I am running for school committee member of RSU 12 (Sheepscot Valley Regional School Unit). The knowledge and skills that I have will be valuable in this position.

I graduated with a B.S. in Early Childhood Education and later earned my master’s degree in Education in Arts and Learning. I first worked in private preschools for several years and then public school as both a third and fourth grade teaching assistant and integrated preschool teacher in Massachusetts. I continued my education by earning my certification in Moderate Special Needs for Pre-K-eighth grade. 

With that certification, I worked for four years as a special needs preschool teacher and reading facilitator. Moving across the country, I continued my career as lead preschool teacher in a daycare for the employees of a hospital in Wyoming. After six years I returned to Massachusetts and worked as a teacher of children with special needs in kindergarten and grades three and four. For several years I also volunteered as one of the building representatives of my school for my union, and I participated on the negotiating team during contract negotiations.

I have a great deal of experience working with other professionals, including teams of physical and occupational therapists, counselors, applied behavior analysts, classroom teachers, parents, and other team members writing IEPs to create and meet goals, collaborating and cooperating to achieve positive results for the students in our care. I developed supportive relationships with the parents, empathetic to their desire for their children to thrive and grow in the school setting. I believe that I can use this knowledge and these skills to great advantage on the School Board of RSU 12.

Over the past two years, I have volunteered with the Alna Food Pantry, the Roads Committee, and the Climate Resilience Committee as I pursued my goal of becoming more involved in my community. I bring a practical and supportive mindset, based on all my experience with school staff, teachers, administration, parents, and children, to the unique challenges of being a member of the RSU 12 board.