Candidate Q&A
Why are you running?
I’m running for the Chicago Board of Education because I believe every child, in every neighborhood, deserves access to a high-quality public education. As a CPS graduate, CPS parent, and former Local School Council member, I understand how important strong neighborhood schools are to students, families, and communities. I want to help ensure our schools have the educators, student supports, safe and modern facilities, and academic opportunities students need to succeed, while protecting critical services for students with disabilities, multilingual learners, and immigrant and newcomer families. I’m also committed to keeping public dollars in public schools and ensuring CPS decisions reflect the voices and needs of the families and communities the district serves.
Are you in support of the most recent CPS budget that relies on uncommitted state funding?
Both the budget that was originally proposed and the budget amendment that was passed were bad choices that ultimately put jobs, classroom resources, and our students at risk. Our school board should never be in a position of having to choose between cuts to the classroom now or potential cuts later. Neither of these choices is acceptable or responsible. We cannot rely on uncommitted state funding or continue to depend on regressive taxation. We must pursue sustainable, progressive revenue solutions.
As a board member, my priority will be to collaborate with lawmakers, labor partners, and community stakeholders to identify viable, long-term paths that fully resource every school in every neighborhood. I will advocate for the equitable funding CPS needs to avoid being forced to choose between flawed options during every budget season.
How will you work with CPS officials and staff to balance the district’s budget?
I will work closely with CPS officials and staff to understand the district’s financial challenges, identify responsible savings, and develop a balanced budget that protects classrooms and the services students rely on. That means being transparent about where dollars are going, looking for efficiencies that do not come at the expense of students and workers, and making sure our resources reflect the needs of our schools. At the same time, balancing the budget cannot fall on our school communities alone. I will continue to push for the state to provide CPS with the adequate and sustainable funding our students deserve through progressive revenue streams.
Other than the budget, what is the single biggest issue facing Chicago Public Schools?
The biggest issue is ensuring every child, regardless of their ZIP code, has access to a strong neighborhood public school that meets their needs. Too many students do not have consistent access to the academic opportunities and supports they deserve, including special education services, bilingual programs, mental health supports, arts and music, STEM, and career and technical education. We need a school district where families can count on their neighborhood school to provide a high-quality education and where every student has the support and opportunities they need to succeed.
What is a top issue for students, schools and families in your specific school board voting district?
A primary focus for District 1B is ensuring our neighborhood public schools possess the necessary resources to deliver high-quality, inclusive education to all students. Families require fully resourced classrooms with adequate staffing, reduced class sizes, modern facilities, and robust bilingual and mental health programming. School communities also want welcoming environments where immigrant and newcomer families feel safe, valued, and fully supported.
Crucially, we must guarantee comprehensive support, clear communication, and full transparency for students with disabilities and their families through active, collaborative partnership. By prioritizing these equitable investments and fostering strong family engagement, we can ensure every student in District 1B thrives.
If you accept campaign contributions from special interest groups, how will you maintain independence from those donors?
I am proud to have earned the support of community organizations, a broad group of labor unions, and elected leaders who share my vision for fully funded, high-quality neighborhood public schools. My commitment will always be to the students, families, and residents of District 1B. I believe in complete transparency and open communication with all stakeholders.
While supporters and partners may not always agree on every policy approach or strategy, I will maintain my independence by grounding every decision in what best serves our students and school communities. Leaders must be willing to have honest, principled conversations to achieve a strong, fiscally healthy school district, even when we agree to disagree.
How can current board policies and procedures be improved?
To meaningfully improve Board policies and procedures, it is imperative to directly involve students, parents, staff, and community members in analyzing current practices and guiding community-focused solutions. I am deeply committed to creating accessible, inclusive spaces where feedback from those most impacted by these policies is genuinely heard. By partnering directly with our school communities, we can co-create and reimagine policies and procedures that truly reflect and adapt to their evolving needs.
How should CPS and the board work to address declining enrollment?
Declining enrollment should not automatically mean fewer resources or school closures. CPS and the Board need to understand why families are leaving the district and focus on making our neighborhood public schools places families want to choose and students want to attend. That means investing in strong academic programs, arts and music, STEM, dual-language programs, career and technical education, special education, and the student supports families rely on.
We also need to recognize that enrollment alone does not determine what it takes to serve a school community. Students have different needs, and every school requires a baseline of educators, staff, and resources to provide a high-quality education. The Board should make decisions based on student and community needs, not simply enrollment numbers.
Do you foresee a need to close some district schools?
No. School closures can destabilize communities and disrupt students’ education, and I do not see them as the solution to declining enrollment. CPS should focus on addressing the reasons enrollment is declining and making schools more attractive to families through strong academic programs, student supports, and meaningful community partnerships. Enrollment numbers alone should not determine a school’s future.
The Board must consider the needs of the students a school serves, its role in the surrounding community, and the long-term consequences of closure before making decisions that cannot easily be reversed.
Should CPS implement AI in its classrooms? What, if any, guardrails should be put in place?
AI is already changing how students learn and how educators work, and CPS has a responsibility to prepare students to understand and navigate these technologies responsibly. Any use of AI in the classroom should have a clear educational purpose and enhance—not replace—critical thinking, creativity, and the relationship between students and educators.
I also support working in lockstep with the General Assembly to ensure our policies reflect best practices around youth and AI. CPS should establish strong districtwide guardrails that protect student data and privacy, require transparency about how AI is being used, address bias and inaccurate information, and maintain human oversight of decisions affecting students. AI should not make consequential decisions about grades, discipline, special education services, or other areas that directly affect a student’s education. Educators should also receive appropriate training, and families should have a voice as CPS continues developing its approach to AI.
The board currently includes one Honorary Student Member. As the board has recently tripled in size, should that number be expanded?
Yes, as the Board expands, increasing student representation is essential to ensure that student perspectives remain central to decision-making. Expanding the number of Honorary Student Members allows the Board to meaningfully uplift student voices, ensuring they are intentionally included both in full Board meetings and within their respective districts. Students are directly impacted by Board policy, and their lived experiences provide vital insights that strengthen our governance and keep our focus aligned with student needs.
How will you be responsive to student-led issues?
I will make myself accessible to students and create regular opportunities to hear directly from them about what is happening in their schools. That includes meeting with student-led committees and organizations, engaging with Student Voice Committees, visiting schools across District 1B, and ensuring students have a direct way to bring their concerns and ideas to me. Being responsive also means following through. When students raise or organize around an issue, they deserve to know their concerns are being taken seriously and how the Board is responding. Students should have a meaningful role in shaping the decisions that affect their education, not simply an opportunity to speak after decisions have already been made.
Did you attend Chicago Public Schools? When/Where?
1996-1998 Hans Christian Andersen Elementary School; 1999-2002 Prosser Career Academy
Have you sent your children to Chicago Public Schools?
Yes
Have you ever served on a Local School Council? When/Where?
Yes — Carl Von Linne Elementary, November 2019–March 2023
Have you ever worked for Chicago Public Schools?
N/A
What neighborhood do you live in?
Portage Park