Education

Public education is a public good. As a public school teacher, I have witnessed the amazing outcomes and growth that can occur when children are safe and barriers to a quality education have been removed. Universally accessible, high-quality public education is one of the greatest investments we can make in the lives of all Kentuckians. 

Public schools should be well-funded, guided by best practices, and led by a sufficient number of highly-educated professionals.  Instead, perennial budget cuts and privatization of educational institutions have resulted in our public education institutions being understaffed and ill-equipped to adequately serve learners and communities. This austerity has led to more harmful policies: an over-emphasis on high-stakes testing, extreme punishment practices and police in schools, and a staffing shortage crisis that may soon become catastrophic.

I will fight for strong and complete education for all Kentuckians.

As a State Representative I will fight for:

• An increase in K-12 funding to at least pre-recession levels.

• Comprehensive public funding for universal, high quality, developmentally appropriate pre-k.

• Teachers as workers statewide, ensuring that they have fair wages and safe, just working conditions.

• Teachers as professionals, including ensuring that they have access to high-quality, paid professional development opportunities and are defended from assaults on antiracist curricula and censorship.

• An increase in funding for higher education to at least pre-recession levels.

• Legislation that stops private charter schools.

• Real action on the substitute teacher crisis. 

• Fully and better staffed schools, providing holistic support of learners: counselors, wraparound staff, teaching support staff, and sufficient staff for operations such as custodial, meal, and transportation workers. No police in schools.

• A de-emphasis of standardized assessments and removal of the high stakes tied to assessments.

• Strong support of Kentucky’s English Language Learners, including more Newcomer Academies.