What is your experience with K-12 public schools, personally and/or with your children or family?

I am a product of the Meridian Public Schools, and three of my four adult children were educated in public schools (Leflore County Public Schools and Mississippi School of the Arts).

As a parent, I was intentionally engaged in the Parent Teacher Organizations at their respective schools and on the School Dropout Prevention Task Force for our District.  I also served as a parental involvement trainer for the district. My engagement was recognized in selection as “Parent of the Year” for the Leflore County School Elementary School, the Leflore County School District, the 2nd Mississippi Congressional District, and the State of Mississippi.

Currently, two of my adult children are licensed educators in Mississippi schools.

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 that the MSFF should be fully funded every year. To ensure full funding, I would advocate codifying the funding formula.  I would also advocate a dedicated state fund for infrastructure needs.  While this would not resolve the disparity among districts, it would lessen the impact of those disparities and provide critical enhancements in areas where they are most needed.

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 state revenue sufficient to provide the services our citizens need to lead productive lives, I would advocate repeal of tax cuts for those earning more than $300K annually.  The resulting funds, and all proceeds from the State’s lottery system, would be dedicated to K-12 education – in addition to what the State has allocated for educational funding.  Why? Because there is a direct correlation between our investment in education, the strength of our communities and the quality of life in our communities.

Will you oppose vouchers that send taxpayer dollars to private schools, religious schools, home schools, or virtual schools? Why or why not?

I will oppose vouchers that send taxpayer dollars to any schools other than public schools. The last thing we should consider in the midst of a battle to ensure full funding of our public schools is the proposition of vouchers that would take funds away from those schools. According to the Parents’ Campaign research, there is a risk of significant losses in achievement – a loss we cannot afford in this state.

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?

I 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: same dollars, same standards.

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.

I agree that special education services in public schools should be fully funded every year.  I also believe that every school should have an appropriate number of special education instructors with the training and competency to provide services to students. Recently, I spoke with a permanent substitute in a school district who left the position because he lacked the preparation to meet the needs of students with disabilities in his classroom.  His frustration was that these students desired to learn, yet there was no support for that learning to take place.

I would accomplish full funding by advocating for increased funding for special education as part of the MSFF.

Do you agree that Mississippi should provide high-quality early childhood education statewide?

I agree that Mississippi should provide high-quality early childhood education statewide. Many parts of Mississippi—especially rural areas and the Delta—face entrenched poverty, limited access to childcare/pre-K (“child care deserts”), and fewer educational resources. Early education offers a chance to address these inequities and give children from disadvantaged backgrounds a stronger start.  Many students are still not proficient in core areas such as reading and mathematics. Early childhood education can help reduce that gap by ensuring children start school with stronger literacy, vocabulary, and learning readiness.

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?

Improving the quality of life for families in Mississippi will alleviate the obstacles our children face.  This will require that legislators focus on:

• Identifying resources to ensure safe communities – not just putting more people in jail but protecting more people from crime;
• Ensuring access to affordable healthcare and health insurance;
• Full-funding of public education; and,
• Identifying and securing significant economic development opportunities for every community and every region of the state.

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?

I support continued pay increases to ensure that our teacher salaries keep pace with inflation and the regional average.  An investment in our teachers should also include an investment in their training and preparation.

Do you agree that retired educators (and other retired state employees) should be able to draw their retirement while serving in the Legislature?

I agree that retired educators (and other retired state employees) should be able to draw their retirement while serving in the Legislature.  The entitlement to their pension and benefits is already vested.  The ability to receive those benefits should not be taken away because they choose to serve at the state level.

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 am not only a lifelong educator but a lifelong student, and I commit unreservedly to seeking input from teachers, principals, superintendents, parents of public school students, and students in my district.  I cannot represent them unless I am intentional in my efforts to “hear” them.

I will be advised on education policies by stakeholders in District 24 (Lefore, Tallahatchie and Panola Counties), our local educational agencies, the Parents’ Campaign, Parents for Public Schools, the Mississippi Association of Educators, and other organizations who are educational policy advocates.

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?

In my faith tradition, scripture records (John 9:4) that Jesus used the following words to emphasize the urgency of his mission: “I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.” This is the same urgency with which I will respond to those who suggest that I vote in ways contrary to the will of my constituents and bring harm to my community. I will boldly accept the responsibility of accountability in the same manner I accept the election to office. I have made the commitment to District 24 that I will “speak truth to power and to the people.”  This means that I will maintain open and honest lines of communication with my district, and that I will be deliberate and vote in a manner that is informed by the needs of my district.