Issue Position: Ensuring excellent schools

Issue Position

As a long time teacher and instructional coach, I know education is the key solution to many challenges our community faces. The Washington State Supreme Court has made it clear that our state is not fulfilling its constitutional duty to make education our top priority. We clearly have work to do.

We have very few legislators who have hands-on classroom experience at a time when we are implementing new policies around early education, graduation standards, and academic achievement. I'm excited to bring my background to bear on these critical education issues.

Our newest education legislation has promise but needs work. Our students and parents need a voice in this process. We must improve the quality of education for students and address each child's needs individually, not as a mass.

My commitment:

* Tackle the drop out rate. We can keep more kids in school by educating each child and finding innovative approaches to close the achievement gap. One-size-fits all and outdated teaching models are slowing progress. We need to highlight and learn from teachers who are making a difference and improve learning for all kids.

* Investigate and eliminate programs that are not directly linked to improving the quality of education.

* Stop the misuse of testing. Our parents and kids need clear standards for graduation that don't change every year. We need to give local schools and districts more say in how they educate their students.

* Fight for the funding that meets our constitutional obligation and best serves our students and families.

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