To the Journal editor:

This year on my birthday I gave myself a present. I filed to run as a candidate for the Marquette Area Public Schools Board of Education. I cannot imagine a better gift than serving our great community and advocating for our kids!

I came to the Upper Peninsula in 1982 from Detroit to go to Northrern Michigan University. However, I stayed because of the people and the community.

I am registered nurse and a certified youth addiction counselor. My daughter is a 2008 graduate of Marquette Senior High School and my grandson a first grader at Sandy Knoll. I have always been an involved and connected parent and grandparent.

The issues are not unique to MAPS but nationwide issues after the last 2 challenging years of COVID. Pandemic learning has been difficult and helping students who fell behind to get back on track is paramount to their futures.

Educator shortage is an ongoing problem that we have to address creatively and proactively. Recruiting new and retaining current teachers by making MAPS a great place to work and build a career. Working with staff and unions to increase pay and benefits to match other districts are challenges we have to take head on.

I hope for lots of good conversations about the vision of Marquette Schools continuing on a path of excellence and preparing our children for life in this rapidly changing 21st century. We cannot even imagine the jobs our children and grandchildren will have but we have to give them the tools to prepare for it!

That involves solid academics as well as social and emotional learning skills. We have to teach our kids how to be creative problem solvers, to work well in teams as well as be independent and curious thinkers.

The landscape of our schools has changed so much over recent years with increased violence and divisiveness making safety and mental health absolutely critical to the health and wellbeing of our kids. I will always put my personal or political biases aside to listen and work with everyone on these issues.

I have the passion, time and commitment this school board and our children deserve. If I can make a positive difference in the lives of our children, that would simply be an unparalleled lifetime achievement!

I hope voters will support me on Nov. 8 for the MAPS School Board of Education.