I’m dedicated to our schools.
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My husband and I have been married for 20 years. We have two awesome children in the district. They’re 10 and 13 and both in Title I Schools. I’m in those schools all the time. You’ll find me three days a week in the classroom at Highland, helping my son’s teacher, Ms. Kayly, teach math. You’ll see me in the hallway, keeping bulletin boards and calendars up to date, and the clothing closet organized. You may even catch me helping to run the Scholastic Book Fair. 
 
I’m no stranger to hard work and tight communities.
 
I grew up in a small coastal town and graduated high school in a class of 60.  My parents owned their own small business that I would work at during high school summers. (Do you need a ditch dug? Call me.)
 
My mom passed away when I was 19 , I disenrolled from college at Linn-Benton Community College and returned home to help my dad with the business. A few years later, I was able to return college and ultimately graduated from Oregon State University in 2002.
 
I went on to work at nursing and assisted living buildings where I worked my way up the ranks from activity director to executive director.  I worked just as hard as an activity director as I did as an executive director –  that’s how I was promoted.  I have also been a case manager at a transitional shelter, working with some of our most vulnerable populations and took shifts answering the crisis hotline.  
 
For 7 years, I worked at Marion Polk Food Share managing an office, a kitchen, and hundreds of volunteers making sure homebound seniors got hot nutritious food – all while raising my children. I helped out with programs like Spring Break Lunch and ones that dropped totes of fresh produce at strategic points around town to help people gain more access to fresh food - several of those spots were at elementary schools.
 
Over the last two years, my role as the President of the Parrish Parent Club has given me all kinds of hats to wear! We’re here to support the teachers: whether that’s chaperoning field trips or making popcorn on Fridays. I volunteer at least once a week running our concession stand at sports events to help raise money for both the teams and educator projects. 
 
Through all of my experiences, I’ve learned that sometimes the best path to a solution is not the shortest. I have formed deep relationships and fostered trust and community where it’s needed the most.
 
Now, it’s time to take all that with me to the Salem-Keizer School Board. My vision is to create a supportive and inclusive learning environment where every student has the opportunity to thrive.
 
This space is dedicated to sharing my journey, values, and plans for the school board. I believe in the power of collaboration and transparency, and I am excited to connect with you to discuss how we can work together for the betterment of our educational system.