1) Please explain your stance on including Critical Race Theory?
CRT is a lens in which to view patterns of systemic racism that honors the experiences of black, indigenous, and people of color and the obstacles they face due to the color of their skin. As a teacher, I was not aware of CRT until I began PhD-level coursework and have never seen it at the K-12 level. The focus should be on Culturally Responsive Teaching instead, which connects students’ cultures, languages, and life experiences with what they learn in school. By building a strong classroom community and celebrating diversity, teachers enable students to take ownership of their learning.
2) Many residents have been wanting to see new schools built, especially in Airway Heights. Elementary schools are moving forward, but there is no solid talk about a middle or high school yet. Do you see a need for secondary schools in Airway? What needs to happen?
The proposal that was accepted by the board was bond for a new Airway Heights elementary in 2024 and a bond for a 2nd elementary (location TBD) and an Airway Heights secondary school in 2027. Cheney High’s current capacity is at 80%. If a 2nd high school was built now, both buildings would have 37% unused space. As a West Plains resident, I understand the desire for a local high school, but we are trying to honor tax payers’ hard-earned dollars by not asking for more than the district needs currently. It is definitely coming in the near future.
3) Some residents have brought up the topic of splitting the Cheney school district and adding a district for Airway Heights. Would you support this? Why or why not?
I am not a resident of Airway Heights, but I would support Airway Heights residents if they decided to establish their own district. I do know that with our current enrollment, we are able to offer many more opportunities for students that smaller districts aren’t able to offer. I graduated from a high school of maybe 500 students, and our course offerings and extra curriculars were very limited. Until a split happens, I know our district is dedicated to delivering quality education to all students no matter which community they come from.
Reader Comments(0)