What is your experience with K-12 public schools, personally and/or with your children or family?
I am a product of public schools myself and my children have attended public schools in DeSoto County. 

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.
I agree we need to fully fund the schools. We don’t need to short-change our students when it comes to education. I will support legislation for full funding.

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?
I will support strategies designed to ensure state revenues are sufficient to make Mississippi the best state to live in and raise a family.   The problem is typically not having sufficient revenue, the challenge is making sure that the state revenues received are allocated in a way that allows Mississippi citizens to lead productive lives.

 Will you oppose vouchers that send taxpayer dollars to private schools, religious schools, home schools, or virtual schools? Why or why not?   
I am not in favor of using taxpayer dollars to finance private schools in the form of vouchers or other funding.   I believe that taxpayer money should be used to provide a core standard of excellence in education that is available for all students.

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. If taxpayer dollars are received, there should be a consistent level of accountability for those funds throughout all programs. 

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, children with disabilities must have programs that can accommodate their unique needs to provide a foundation for their best future.  No child should be left behind.  

Do you agree that Mississippi should provide high-quality early childhood education statewide? 
High-quality early childhood is important and should be provided throughout the state. Early exposure to structured learning provides a vital foundation for success.

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?   
I believe that schools need to have more counseling, support and guidance available for students. Partnering with outside agencies and volunteer opportunities, like mentoring, can be used to help achieve these goals. 

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 do.   Raises need to be structured in a way so they are on-going instead of being allowed to lag behind those of our neighboring states.  We also need to make sure the teaching assistants and support staff are competitively compensated in order to attract and keep quality staff. I will explore more creative ways to find funding whenever possible.

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 think the state is missing out on a wealth of knowledge and experience that should be utilized.  

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?
Yes, I have good relationships with the current and past superintendents of our local schools.  I also have local teachers at different levels of the system to outreach to in order to hear and understand their needs and their concerns about any bills or decisions that would affect public education. 

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 have always worked to stay true to the will of my constituents and I will vote the way that best serves their needs.