I've spent the last 25 years as an elementary, middle school and community college teacher, and for the past 14 years, I have been showing up for Edina's schools; as a volunteer, a room parent, PTO president, co-chair of referendums, whatever the moment called for. In 2021, after some encouragement and a lot of thought, "showing up" turned into running for school board, and five years ago, this community entrusted me with a seat on the board. I've spent the last two of those years serving as Board Chair.
My husband Peter and I are raising three kids, all EPS students since their Edina Early Learning Center days. Between the three of them, I understand the realities of having children with different strengths, needs and learning styles, and appreciate the complexities of raising children in today’s world. My roles as mom and educator, along with my ability to listen and learn from others, have given me a ground-level view of this district that I bring to every board decision.
In early 2022, one of the first major decisions I faced as a newly elected board member included post-COVID masking protocols, and almost five years later, one of the most recent major decisions the board has faced was the search for our new superintendent. Along the way there have been many other significant decisions, including budgets, contract negotiations, and the Hornet logo dispute, to name just a few. Not all of these decisions have been easy, in fact sometimes they have been really difficult. However, throughout my time on the board, I have done my best to listen and advocate for decisions that are responsible, forward-looking, and for our students’ and district’s long-term health and success.
Before my time on the board, I had the opportunity to co-chair two successful referendum campaigns for Edina schools: the 2017 Operating Levy and the 2021 Technology Levy/Bond, both passing with roughly 70% voter approval. Those experiences taught me what it takes to earn a community's trust on funding questions and made me so proud to live in a community that understands the importance of supporting strong schools. In addition, I was fortunate to co-chair the Edina Education Fund, which deepened my commitment to finding resources for our schools that allow our students to receive support in literacy, STEAM and mental health.
I'm running for re-election because I love this community and our schools, and I believe experience matters right now. I’ve been around education and Edina Public Schools for years, and institutional memory, knowing where we've been, what this community expects, and what our future can look like, is more valuable than ever. I bring that continuity, along with a collaborative, listen-first approach and passion for public education and our students’ futures. As we look ahead to questions like the role of AI and technology in our classrooms, how to navigate rising costs, the expectations to do more with less, and how we keep Edina among the top-performing districts in Minnesota, I want to keep bringing that same steady, solutions-first leadership to the table. I hope to earn your vote on or before November 3rd.