I'm a Westerville native. Growing up here, I attended Robert Frost, Mark Twain, Hanby, Walnut Springs, even took a class at Westerville South, and graduated from Westerville North. When I was young, my mother was involved in the PTAs at our schools and in starting Westerville Parent Council, so I learned early on that schools are the fabric of the community and take commitment from us all.  But I also know that our schools and students have different needs today than when I attended them. I've learned this on the ground: my engagement in education spans all levels, from helping our schools' youngest students learn to read to teaching university undergraduates. Working alongside other community members, I have helped our district develop effective solutions to programming issues, contributed as an invited participant in the district's strategic planning process, and co-chaired a levy campaign. To help enhance learning for all students in our district, I co-founded and help lead the non-profit Westerville Partners for Education. I have proposed safety policy to the administration and over the past decade have frequently attended Board of Education meetings to both listen and speak. My deep experience with our schools helps me understand how the Board of Education shapes our schools, what our district excels at and where opportunities for improvement exist. Our students and schools are my passion; my commitment to them over the past ten years is clear!