What is your experience with K-12 public schools, personally and/or with your children or family?
As a proud product of Mississippi’s public school system, I credit much of my personal growth and foundational knowledge to the teachers and administrators of the Aberdeen school district who invested in me during my K-12 years. My family has also remained deeply connected to public education. My wife is a teacher in her 12^th year, and my daughter is starting Kindergarten this fall. I’ve remained actively involved in supporting their success, whether by helping with school events, mentoring, or advocating for better resources. I’ve seen firsthand the challenges our schools face and the tremendous potential that can be unlocked when our educators are properly supported. My commitment to strengthening public education is rooted in personal experience and a passion for equity and opportunity for all Mississippi children.

Do you agree that the Mississippi Student Funding Formula (MSFF) should be fully funded every year? If yes, what actions will you take to ensure full funding? If no, explain why.
Yes, I absolutely agree that the Mississippi Student Funding Formula (MSFF) should be fully funded every year. Our children deserve access to a high-quality education regardless of where they live or their economic background. Fully funding the MSFF is not just a fiscal decision, it’s a moral one. If elected, I will advocate for education to be a top budgetary priority. I will work with fellow legislators to increase transparency in how education dollars are allocated and push for legislation that ensures school funding is protected and prioritized. Our future workforce, economy, and communities depend on how we invest in our students today. Fully funding public education is one of the most effective long-term strategies for lifting up all Mississippians.

What will you do to ensure state revenue that is sufficient to provide all of the services Mississippi’s citizens need to lead productive lives?
To ensure Mississippi has the revenue needed to provide essential services, I will advocate for a fair, balanced tax structure that doesn’t place the burden disproportionately on working families. I support closing tax loopholes that benefit only a few and reinvesting in areas that deliver real value to our communities. Additionally, I will work to attract new industries and support local entrepreneurship to grow our tax base organically through job creation. Strong public investment fuels stronger communities, and I will work with everyone in Jackson to ensure that our state budget reflects that truth.

 Will you oppose vouchers that send taxpayer dollars to private schools, religious schools, home schools, or virtual schools? Why or why not?   
Yes, our public schools serve the vast majority of Mississippi’s children and are the only schools with the legal responsibility to serve all students regardless of background, ability, or income. Public funds should be used to strengthen and fully fund our public education system, not weaken it by subsidizing private options that lack the same transparency, accountability, and inclusivity. I believe in improving educational opportunity for every child by investing in the schools that serve every community.

Do you agree that all K-12 schools that receive taxpayer dollars, including private voucher schools, should be accountable to taxpayers for the quality of education they provide, using the same accountability measures as public schools?   
Yes, I absolutely agree. Any school that receives taxpayer dollars should be held to the same transparency, accountability, and performance standards as our public schools. Taxpayers deserve to know how their money is being used and whether students are receiving a quality education. Public dollars must come with public oversight. It is both a matter of fairness and fiscal responsibility to ensure that all students, regardless of the type of school they attend, are being educated to a high standard when public funds are involved.

Public schools serve the vast majority of Mississippi students with disabilities. Do you agree that special education services in public schools should be fully funded every year? If yes, how will you accomplish full funding? If no, explain why.
Yes, I wholeheartedly agree that special education services in public schools should be fully funded every year. Every child, regardless of ability, deserves equitable access to a quality education and the resources they need to succeed. Fully funding special education is not just a legal obligation, it is a moral one.

To accomplish this, I will advocate for dedicated, protected funding streams for special education within the Mississippi Student Funding Formula. I will work to ensure transparency in how funds are allocated and push for legislation that prioritizes the needs of our most vulnerable learners. I’ll also support increased collaboration between educators, families, and service providers to make sure those funds are being used effectively and efficiently.

Do you agree that Mississippi should provide high-quality early childhood education statewide? 
Yes, Mississippi should provide high-quality early childhood education statewide. Research consistently shows that early learning lays the foundation for future academic and social success. By investing in early childhood education, we give children a better start in life, reduce long-term educational disparities, and strengthen our workforce for the future. I will support policies that expand access to affordable, high-quality early childhood programs, especially in underserved and rural communities, and work to ensure that funding and resources are directed where they are needed most.

The nation’s top teachers say that the greatest barriers to school success for K-12 students are family stress, poverty, and learning and psychological problems. What steps do you believe legislators should take to alleviate these obstacles for Mississippi children?   
Legislators must take a holistic approach to address the root causes of these barriers. First, we need to invest in wraparound services for students and families, such as school-based counselors, mental health support, and access to free or reduced meals. Second, tackling poverty through targeted economic development, job training, and workforce investment programs is essential to lift families out of generational hardship. Lastly, we must ensure that schools have the funding and resources to support students with diverse learning needs by reducing class sizes, increasing teacher support, and funding early intervention programs. These steps will help create an environment where all children can thrive academically and personally.

In the 2022 Legislative Session, a significant teacher pay raise was passed, however the most recent national teacher salary surveys show that Mississippi is once again last in the nation in teacher pay. Do you support continued pay increases to ensure that Mississippi’s teacher salaries keep pace with inflation and salaries in our neighboring states? 
Yes, I fully support continued pay increases for Mississippi teachers. Our educators are the backbone of our public school system, and it is unacceptable that they remain at the bottom of the national pay scale. To attract and retain high-quality teachers, we must offer competitive salaries that reflect the value of their work and the rising cost of living. I will advocate for annual adjustments tied to inflation and regional benchmarks to ensure our teachers are fairly compensated and not forced to leave the profession or our state in search of better opportunities. Mississippi students deserve the best, and that begins with investing in those who teach them.

Do you agree that retired educators (and other retired state employees) should be able to draw their retirement while serving in the Legislature?   
Yes, I agree that retired educators and other retired state employees should be allowed to draw their retirement while serving in the Legislature. These individuals bring invaluable experience and a deep understanding of public service. Preventing them from receiving the retirement benefits they’ve earned unfairly discourages knowledgeable public servants from running for office. Allowing them to serve while drawing retirement would strengthen our Legislature by including voices that truly understand the challenges faced by our schools, communities, and state agencies.

Legislators have little or no staff to help them understand the many bills they must consider. Before introducing or supporting a bill that could affect public education, will you commit to seeking input from teachers, principals, superintendents, and parents of public school students in your district? Who will be advising you on education policies?
I strongly believe that effective education policy requires input from those who are closest to the classroom. That would be the teachers, principals, superintendents, and parents who are directly impacted by these decisions. Before introducing or supporting any bill related to public education, I commit to seeking feedback from these key stakeholders starting at my own kitchen table and going across District 22 and the state.

As we look to improve education in our district, I will be advised by a team of educators and community leaders who are passionate about the success of our children. I will make it a priority to create open channels of communication and ensure that the voices of those who are on the front lines of education are heard and valued. If they can teach my daughter, or your child, if I am going to allow them to influence her and set her on the path to being a productive member of society, then I want a true partnership, not one where educators are handcuffed and ignored.

In the past, legislators have received tremendous pressure from the leaders of their chamber (House or Senate), state and party leaders, and corporate lobbyists to vote in ways that could contradict the will of their constituents and harm their communities. How would you respond to such pressure?
I believe that the job of an elected official is to serve. I plan to carry three points into this new role, people, policy & provision. Serve the people, period. Next, organically build policy that serves the people, and lastly, work to create provisions, that work organically through policy to serve the people. If I am honored to represent District 22, my loyalty will be to my constituents and the communities we call home.

When faced with political pressure that contradicts the needs or values of our district, I will respond with integrity and transparency. My decisions will be grounded in what is right for the families, workers, students, and small businesses of our community. I will always remember that I work for the people.