What made you decide to contest in school committee elections?

Education is something that I'm very passionate about. I believe that an excellent education is the single most important service we can provide society as a whole. My parents are educators; my grandparents are educators. I come from five consecutive generations of teachers, administrators, and librarians. A deep appreciation for learning and scholarship is intrinsically part of who I am. We moved to Sharon for its culture and community. We are such a colorful, diverse, and inclusive town, and I think it's important for our School Committee to accurately represent the perspectives of our residents. I am an immigrant who grew up at the crossroads of two cultures, which is an experience I share with many families here. My time as the Community Representative on the Superintendent Screening Committee really gave me hands-on experience that showed me that I really enjoyed committee work, and that I could contribute positively to the process.

Can you describe your experience as a student and how it shaped your vision?

I attended public school K-12, partly in Connecticut and mainly in Wisconsin. It was an amazing experience. To this day, my three favorite teachers are my 5th grade teacher Mr. Boisvert, my HS Chem I & II teacher Mr. Roberts, and my HS Theater and AP English teacher Mrs. Kuske. Great teachers stay with us forever, and I was really lucky to have so many teachers who were truly invested in their students as individuals.

My district and my teachers made sure I was supported and encouraged and challenged. They offered flexibility and opportunity to the best of their ability, and that really provided me with a differentiated learning experience that not only challenged me academically, but also supported me socially and emotionally.

The purpose of education is for each child to realize their full potential, to explore their interests and talents, to challenge themselves to become critical thinkers who are ready for the next step. My experience as a student taught me that all this is possible, and that we can give every child what they need if we are flexible, innovative and committed.

What (if any) changes would you make if you are elected and how will it impact students of SPS?

Virtually every decision School Committee makes impacts our students. I want to be sure we are considering the whole picture rather than just myopically focusing on the one issue in front of our faces. We need to ensure that we are approaching every decision with the well-being of the entire district in mind. We as a committee cannot lose sight of that.

We also need a comprehensive budget to work with. We cannot responsibly make decisions that impact any of our students without granular fiscal transparency, so that is a top priority for me as we welcome a new superintendent to steer the ship.

I also hope to help reestablish relationships of good faith between School Committee, Administration, and Sharon Teachers Association. When we are making decisions together as a team, all our students benefit.

As the school committee is for students, why do you think should students choose you for school committee?

I want to ensure that our kids have the best experience possible. Learning is one of the greatest joys in life, and it is my goal to provide an environment in which students are excited to engage and challenge themselves every single day.

What is your favorite sports team?

UCONN Huskies. My parents both got their PhDs from the University of Connecticut, and I have such visceral memories of attending March Madness as a 4-year-old who had just immigrated to the U.S. It was my first introduction to organized sports, and it was absolutely exhilarating.