I prioritize the task force’s recommendations, especially those addressing teacher salaries and career ladders. Recognizing the critical role teachers play, it is imperative that we invest in them to enhance education quality. Additionally, I advocate for addressing the four key areas: K-3 literacy, college and career advising, teacher and leader quality, and opportunities for rural and underserved schools.

I support legislation aimed at increasing teacher salaries to competitive levels to recruit and retain high-quality educators. Furthermore, I support the creation of mentorship programs for new teachers and professional development opportunities to enhance teaching skills and career satisfaction. Additionally, I would make sure our teachers have all the tools they need to manage the mental and behavioral health concerns that currently overwhelm our classrooms. I would do this by supporting efforts to hire and retain counselors, disability support staff, and paraprofessionals.

Adequate funding means resources sufficient to provide every student access to a comprehensive education, including well-maintained facilities, modern technology, a broad curriculum, and extracurricular activities. Funding should also ensure competitive salaries for teachers and staff. Furthermore, adequate school funding would account for the built-in and ongoing costs that do not end when the students go home.

I will unequivocally reject any efforts to divert public funds from public schools to private or parochial schools for three reasons.

First, public funds should be invested in public education to benefit the widest possible student population and maintain a high standard of accountability. By instituting a voucher system, we would be picking winners and losers, instead of giving all students a chance to succeed. Vouchers would benefit only the wealthiest in our society and take desperately needed funding away from our rural schools.

Second, vouchers are unconstitutional. Idaho’s founders saw the value in public education, so much that they embedded it as a constitutional principle. A line written over 100 years ago still holds true: “The stability of a republican form of government depending mainly upon the intelligence of the people, it shall be the duty of the legislature of Idaho, to establish and maintain a general, uniform and thorough system of public, free common schools.” Additionally, our state was an early adopter of the Blaine amendment because of the dangers a two-tiered school system could create.

Third, fiscal responsibility requires accountability. I look to examples in other states, such as Arizona, who have adopted similar programs to those being pushed in Idaho. Arizona’s legislature took a budget surplus and turned it into a deficit with the combination of a universal voucher program and a tax-cut. In every instance of vouchers becoming policy, the fiscal impacts were underestimated. Additionally, the lack of accountability is a feature, not a bug. Proponents of these schemes know that the data does not support vouchers improving educational outcomes, yet they hope to accept tax dollars regardless.

I firmly support the right of all education employees to negotiate their working conditions, compensation, and other aspects of their employment. Strong teacher unions contribute to a better education system by ensuring that educators’ voices are heard and their needs are met. I have seen good data that shows a correlation between positive educational outcomes and the strength of teacher unions. Regardless of educational outcomes, I believe that bargaining is essential to giving teachers a sense of belonging, pride, and ownership of their schools and classrooms.

If elected, I will advocate for integrated mental and behavioral health services in schools, including hiring more counselors and providing professional development for teachers to support student and educator mental health. Building a supportive school environment is crucial for both learning and teaching. I have heard from our educators in SD25 over and over that since returning to school following the pandemic they have never seen our learners struggle so much with their mental and emotional health, and it shows up in their behaviors.

I support the integration of media literacy into the curriculum. Media literacy is essential in today’s digital age to help students critically assess and understand the vast array of information they encounter daily. I also support curriculum and tools aimed at teaching our learners the importance of social media hygiene. These tools can empower kids to understand and prevent, mental and behavioral health problems.

I am aware of discussions in Idaho and around the nation now that are critical of social and emotional learning models. I disagree with the premise, and I think the data on which the criticism relies is very limited. We have known for a long time that the greatest predictor of success in life, financially and otherwise, is emotional intelligence. We have seen over the past decade a steep decline in the emotional and mental health of our population, impacting our kids most dramatically. In Idaho, we have a drought of mental health services, not an abundance. It is not mental health services or social and emotional learning that is causing our kids to suffer. It is the absence of it that causes them the most harm.

I strongly support initiatives that promote early childhood literacy, understanding its critical role in long-term academic and life success. I will advocate for increased funding for pre-K programs and resources to support families and educators in this vital area. I have reviewed the data for decades that demonstrates unequivocally how educational outcomes are improved dramatically with quality early childhood education. My own children attended preschool for this reason, even though I also worked hard to educate them at home. I have seen firsthand through my work with Pocatello’s vulnerable families what a difference programs like Headstart can have on the trajectory of a learner’s life and the fluidity of their family’s pocketbook.

In my legislative district, pressing issues include the need for improved infrastructure, mental and behavioral health resources, disability services for students, and equitable access to technology and resources for all students. Generally, I would address these by advocating for targeted funding, community partnerships, and policies that ensure resources are distributed fairly and effectively.

Our over-reliance on bonds, a direct result of the legislatures’ refusal to uphold their constitutional duty of funding schools, has led to increased property taxes and a public distaste for bonds and levies. I recognize, however, that until we have enough voices in the statehouse to force the legislature to adequately fund public education instead of using it as a bargaining chip, local government has to fill in the gaps to help us reach our educational goals. I would support efforts to lower bond passage thresholds and empower school boards to speak in favor of proposed bonds. Pocatello does not want our tax dollars being invested in private education while our public schools remain underfunded. We must hold the State accountable for facilities funding as our constitution requires.

When I graduated from law school, I had a keen interest in environmental issues and environmental law. Despite not pursuing a career in environmental law, I quickly became involved with efforts to protect the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, which at the time was critically endangered. I canvassed for signatures and donations with Clean Water Action and helped rally support for buffer zones in the Chesapeake Bay Wetlands. I moved to Idaho in 1999, in part drawn by the scenic beauty and breathtaking natural landscapes. If I’m not working to support Pocatello’s vulnerable populations, chances are I’m out recreating in our mountains, rivers, and lakes, in all seasons. As Idaho has taught me, there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing. Seeking an endorsement from Conservation Voters for Idaho aligns with my dedication to ensuring that Idaho’s natural beauty and resources are preserved for future generations while also balancing growth and economic development.

The three most pressing issues facing my constituents are education, mental health resources, especially for our youth, and the economic well-being of our communities, particularly in the face of rapid growth and the housing crisis.

My background as a trial attorney focusing on child welfare, a former educator, and a community advocate equips me with a diverse perspective and leadership experience crucial for the office I am seeking. While teaching full-time at ISU, I was elected to serve in the faculty Senate. I have been a Board member and Board President for the Portneuf Health Care Foundation (the charitable arm of our hospital). I have been a Board member and Board President for Idaho Legal Aid Services. I have been the President and officer of the 6th District Bar Association, and I have also been President of the Family Law Section of the 6th District Bar Association. I tend to rise to the leadership level when I advocate for a cause I care about.

I have engaged with conservation issues primarily through advocacy and legal frameworks, emphasizing sustainable practices that benefit both our environment and our communities. I canvassed for Clean Water Action in Virginia in the 1990s and have championed conservation efforts since then as well. That nonprofit advocated for the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed.

I believe the most critical conservation issue for my constituents is the sustainable management of natural resources amidst rapid population growth. If elected, I plan to lead by promoting policies that encourage responsible development, protect our water and air quality, and support renewable energy initiatives to ensure a healthy environment and a robust economy for Idaho. I want to plan for sustainable growth, not scramble to react to growth.

Yes, I support statewide efforts to open Idaho’s closed primary system and create instant runoff voting in the general election. Unlike some candidates, I was willing to sign and publicly support the petition. An open primary system would ensure that all Idahoans, regardless of party affiliation, have a voice in our elections, reducing the influence of extreme partisanship and special interests. I would advocate for legislative changes to implement these reforms, engage with constituents to raise awareness and support and collaborate with other legislators and organizations like Conservation Voters for Idaho to advance this initiative. As an Idaho Democrat, I understand the outsized importance of being a strategic team player when advancing CVI’s voter protection goals.

If elected, I will actively support Idaho’s transition to a 100% clean energy economy by or before 2050, emphasizing community engagement and economic benefits, especially for rural areas. I am committed to maintaining public lands in public hands, advocating for sustainable funding and responsible management to support Idaho’s economic vitality through outdoor recreation. I support opening Idaho’s primary system to ensure fair and transparent electoral processes, thereby safeguarding our natural resources through informed voting. Furthermore, I endorse science-driven wildlife conservation efforts and will champion policies to combat the adverse effects of climate change on Idaho’s communities, agriculture, and natural resources, prioritizing health and sustainability.

Furthermore, I support Idaho’s energy providers and their fair applications of prices.

I would support new and updated building codes that align with Idaho’s energy-efficient goals to better meet the energy needs of our communities.

I would also support incentivizing Idaho’s food producers to adopt sustainable practices that reduce carbon emissions, conserve water, and protect our scenic landscapes.