my current priorities if elected
Belonging & Engagement
When folks are welcomed and feel a sense of belonging in a community, their engagement tends to increase. I want to help Salt Lake schools become more welcoming and accessible to every person who walks through their doors. Belonging in our schools could be improved through expansion of open communication, active trust-building, and targeted training for school staff and teachers, as well as for families. Increasing family involvement requires reducing equity gaps through meaningful, accessible, and culturally responsive engagement opportunities. Students benefit from strong family-school partnerships through improved academic outcomes, increased feelings of safety, and enhanced social-emotional skills.
Equity Across Schools
I want to help improve equity and access across all of Salt Lake City's public schools. I would advocate for improving pathways and programs that currently work for some students by reducing barriers to access for all of our students. This would include working to ensure equitable funding for under-resourced schools and striving to enhance all of our school facilities and resources, with a specific focus on equity. Every Salt Lake student should have access to diverse coursework and welcoming extracurricular programs, while every teacher deserves enrichment through training in culturally-responsive and trauma-informed practices. Finally, expanding support services for every student in need and ensuring equitable distribution of experienced teachers across all schools would also increase equity in the District.
Social & Emotional Learning
Salt Lake City School District was ranked among Utah's top public school districts just three years ago. This is no longer the case. Our children deserve access to a public education that supports their development as whole people. Social and emotional (SEL) learning does this by fostering essential life traits such as healthy relationships, respect for others, problem-solving skills, success in education and the workforce, and active citizenship. Our district should be leading Utah school districts in creating supportive, dynamic social and emotional learning.
Integrating SEL into every facet of the Salt Lake City School District is imperative to cultivating environments where students can excel academically, personally, and socially. Implementation of effective SEL demands inclusive classroom cultures, trauma-responsive programming, and equitable access to SEL through all academic instruction. A comprehensive district-wide strategy, characterized by strong relationships, adult modeling, and consistent systems, is crucial for reinforcing social and emotional growth across our schools. The SLCSD must make a decisive commitment to embedding SEL into its strategic planning, resource allocation, and professional development, if for no other reason than to achieve its own Portrait of a Graduate framework.
Systems of Support
As a School Social Worker and parent, I support universal development and implementation of multi-tiered systems of support (MTSS) across all Salt Lake City schools. The Utah State Office of Education's MTSS model strives to meet the academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs of all students. Implementation of the State's MTSS model across our District's schools would ensure the following:
1) provision of evidence-based services, supports, and interventions;
2) promotion of school climates and cultures conducive to learning and teaching excellence;
3) more equitable access to school-based and community-based resources; and
4) fostered collaboration among educators, families, and school support staff.
What do you think i should prioritize?
What would you like the Salt Lake City School District to prioritize?
I want to become your trusted representative in Precinct 4 of the Salt Lake City School District. Knowing what residents would like to see in our schools helps me better understand and advocate for all of our kids.
