Public education is the backbone of strong communities, a resilient economy, and a healthy democracy.  I was raised by a school teacher, and from an early age I saw firsthand the dedication it takes to support students, families, and classrooms.  As a parent and active PTO volunteer, I believe deeply in supporting teachers, families and students through strong partnerships and smart investments.  That’s why I’m a proud advocate for our local teachers’ union and parent groups and the important work that they do.  When we invest in great schools, we invest in opportunity, workforce readiness, and the future of our state.  Respecting educators and trusting communities is the foundation of building real pathways for student success.

Funding Schools for the Real Cost of Education

Minnesota’s school funding formula is out of sync with the real cost of educating students.  This reality forces districts to stretch dollars thinner every year while standards continue to rise.  When funding doesn’t keep pace with the real costs of educating students, schools are pushed into painful tradeoffs.  That means larger class sizes, fewer support staff, outdated materials, and the stripping away of enrichment and community building experiences that accompany the education journey.  At the same time, the long-standing special education cross-subsidy diverts general education dollars away from classrooms to cover services the state has already promised to fund.  We need to fundamentally overhaul the calculation used to fund our schools.  It is unacceptable to continue to push local school districts to slash and burn their budgets when it’s the funding calculation that is broken.  Investing in classrooms is how we retain great educators and improve outcomes.

Meeting Students Where They Are

Students are more than test scores.  They have a range of social, emotional, and developmental needs that matter just as much as academics.  Often, adequately addressing these issues is the key to helping them unlock their full potential.  While schools are filled with dedicated teachers, too many are spread thin without enough counselors, social workers, or support professionals to help kids navigate stress, trauma, and everyday challenges.  A top-tier education system means scaling up these whole-child supports so every student has the opportunity to thrive.  We need to fund more counselors and social workers, expand after-school and summer learning opportunities that keep kids engaged and supported year round, and streamline how schools bill for in-school services so students can get help quickly without administrative obstacles.  When we invest in the full needs of students, we create learning environments where kids feel safe, supported, and ready to thrive.

Safe Schools Require Real Solutions

That sense of safety is foundational to offering a successful school experience.  It is beyond unacceptable that schools have become the places where students and staff practice how NOT to get shot.  Teachers and administrators should be educators and caregivers, not security forces leading active-shooter drills and managing trauma, fear, and grief.  Minnesota’s failure to pass logical, evidence based gun safety laws leaves students, educators, and families feeling vulnerable and alone.  I believe we must do better.  Common-sense safety measures are not about taking rights away from responsible gun owners.  Universal background checks, safe-storage requirements, and strong red flag laws are proven ways that we can stop weapons from getting into the hands of those who pose a clear danger to themselves or others.  Our children deserve learning environments where the loudest noise is a bell…not gunfire.  Minnesotans want policies that meaningfully reduce risks, instead of making educators carry yet another burden none of them signed up for.

Real Pathways from School to Career

Education should open the doors to Good Jobs.  That’s why we need to grow career and technical education (CTE), strengthen apprenticeships, and expand employer-aligned dual credit programs so students graduate with real skills and clear pathways into local, high-demand careers.  Programs like the ISD 191 Pathways initiative, right here in our district, show how this can work.  We can invest in connecting learners with industry partners and give students hands-on experience before they leave the classroom.  Whether a student wants to pursue a career in healthcare, advanced manufacturing, IT, or skilled trades, Minnesota should give them the education and credentials that lead to living-wage work right here in our communities.  By integrating CTE with apprenticeships and dual credit opportunities, we honor different learning styles, reduce the cost of college, and ensure employers have the skilled workers they need.  This isn’t just education policy, this is community and economic development.

Great Schools Build Strong Communities

At the end of the day, great schools are about more than test scores or graduation rates.  When we adequately fund classrooms, support the whole child, take real action to keep students safe, and create clear pathways to good, local jobs, we honor the promise of public education.  Minnesota should always be a leader with common sense, compassion, and courage when it comes to education.  The research is absolutely clear, this is the way to build stronger communities, a more resilient economy, and a strong future for everyone.