A little more on leading, leftover from thoughts I had when writing the last post. Sorry this one is a few days late. It was a busy weekend.
When I decided to run for the Frederick County School Board, I knew I wanted to be more than a talker or a speech-giver. Our parents, students, and teachers deserve more than that. They deserve leaders who think independently, ask the hard questions, and do the real work of solving problems.
I see myself as both a thinker and a doer.
Being a thinker means starting with facts and listening before acting. Frederick County is now the 4th fastest-growing area in Virginia. Growth brings energy and opportunity but also new pressures. Our schools are already over capacity, creating crowded classrooms and stretching teachers thin. If we don’t act wisely and quickly, families, students, and educators will feel the strain even more.
At the same time, while Standards of Learning (SOL) scores in Frederick County have improved, they are not yet where we need them to be. It’s not just a number, it’s a reminder that every student deserves the support and resources to reach their potential, and every teacher deserves the tools and time to help them get there.
Being a doer means taking responsibility and delivering results. In my professional life, I’ve managed large, complex projects where success depends on planning carefully, coordinating & collaborating with diverse teams, and following through to completion. That’s the kind of steady, practical leadership our schools need now.
For our school system, that means considering:
Short-term solutions: maybe adjusting boundaries, adding classroom space, maybe modifying schedules, and giving teachers and staff the backup they need to ease overcrowding. Things to consider sooner rather than later, all while....
Long-term planning: building new schools, expanding current facilities, and strengthening teacher recruitment and retention so our classrooms keep pace with growth.
Focusing on outcomes: using performance data to identify where students are struggling, then providing targeted support instead of one-size-fits-all fixes.
Listening first: keeping parents, teachers, and students at the center of every discussion so decisions reflect real needs, not assumptions or politics.
Our schools don’t need more posturing. They need leaders who are willing to think critically, work together, and always put the good of parents, students, and teachers first. That’s the kind of transparent leadership I’m ready to bring to Frederick County School Board.