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’ve volunteered at the elementary school in the past helping kindergartners that were behind to catch up. I’ve also volunteered as a reader during Read Across America and Dr. Seuss weeks. I am a member of Anchor Baptist Church and serve on the youth and children’s ministry committees and serve in those areas at church. I have 3 children attending Lafayette.

2.  Why do you want to serve on your school board?  
To help our school district continue to grow and thrive and our children to succeed in and out of the classroom. I’ve always wanted to be more involved in our schools.

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?
Continue to support children through commodores care and love pacs. Ensure the teachers have supplies needed for instruction. Access to tutoring for free at school or via the Chromebook at home.

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?
Have seminars for parents educating them on limiting social media for their students’ safety and mental health preservation. Ensure mental health resources are available to all children including grief support and trauma counseling. Continuing education for teachers on active shooter situations and education for the children in active shooter situations. Continued support from SROs and get their input on weak systems or what would be best for prevention.

5.  What do you see as the most pressing infrastructure needs facing your district?
Update buses that don’t have heating and cooling available. A soccer field/complex. Updated technology for teachers in older buildings (screens like lower elementary). E- book or audiobook availability through school library system.

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?
Ensuring the funds are allocated properly. Holding the school accountable for responsible spending.

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?
Yes. Tax dollars should go to the common good of our communities. Our children do not have access to these private schools and our school does not recover the private funding from parents, sponsors, etc., that the private schools may have.

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 believe our teachers are teaching what they should. I don’t think they need more regulation.

9. Mississippi is experiencing a severe teacher shortage. What strategies will you support to recruit and retain high-quality educators?  
Ensuring fair salaries, ensuring substitutes are paid fairly and compensated when their certification is more than a standard substitute. Advocate for raises if appropriate. Speak with teachers about how they feel at their jobs or send surveys to allow them to answer anonymously. Retain staff if possible.