1.  What has been your involvement with the community and school district? Describe your leadership and volunteerism in the community. Did you or your children attend school in the district? Have you volunteered in or been employed by the school district?
I have been in Hinds County since age 12. I have been a member of the Friends of Utica, Inc., for over 20 years, I serve my church as choir member and treasurer. I support the Hinds CC-Utica Campus whenever possible. I serve on the Utica Institute Museum Board. I am a member of the Utica Food Club. I attended elementary, high school, and junior college in the HCSD. Our son attended elementary, high school, and community college in Hinds County. My granddaughters have and still attend schools in the HCSD. I started my first teaching job in the HCSD. I was assistant principal, principal, and a central office administrator in the HCSD. I retired after 32 years, all in the HCSD. During my career in the HCSD, I was selected principal of the year. I was also selected as a National Distinguished Principal from the State of MS.

2.  Why do you want to serve on your school board?  
I have always believed in the abilities of all children. My focus has always been to provide what is best for all children, regardless of circumstances. I know that can be done, if as a mom, a teacher, an administrator, or a board member, I will do my part. I also believe caring, knowledge, leadership, experience, and collaboration are essential. A board member has only one vote, collaboration is essential.

3.  Students from low-income households often need additional resources to achieve academic success. What should your school district do to ensure that all students are successful?
We should do all we can to first understand what those needs are. You can’t solve a problem, if you don’t know what the problem is. I believe in not only state and local assessments, but, I also believe we include a holistic approach to understanding and solving problems to address the needs of ALL students.

4.  What strategies would you support to create a safer school environment?  What can your school district do to address cyberbullying, mental health, and physical safety?
First know what the needs are. We should make sure our facilities and grounds are secure. Funding provided to make it a reality, to train all school personnel, students, parents and community friends. Mental health is also an area that needs more attention and funding and securing qualified professionals to help us understand the needs and implement effective solutions. Cyber bullying is serious and heart breaking. Again, we have to know, to stop bullying. Parents, teacher, administrators, students, friends and family, must have some training to be able to listen, observe, and talk with the students, and an avenue to report. Training and communication are so important. The HCSD has plans in place for cyber bullying, mental health, and physical safety. We must continue to learn and improve as the community and world change.

5.  What do you see as the most pressing infrastructure needs facing your district?
With the passing of the last bond issue project, HCSD has made major improvements at all campuses. Upkeep is always a concern as the district navigates the years to come, so continued adequate funding is necessary.

6.  Mississippi school districts are funded by a mix of federal, state, and local funds. The state contributes to local school districts through the new Mississippi Student Funding Formula (MSFF). The MSFF is intended to fund teacher salaries, retirement and benefits, transportation costs, facility maintenance, utilities, special education, and other programs. What role will you play in advocating for full funding of MSFF for your district?
Keeping a close eye on the funding as we move forward. When possible, expressing the needs of the district and advocating to those in charge what the financial needs are.

7.  Vouchers for private school tuition divert public funds away from public schools and toward unaccountable private schools. Do you agree that tax dollars should be used for only public schools and not for non-public schools? Why or why not?
Any family has the option to send their children to public schools. If they want to send their child to other types of schools, that’s their choice. But, tax dollars should not be diverted to private schools.

8. In Mississippi, academic standards are set by the Mississippi Department of Education and local districts choose curricula from an MDE-approved list. Do you trust educators in your district to teach using their professional judgment and training or should teaching be further regulated by school board policy or law? If you believe teaching should be further regulated, how so?
I don’t believe any one any thing is sufficient to address the learning needs of all students. I believe the developed standards and approved curricula provide a structure to work within. And, even now professional judgement in schools and classrooms enhances teaching and learning. School board policy, law, and MDE directives are all working together to provide the best education for all students. But, when it is not working, we should make an informed effort to change.

9. Mississippi is experiencing a severe teacher shortage. What strategies will you support to recruit and retain high-quality educators?  
Teachers should be paid higher wages, which would help take some of the stress off of providing for home. I think we should provide funding for tuition for teachers. I think teachers should have a full year of paid student teaching. Also, provide tuition for assistant teachers while they are employed as assistant teachers. They are assets in a classroom when teaching diverse learners. Some of them desire to be teachers. We should regularly acknowledge what they do and the importance of their work.