impacts students and teachers every single day. My experience across both urban and suburban districts taught me how to maximize resources, adapt to diverse learning styles and build a school culture where safety, wellness and academic achievement go hand in hand. To protect Wyckoff’s excellence, I will focus on prioritizing student health and well being as a foundation for academic success, empowering our teachers by evaluating district policies through a practical classroom tested lens and maintaining transparent governance that keeps spending responsible and facilities top notch through collaborative partnership with parents and taxpayers.