Clear lines of communication between every level of an organization are vital to its success. With my leadership, there will be no "closed door" decision making and every voice will be valued and heard.

We want every employee of the school system—from teachers to maintenance workers to district officials—to recognize their role as an educator. We seek to maintain, and if necessary raise, the level of professionalism of every team member. We must model hard work, good decisions, and positive attitudes for every student in every school.

Our students are our greatest possessions and our teachers our greatest resource. Studies show that the single most influential element in a child's education—more than buildings, textbooks, or extra-curricular activities—is the impact of an effective teacher. We must support our teachers in every way—especially with competitive salaries—as they perform their all-important tasks.

An effective school board member must offer direct, meaningful communication for everyone involved with our schools. I want everyone involved to be aware of polices, plans, and financial realities and responsibilities. People have to be able to talk honestly, comment openly, and criticize constructively! Active participation by our school employees, school board members, and local leaders and a "can-do" attitude will strengthen our school system.

Being a public educator can be a frustrating thing. Each new year presents new government mandates and shifts in policies and procedures. These challenges are compounded by the growing diversity of our student population. I have been a teacher and I share the concerns of teachers. I have been a principal and I share the frustrations of school administrators. I have been a district superintendent and I understand the awesome weight of responsibility of managing a school district. But together, we can all forge a great future for our schools.

The morale of our employees will determine the quality of daily performance. We are keenly aware of their concerns and frustrations. All employees must know they are needed and appreciated. Our teachers must feel secure and empowered. They must receive adequate compensation. They must have opportunities for advancement. They must be recognized for their accomplishments. They must be supported by administrators.

Technology must be a used to lighten administrative loads and expand the reach of our classrooms. We should adopt reasonable district-wide hardware and software standards to maximize productive work while minimizing costs. We must equip our staff with adequate technology tools, train them in their effective use, and expect them to find creative ways to streamline their workloads. "Technology for technology sake" is not our goal; but the daily application of technology tools to save time, money, and resources is our goal.