- I am running as an INDEPENDENT candidate for TCS School Board because I don't believe a school board should be partisan. I know that I don't want ANYONE in my ear except the people that I directly serve: the students, staff, families and other stakeholders of TCSC. A political party doesn't always take the position of what is in the best interest of schools in mind. All you need to do is look at our state government supermajority, held by Republicans since 2010 in the Senate and 2012 in the House. A political supermajority helped put our school corporation, and many other public school corporations in the state, in a dire financial situation. I don't believe a Democrat supermajority would give us anything better. I'm not a fan of supermajorities. Politics unfortunately DOES play a role in education. Politics in education occurs at the Statehouse and in Washington D.C. It shouldn't take place at the local level. No political party, no action group, NOBODY will interfere with my main mission, which is to listen to every person in our district and then make the best decision that I can for our schools. I am community driven and student and staff centered. Remember, NO school board member can do ANYTHING alone. We each are 1/7th of a voice/vote on the Board. I also consider myself a true Independent voter. I vote for the person and the platform rather than any party. I have never voted "straight ticket" and I have taken both a Republican and a Democrat ballot in our Primaries since I started voting in 1988. I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR TCSC SCHOOL BOARD in 2026 who is running as an INDEPENDENT.
- I believe that our school corporation should operate financially WITHIN OUR MEANS. The "means" changes over time, and now this school corporation is in a position where the means are LESS. I am proud of the job the board did during my first term, 2019-2022, when it came to funding, establishing and maintaining a responsible budget.
- I am an advocate for SMALL CLASS SIZES. I KNOW FROM FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE the difference between having 21-22 in a classroom compared to 27-28 or more can make in the quality of education a teacher can give and a student can receive. Small class sizes in the elementary grades are essential for optimum learning to take place. I support small class sizes when possible in every grade and every subject.
- I am a huge believer in doing everything that we can do to attract and retain high quality educators to not only teach here, but to make Tipton their home. A great teacher is worth far more than we can ever hope to pay them, but we can do our part to make the salary and benefits package as attractive as possible...assuming there is money to work with. While money is a primary factor in an educator, administrator or paraprofessional working and staying at Tipton, it isn't the only factor. I truly believe that a positive, upbeat and enriching workplace goes a long way in retaining high quality people. We should be doing everything in our power to make working for TCSC a model of highly satisfying work environments for our staff.
- School safety is essential to all of us. I was extremely pleased that our school corporation implemented the first TCSC School Resource Officer in the fall of 2018 just prior to my being elected. Officer Maddox served our school corporation very well from 2018 until this spring. I have all of the confidence in the work that Officer Stout will do, continue leading the way as our next SRO. A strong partnership between our fire, police and sheriff departments is essential to the safety of everyone who enters our buildings. I am a huge supporter in the SRO program.
- Everyone inside our buildings deserves to work and learn in an environment free from bullying. We could have the best of everything, but if anyone feels harassed or bullied then it is all for not. NOBODY should be bullied in our school corporation. I believe that most everyone would agree that more focus can always be given to making our schools as hassle free as possible. Much of this begins at home. Bullying isn't isolated -- not at TCSC and not at any school in this country. A student can not learn when and where they don't feel safe. This was a huge focus during my first term and will continue to always be a priority of mine! I am also a proponent of schools maintaining discipline. There are consequences for unacceptable behavior and I have always been supportive of schools following their discipline procedures.