My priorities

Educate the whole child.
Children are not data points. Their curiosity, their friendships, their confidence, their ability to sit with a hard problem or bounce back from a bad day: these are the things that determine how they'll do in life, and they matter more than any test result. This means learning is an all-day activity and all brains learn in nuanced ways. I want to foster a district and curriculum that fully engages all of the child’s academic possibilities, not just standardized scoring.

Less screen time in the early grades.
The research on young children and screen time is increasingly clear: in the elementary years, kids learn best through reading real books, writing by hand, talking with teachers, and working through problems together. I support keeping student devices out of daily instruction in TK through 5th grade, with the exception of a keyboarding program to prepare students for middle school. Teachers would continue to use projectors and classroom technology to teach. This isn't anti-technology; it's about protecting the years when hands-on learning matters most.

Real engagement, not just fundraising.
Orinda families are generous. We write checks, we support the foundation, we fund the extras. But money isn't the same as involvement. I want parents in the conversation about what and how our children are taught, not just asked to pay for it. That means a board that actually invites input before decisions are made, meetings people can attend and understand, and a culture where showing up and asking questions is welcomed rather than tolerated.

Transparency.
Families deserve to know how decisions are made, not just what they are. I'll push for plain-language explanations of board decisions, budgets, and policy changes, with the reasoning and the data behind them made public. I will also communicate with families through a monthly newsletter, polling and other methods that allow me to get a feel for what you, as parents, need and want, as you are the reason we are here.

How I'll serve

I'll listen, I'll read the research, and I'll ask the questions that don't always get asked. I'll work respectfully with fellow board members, administrators, and staff, but I won't confuse consensus with progress. Our children get one childhood. The board's job is to make sure the district is building a place where they can grow, not just perform.