This Q&A is part of Tiger Times Online’s coverage of the 2025 school board election. The election will take place on April 1. For more information, click here.

The following Q&A has been edited for concision and clarity.

• Why are you running for the District 7 school board, and what’s the most important skill or experience you bring to the role?

The reason I’m running is we’ve been a member of the Edwardsville community for about 15 or 16 years. One of the primary factors was the school districts. We had three children school age, and being in the best possible school district was important. I had been a teacher in California. I was going through relicensing. I was also a longtime member of the National Guard. In between National Guard gigs, I would substitute. I’ve really gotten to know Edwardsville schools. I care very much about them. I’ve gotten to know the students, the teachers. I think I can contribute to the school board by providing something nobody else can: my experience in the Edwardsville schools. I know the teachers, buildings, students, principals, coaches. Substitutes see a lot of different things. I’ve got a unique perspective. The school board’s perspective is primarily what they’re told, not first hand experience. My perspective as a substitute teacher gives me first hand knowledge.

• Should you be elected, what specific policies would you like to see enacted or changed, and how would those changes specifically benefit students in our high school or in the other schools?

I’m also a parent, a taxpayer, a neighbor. I try to listen to all perspectives. I want to make sure that our communication with the community is very direct, forthright, timely. I’m concerned about the Success Academy. I’ve been a substitute teacher there. I see how effective and vital the mission is. I think that facility should remain as it is. I don’t agree with moving district offices into classroom space. I would like to see teachers, principals and coaches, more empowered: teachers, their classroom; principals, their schools; coaches, their program. Frequently, we see principals operating in an interim capacity. When a person reaches principal, they should be named principal, not a probationary period. For continuity, when a principal is named, that should be done in a timely manner. The high school got a new principal just a few days before school started. It takes a while for teachers to transition. I want to maintain the current excellence, academically and athletically and in extracurriculars. I want to keep the Success Academy the way it is and possibly improve it.

• Are you in favor of increasing or decreasing school funding? If so, where would you propose those funds come from and where would they be allocated, or where would you cut back?

Each item has to be looked at individually. Lincoln Middle school renovation was absolutely essential. The $100 million bond issue was directed toward that. But I was disappointed that I found out about the bond issue at the polling place. I’m very concerned when I see purchases we’re not aware of. For example, the district moved out of Hadley house into office space downtown, costing over $500,000. Which brings me back to my concerns about the Success Academy. I’m quite sure there’s going to be a renovation expense. I’ve been told EHS has three busses that aren’t usable. Last summer, the school board purchased two Chevy Suburbans. I’m not sure those are things we should be spending tax dollars on. The first priority has to be a safe and effective learning environment. Improvements to Lincoln, absolutely. Improvements to security, absolutely. Hiring new teachers, I’m all for that. Classrooms are starting to get too big.

• Who do you believe is the school board’s primary constituent? Is it the students, the parents, the teachers, the staff, the community, or someone else?

We’re all stakeholders. None of us can be left out. None of us can be the dominant person. It can’t be just the students, parents, taxpayers, teachers, principals, or the superintendent. We all have to work together. We all have different concerns. We all have to understand those concerns, take them into account, be willing to compromise. At the end of the day, the voters have to be involved. They have to vote. Take a look at how many didn’t vote last time on the $100 million bond issue. …that one is actually easy, honest, open, clear, frequent communication. And a lot of communication is not just talking, it’s listening with an open heart.

• School boards, in general, have become more contentious and gained more attention in recent years with many larger political movements. Do you think any of the larger things we’ve seen in our country will affect our school board specifically?

Contention figures, debate, honest and open exchanges of different views. That’s not contention. That’s how the process is supposed to be done. But you’re absolutely right. There are so many issues coming up at the local level. The way to handle that is just honest, civil, respectful discussion, debate, compromise, finding common ground, keeping in mind our main priorities: an effective, efficient and excellent school district, using our tax dollars effectively, listening to one another. My neighbors, I frequently heard the comment that the school board doesn’t challenge the superintendent often and vigorously enough. For example, the superintendent asked the school board to approve allocating $10,800,000 for a media center. There were questions. Do we have a plan? Architectural study? Renderings? It didn’t appear that was there. Edwardsville high school had a media center up until two years ago. It was determined that classroom space was more essential. There are four new classrooms in that space. It was good use of space. Now, to spend $10.8 million to build another media center might not be the best use. The district needs to be talking to us in an informative way. This is a need, this is a solution, these are the reasons, the downside. With that full disclosure, let’s decide. Three board members asked serious questions. A citizen was given three minutes: we’ve got a lot of projects going on, shouldn’t we finish them? Were I on the school board, I would have put a motion to table the discussion. Instead, the motion was approved.

• Are you satisfied with the current curriculum offerings in our high school? If not, what changes would you advocate for, and why? Are there specific subjects or skills you feel are lacking?

My experience with curriculum ended about four years ago. My kids are grown. All had different experiences. One took all honors classes. One, it was hard to get him not to cut class, but his experience accomplished what it was meant to do. He graduated, wanted to be an electrical lineman. Then we had a daughter who was a good student. Are the curriculum choices exactly where they are, I don’t know, but I know the people to ask are students. I do see our curriculum being very college prep based. Like my middle son, he had no intention of going to college. Some options that are more in the trade, I would have liked to have seen that. The district is very proactive. They have programs with the community college, reciprocal agreements. Triad has a welding program. We have programs with trade unions. Are we being efficient and effective? I think we are. But it’s got to be looked at all the time, weighed against time, cost, can our existing facilities support it?

• How would you ensure the school board is transparent and accountable to the community?

We have a pretty good newspaper, Edwardsville Intelligencer. They have been very proactive, filing Freedom of Information Act requests. The school district also has a spokeswoman. A newspaper reporter should be able to ask questions. The school board should be reaching out. It was surprising to see a reporter has to file a Freedom of Information Act request. The district needs to be proactive. The newspaper is an excellent way. We have an email address for every parent and student. Send emails out. The district has a website. People have to take responsibility and check. Ask questions. School board members have email, the superintendent has email. Gotta ask questions.

• What are your views on the recent push to change EHS to a 7-period day and changes to the start and end times?

The middle schools are on that schedule now. They have eight periods. We’ve already tried this system at the middle school level. Before we incorporate it at the high school, we do a review of how effective that change is. From my perspective, the six period a day worked fine. Students who want an extra class, they have zero hour. The community has to be given why this is a good idea. What is the science? Studies? Experiences of other districts? Catching people off guard because they’re scrolling through Facebook, I’m concerned about that. People answering questions, I’m not sure they have the background. I’m not really in favor of that. Changing the school start time, what we have works. Show me the data. Get all stakeholders involved: students, teachers, employers. Can we, in March, gather enough information to make a decision in September? I’m not confident.

• What are your views on efforts to replace the current bathrooms near the cafeteria with a single gender-neutral bathroom?

The problem with bathrooms in EHS is, by their design, there aren’t enough. They’re poorly designed. The transgender bathroom is already there, on the second floor, private, access controlled. The bathroom being built at $1,600,000 on the first floor addresses access. There’s already one close by. I think this is going to alleviate congestion. I have trust in students to act maturely. Students are going to adapt. Some will be comfortable, some won’t. Eventually, it will work itself out.

• Give me your final pitch for why people should vote for you.

I’m a teacher. I’ve been a substitute teacher in Edwardsville for a long time. I have first hand experience with the issues, the stakeholders. I know the teachers, students, principals. I see what’s going on. I’m not going to have to spend the first month learning. I have relationships. People will talk to me. I am a member of all the major stakeholders. I know the students, teachers, the buildings, the problems. I’m a taxpayer. I’m a citizen. I see our students. The biggest thing I offer is the first hand experience. I’m proud to be a substitute teacher, a member of this community. I want to see the excellence continue and grow.