Personal information/Educational background: I moved to Freeland in 2005 with my husband, Kip, we have 3 daughters, Emma, Mollie & Charlotte, who all attend Freeland Schools.
I grew up in a small community in Metro Detroit and was drawn to the small-town community and support I saw in Freeland. This and the excellent rating of our schools is why we decided to start our family here. I attended Saginaw Valley State University and majored in Secondary Education/Biology, Minoring in Mathematics. My career path, however, led me in a different direction. Kip and I own Blue Thumb, a manufacturer in the landscape industry. I enjoy my role as Vice President where my focus is on Human Resources, Accounting, special projects, processes & efficiencies.
What is the reason you are running for a seat on the Freeland Board of Education?
I feel that I have a lot to offer our community by being on the school board. I care about the decisions that are made by the school board and as our community grows I would like to be a part of the process that continues the success of our school district. I enjoy leading and learning from my peers and I have a passion for helping our community, students, and staff.
My girls are getting older and I have excellent support from my team at work, so I feel that I can dedicate the time needed to the school board and still maintain a healthy balance between home, work, and the board.
What experiences and qualifications do you possess that will make you a successful member of the Freeland Board of Education?
Through my professional experience, I have developed very practical decision-making skills and I am a natural problem solver. I am able to think independently, as well as, collaboratively to come up with the best solutions to issues. I feel my leadership skills as VP at Blue Thumb have provided me with a very well rounded background that would serve me well if I were to be elected to serve on our school board. Ultimately, I want the best possible environment for our students, staff, and community and to see the continued success of our school district.
What do you believe is a critical issue facing education in Freeland, or education in general, and how would you like to see the issue addressed?
Our district is growing and due to that we are experiencing growing pains in several areas, this includes a shortage of classroom space and staffing. I would like to see an additional counselor hired to support our students in the High School. Due to the pandemic that our country is facing right now, there are many decisions that are being made at a rapid and fluid pace and I see that having additional counseling staff for our students will be of the utmost importance.
This pandemic has also brought about unexpected expenses for our district in order to support our students and staff in both in-person and virtual learning. Budgets will have to be monitored in order to make sure that our district is supported financially.