I will fight to end the teacher retention crisis
Great schools require experienced teachers. However, half of our teachers now leave our schools before their fifth year. This is the most significant reason why our kids struggle to have their needs met in our classrooms.
As your elected representative, I will work to bring more teachers to Anchorage and support them in building a life here. I will do this by calling on state-level lawmakers to reinstate a defined-benefit retirement for educators. I will also create policies at the district level that foster the mentorship and apprenticeship of paraeducators, providing new pathways to teacher licensure, as I have done in rural Alaska.
I will advance whole-student learning that fits Anchorage’s community
Our kids should always feel like their strengths are embraced at their school. Yet, over the last decade, our kids have been offered fewer options to engage in what they care most about. Our cuts to these options have left most classrooms with a stale, one-size-fits-all curriculum.
I will ensure our curriculum policy connects our kids to rigorous and innovative coursework, based on community challenges and real-life skill development.
Open the classroom up to the community. We must incorporate mentorship from professionals and community members. This will foster leadership in our learning and tackle real problems in Anchorage — like healthcare, business, human services, and skilled trades, while still teaching core academic skills.
Bring back enrichment. We must offer more arts, elective choices, clubs, and sports. These choices ensure that kids always feel that school is a place that honors their identities and strengths.
Enhance whole-student learning. Our curriculum has become stale and one-size-fits-all. I’ll work to expand rigorous, community-connected learning by bringing in cultural leaders and professionals to our classrooms. This will restore arts, electives, clubs, and sports — and strengthen core academic pathways by fostering inquiry-based leadership learning, emotional resilience, and cultural connectedness.
I will support state lawmakers in establishing an adequate system of public education
Meeting our mission of Education for All requires an efficient budget and responsible spending. Yet, declining state funding has made our current investments less effective overall. We’re now having to cut corners as we need resources to close gaps in instruction suffered from the pandemic, school closures, and rising class sizes. As a district, we are stuck in a feedback loop — we are not meeting student outcomes today, which will require more investments for tomorrow.
To make our school programs efficient, we must focus on proven solutions that increase student outcomes. The most effective solution is to reduce class sizes by 25%, increase essential student supports like librarians, counselors, and paraeducators, and continue to monitor a lean and responsible administration.
To get us on track for an effective and efficient school district, I will work with the lawmakers in Juneau to ensure that adequate base student allocation (BSA) is provided to proactively prepare all students for success.
I will build real equity solutions for our diverse student communities
Our schools have reported significant performance gaps impacting diverse student groups for decades. This is a sign that we’re not targeting student needs effectively. We must change the narrative on equity and ensure students are always given the tools for success.
My policy solutions will create sweeping equity improvements that welcome all students to inclusive classrooms, dismantle regressive discipline policies, and end discrimination and bullying.