I have lived in Newtown with my husband and two children Ryan(10) and Erin(9) since 2010. Like many families, when we were looking for a place to raise our kids, an excellent school district, and equally great the community was our top criteria, and we loved everything about Newtown then, and still do. Like many parents of younger kids, when I am not working, my free time is spent shuttling my kids between activities and youth sports including, football, baseball, softball, and basketball practice, or on the sidelines proudly (and loudly) cheering them on!

If elected, I would put a greater focus on academic achievement and assessing and addressing the recent learning loss. I think the biggest issue facing the district is the declining achievement of students, mostly as a result of covid. We have incredible teachers and a hard-working administration who all worked incredibly hard during the past year and a half. Helping close the learning gaps means we need to ensure an equal focus and support to be in place for teachers who are expected to provide high-quality, robust instruction to kids who are below, at, and above grade level.

I believe that every student in the district deserves an education that makes the whole town proud. Schools are places of hope and optimism and where our future leaders are able to gain the necessary skills to ensure their success. I believe in a modern growth mindset for education and place an equal value on trade and vocational opportunities, as well as advanced placement coursework. I am also the mother of a special education student, who struggled like many others have to get the proper services. It should not be this hard. I will advocate for professional development that focuses on early detection and proper intervention for students.

When it comes to the budget, we must spend it wisely. I believe in smart spending which means working more closely with the town and looking at ways to eliminate redundancies and share resources. Additionally, we must put an end to "no-bid" supplier contracts by having them competitively bid, to ensure that residents feel their hard-earned tax dollars are being spent wisely.

I received a Bachelor’s degree in English and Writing from Western Connecticut State University, and am currently employed as a Global Product Marketing leader at BlueCrest, in Danbury. I have formerly volunteered with Girl Scouts, Big Brother Big Sister, Literacy Volunteers of America, teaching English as a second language. For the past 5 years I have enjoyed being a room parent and being in the school buildings as much as possible. I look forward to working with a dynamic group of people who all show a passion for education and am eager to play a role in fulfilling Newtown’s Board of Education’s mission and goals.