Cheney School Board Seat No. 2

Age: 39

Hometown: Essexville, MI

Employment/Business/Other Experience: High school science teacher, Insight School of Washington

Community Service: Snowdown Elementary volunteer

Education: B.S Secondary Education, Central Michigan University, M.A. Science Education, University of Findlay

Family: Husband Mike, two daughters (6.5 & 9), 2 corgis, 3 cats

Disclaimer: The following questions were answered by candidates in 100 words or less. We do not edit the answers, other than to enforce the word limit.

1. Do you support the state mandated comprehensive sexual health education? Why or why not? Yes. Having taught biology and anatomy & physiology, I have witnessed the misconceptions students have regarding sexual health. As a parent, I know my kids are often more likely to listen to a teacher than me. While it is important for families to discuss sexual health, students benefit from having multiple sources of instruction and this curriculum helps improve the overall health and safety of our community. Instruction must be aligned with the state K-12 Health Education learning standards, which is research-based and developed by professionals. The requirements are age-appropriate, with the early grades focused on bodily consent and boundaries.

2. Do you support the implementation of social-emotional learning? Why or why not? Yes. SEL helps students build skills to manage emotions, form positive relationships, and make responsible decisions. It improves positive peer-to-peer interactions and overall mental health. It promotes a supportive environment where students feel safe, respected, and valued. Students who feel supported are more likely to improve their academic performance. These skills benefit students beyond the classroom and will help them achieve success in their post-secondary paths.

3. If faced with another pandemic situation in which the state mandated vaccines for school workers, how would you vote and why? I would support it. Vaccines are safe, effective, and necessary to prevent the spread of disease. School staff have a responsibility to keep students safe, which includes vaccine-preventable diseases. Vaccinated staff are less likely to become ill, which reduces educational disruption for their students. We are fortunate as a society to have access to vaccines that have greatly reduced the number of deaths due to diseases and help protect our most vulnerable populations.