About the Candidate
Member of RSU 9 for three years:
- Personnel and Finance Committee, Vice Chair
- Budget Committee,
- Cell Phone Policy Committee, Chair
President, board of directors – Western Maine Play Museum
Education
University of Maryland (B.A. Government & Politics; B.A. English Language & Literature)
Previous campaigns and elected office(s) held
I ran for the RSU 9 Board of Directors in Wilton in 2023 and won.
Top three priorities
As a member of the Budget Committee, I want to make sure RSU 9 stretches every budget dollar. My top priority is to continue providing thoughtful oversight during the school budget process. Second, I will work to preserve programs that help students thrive: math & literacy intervention, rigorous science, and music & arts (like our incredible orchestra program!), to name a few. Third, I will protect teacher jobs, since great schools depend on people – and the people who serve our students matter.
Why are you running?
As a mother of four school-aged children, I know how deeply rooted our schools are within our communities. I believe strong schools support strong kids and strong families, and I’m committed to ensuring every child has access to the highest-quality opportunities we can provide. I’m already working to make sure we use every budget dollar wisely, protecting academic programs, preserving valuable extras, supporting our teachers, and preventing cuts – while stewarding taxpayer resources responsibly.
What is the biggest challenge facing your area’s schools? The biggest opportunity?
The biggest challenge facing RSU 9 is balancing declining enrollment (and the reduced revenue that comes with it) with increasingly complex student needs. As our budget gets tighter, expectations for our schools continue to grow: students need more academic, social, and emotional support, and teachers are asked to do more than ever. The challenge is to navigate these competing pressures thoughtfully, creating the strongest schools we can while living within our financial means.
If you could change one thing about how your local schools function, what would it be and why?
One idea would be to expand opportunities for outdoor education across our schools. Maine is an “outdoor state” and we’re fortunate to live in a region with so much natural beauty. Learning that takes students beyond the classroom (and away from their screens and devices!) can do so much to build curiosity, engagement and real-world problem-solving. Outdoor education also supports different learning styles, improves well-being, and helps students see the relevance of what they’re learning.
Do you think the state government is too involved in local schooling? Not involved enough? The right amount of involved? Explain your answer.
The state’s role is important, but school boards also need flexibility to respond to community needs. Right now, there is some interesting legislation at the state level to adjust the Essential Programs and Services (EPS) funding formula, which would change how much revenue RSU 9 receives from the state, and another bill to establish a minimum teacher salary which could also meaningfully impact our local budget.