Our students deserve a school district that prioritizes their success, safety, and opportunities for growth. I’m committed to ensuring that every child receives a high-quality education, that parents have a voice in their child’s learning, and that our schools remain strong and accountable to the community. Below are the key issues I will focus on to build a brighter future for the Appoquinimink School District.

I support a strong focus on reading, writing, math, and critical thinking to ensure every student has the foundation they need to succeed. We must use real data to track what works and make changes when it doesn’t.

Delaware’s outdated “unit count” funding model must be replaced. I support a fair, modern system where funding follows student needs—not headcounts—so we can better serve a growing district with limited resources.

The district has historically struggled with offering competitive teacher salaries, which impacts its ability to attract and retain qualified educators. While recent referendum funding has been allocated to address this issue, the board needs to work with the legislature and advocate for the district to sustain teacher pay improvements, as the Governor has laid out as a top priority.

This will make the district more competitive and attractive and help address ongoing staffing shortages. It should be the goal of the board to attract and recruit teaching professionals with a wide variety of life experiences to our district. 

The Appoquinimink Grow Your Own program became the model for one more tool districts in the State of Delaware can use to combat teacher shortages. With the passage of HB 430 which was signed by Governor Carney on September 9, 2022, the district proved it is an innovator in teacher recruitment.

The time is now to capitalize on that success and look for additional opportunities to bring other non-traditional candidates to the teaching profession.

Families deserve a seat at the table. I’ll support open communication about curriculum and ensure parents, teachers, and administrators have input—especially when sensitive topics arise.

College isn’t the only path to success. I’ll advocate to expand career, military, and trade pathway programs so students can explore real-world skills and graduate ready for life.

Safe schools are a must. I support working closely with well-trained School Resource Officers (SROs) and ensuring schools have clear plans to protect students and staff.

Every child deserves the tools to succeed. I believe in giving extra support where needed—but we must always keep high expectations and a clear focus on achievement for all.

From English learners to students with IEPs, I’ll ensure our district meets every student where they are—while helping them reach their highest potential given the limited resources available.

Taxpayers and families deserve to know how dollars are spent and how schools perform. I’ll push for more transparent communication, public dashboards, and honest, regular reporting on outcomes.