School Choice
Educational opportunities should be for everyone. Neighborhood, charter, private, and home schools are all valid ways to educate children. Colorado should respect the rights of parents to make the choice that’s best for their own children, and our state constitution should uphold the right to school choice that our laws already recognize. School choice creates more innovation and better outcomes for more children, and that’s why I’ll always support additional quality options and be a friend of charter schools.

Accountability & Academic Standards
Teachers, superintendents, and school board members should be held accountable for academic performance in their classrooms, schools, and districts. But, at the State Board of Education, it goes higher. The Board should push on the legislature and the State Department of Education to stop stunting academic performance by trying to force woke standards on schools instead of empowering teachers to impart real knowledge and basic educational skills to children. The Board should also communicate directly with parents and engage them in the process of setting standards.

School Safety
Instead of reacting to tragedy every time there’s a school shooting, we should take necessary preventative measures. The data shows one of the best things any school can do is bring in well-trained school resource officers (SROs) who not only guard our children but also build relationships with them. Our children are safest when they are protected by adults they trust. I will advocate for more SROs in school districts across Colorado and for the state to do its part in funding them.

Parents’ Rights
Parents should have easy access to all curriculum, surveys, speaker lists, books, websites and any other content their children will be exposed to in school. Hiding information from parents usually means something is wrong. Empowered parents help their children succeed in life, and involved parents tend to increase their children’s academic performance. All education officials — including those on the State Board — should welcome parents, provide transparency, and encourage them to make their voices heard.

Showing Up
Your State Board of Education member should be present to hear your concerns. When I was State Republican Chairwoman, I made a promise to visit all 64 counties, and I kept that promise. CD4 knows that I consistently showed up to hear from citizens. That’s a track record I’ll continue on the Board of Education. I’ll be willing to come to your schools and hear how I can best be a voice for your teachers, principals, school board members, parents, and kids — because you can’t represent people you don’t talk to.