Dana for Board of Education, District 5

The Issues At Hand

Our Children

My quest to serve on the Board of Education began because I want to advocate for all AACPS students. I am not a career politician using this position as a stepping stone, but an at-home AACPS parent who believes that all AACPS students deserve the highest quality education possible and equal access to technology, resources, and programs so that EVERY child can follow the path of their choosing upon graduation.

If successful I will fight to:

• Ensure that every school is properly maintained so that our children aren’t exposed to leaded water, mold, and crumbling buildings,

• Solve the chronic bullying and racism in our schools by developing policies that resolve the chronic bullying and racism in our schools including a zero-tolerance policy for use of hate speech and symbols of hate, as well as required K-12 curriculum utilizing culturally responsive learning pedagogy and focuses on multicultural and social justice education, compassion, celebrating diversity, practicing empathy, and allows for open and safe discussion of issues surrounding culture, race and racism,

• Improve student mental health via increasing recess, shortening bus commute times, hire enough school counselors and psychologists to meet ASCA and NASP recommendations at every school, and align school start times in accordance with American Academy of Pediatrics recommendations, and

• Expand support and services for our special needs students with disabilities and at-risk youth.

Our Teachers

Teachers are the heart and soul of our schools. Our children's success depends on our ability to recruit and retain amazing teachers. If our teachers are top notch our children will be, too.

If successful I will fight to:

• Align teacher, secretary, and staff pay and working conditions with surrounding counties,

• Restore lost steps for all teachers,

• Reduce class room size by recruiting classroom and special education teachers to keep up with our growing student body,

• Bolster recruitment efforts through partnerships with universities and local employers to attract top notch teachers,

• Increase mental health staff including school counselors and psychologists to meet ASCA and NASP recommendations, and

• Establish a zero-tolerance policy for students, teachers, and staff regarding hate speech, bullying, sexism, and racism including the development of professional development for all teachers and staff around these and related topics as well as consistent enforcement of consequences for students, teachers, and staff who violate the policy.

School Funding

I believe in full PUBLIC school funding and equality in funding formulas across all schools. Our children and schools have been short-changed far too long. This must stop! Our state and county officials must put our children’s education as well as their health and safety while at school first!

• Refocus budgets to accurately reflect school needs at the school level,

• Rework state and local education funding formulas so that our schools remain successful and our communities continue to thrive, and

• Provide needed fiscal oversight and end the Board’s lack of transparency and accountability.

Volunteer

Want to help me make lasting postive changes within AACPS? From canvassing to making calls, there are lots of ways to get involved. Drop me a line and let's get this party started!