The foundation of my campaign for School Board is a relentless pursuit of academic excellence for every student. The future of our country depends on having the most educated and well-prepared citizens. More than that, the strength of our local community relies on the education we provide to our students today.
I want to thank the FXBG Advance for shedding light on these critical results, and as a candidate laser-focused on solutions, I’d like to share my thoughts on them. Click here for the full article.
There is no question that there are some wins to celebrate. For instance, all students have improved their Science scores, which is great. But it begs the question: Why Science? What’s working here? Is it due to more experienced educators in these subjects, or have we dedicated more resources that made a tangible impact? These are questions that need to be investigated thoroughly by the School Board to uncover what is driving this success.
However, when we compare our district’s scores to state averages, we see there is much room for improvement. While we’ve made progress over the last three years, improving scores in nearly every subject—except History and English/Reading—there’s still a significant gap. Kudos for the 10-point jump in English/Writing over the last three years, but we still lag behind in every other subject. We’re below state averages in Science, Math, English/Reading, and History. This trend cannot continue, and I’m committed to working tirelessly to turn it around.
A closer look at the data reveals a concerning gap for our Black and economically disadvantaged students, who are falling behind their peers by nearly double digits. Why is this happening? I’ve worked closely with these populations at Chancellor Elementary School, and I know that these students are just as capable as others. So, why the disparity? We must dive into the root causes of this and ensure that every student has access to the resources and opportunities they need to thrive.
Academic excellence is more than just a goal; it’s a mentality. We cannot afford to be complacent with simply meeting state averages. Our students deserve more. We need to aim for the top—not just in one or two areas, but across the board. Yes, factors like School Board dysfunction, the pandemic’s effects, and teacher compensation challenges have contributed to these results, but these are not excuses. They are part of the problem, and they can be solved with clear, focused action.
If elected, I will advocate strongly for the School Board to hold multiple work sessions dedicated to analyzing school performance. What’s working well? What’s not? These discussions must be open, honest, and public. We need to ask the tough questions and demand accountability from both staff and administration. One-size-fits-all solutions won’t work. Each school has its own unique challenges, and we need tailored approaches to address them. What works at Massaponax High School may not work at Courtland High School—and that’s okay. But we need to know why.
Some may hesitate at the thought of public, detailed discussions about these issues. But I believe transparency is essential. Every parent, teacher, administrator, and community member knows why certain schools or populations are struggling. Keeping these issues hidden will not help us. Bringing them into the light, openly and honestly, is our best chance to fix the problems and make real progress.
For too long, we’ve focused on distractions that don’t move the needle on what truly matters: the education of our students. Now is the time to prioritize what’s important—because if we fail here, it’s our students who will bear the consequences.