As someone with nearly two decades of experience in the national security field and a degree in social work, I have the background to address the complex issue of school safety. As a former SCPS employee, I’ve seen firsthand how important it is to balance the safety of students and staff with the need to create a nurturing learning environment. This issue cannot be solved with quick fixes or simplistic solutions. It requires careful consideration and a nuanced approach.
While weapon detectors may seem like an easy answer, we must acknowledge their limitations. As someone with a national security background, I know that these devices, while useful, can be circumvented. They may give us a sense of security, but they don’t address the full spectrum of risks we face. Leaders must be transparent with the community: no school board member can, nor should they, guarantee 100% safety.
This issue is deeply personal to me. During my SCPS internship, I only spent two days a week inside a school, but not a single day went by that I didn’t consider what I would be expected to do if the unthinkable occurred. I would have been expected to protect the students in my care, putting myself between them and danger. This is a responsibility that every educator and school staff member faces every day, whether they acknowledge it or not. It’s an emotional and mental burden that must weigh heavily on them, and we have to ensure that they are as prepared as possible to respond in an emergency.
That preparation begins with training. If we are asking educators to be ready for a crisis, we owe it to them to provide the highest quality training possible—training that equips them to react instinctively, and with confidence, in high-pressure situations. But this cannot be the kind of training that exposes young children to trauma. We need training that’s focused on adults—on school staff—so they can act decisively without further frightening the students they are trying to protect.
Unfortunately, one of my opponents, Mr. Lieberman, has positioned himself as the "safety candidate." But he lacks the hands-on experience of working in a school, and he has no background in navigating traumatic situations with children. His approach may look good on a poster, but it doesn’t translate to safer schools. The reality is that true leadership on school safety requires experience—experience in national security, in working with vulnerable populations, and in making tough decisions.
As a member of the School Board, I will work tirelessly to ensure that we not only address the physical security of our schools but also support the emotional readiness of our educators and staff. I will prioritize comprehensive, realistic training, transparent communication with the community, and continued investment in both safety and education. We owe it to our students, educators, and community to take a balanced, thoughtful approach to this issue, one that is driven by expertise and a genuine commitment to safety.