As a school dropout, I re- evaluated my beliefs and earned a GED. Then, I completed college and began a teaching career. Having taught for more than a decade in the classroom, I became an advocate for students, parents and educators.
I have advocated for early behavior and mental health interventions as many student academic and behavior concerns can be addressed before a student enters middle or high school. I have strongly advocated for more teacher professional development and classroom creativity for student improvement. I have spoken before local boards of education to urge the adoption of policies that would increase teaching time by decreasing student testing. I have also urged Boards of Education to adopt polices and procedures that would eliminate the school to prison pipeline. Discipline processes should be delivered through unbiased procedures for all students. I became an advocate for more transparency through multi-disciplinary-collaborative partnerships.
Educators’ pay should be addressed through equitable provisions across the state. Our children deserve a quality education delivered by quality educators who are treated as professionals in every school district. Further, as GAE president, I became the voice for educators who wanted to positively influence the education process at the national and state levels. As an advocate for students, educators and parents , I will continue to demonstrate my beliefs that Georgia schools can provide the exceptional workforce Georgia needs for the future.
Experience
- Named by the Atlanta Business Chronicle as one of the top 100 leaders in education, 2018
- President of Georgia Association of Educators, 2014-2018
- Vice President of Georgia Association of Educators, 2010-2014
- President of Clayton County Education Association, 2002-2014
- Certified Classroom Teacher in High School Social Studies
- Morrow High, 1996-2003
- Griffin Tech, 1990-1996
- Griffin High School, 1988-1990
- B.S., Emmanuel College
- M.Ed., Mercer University
- Ed.D., Walden University
Issues
- Fully fund public education
- Equity for students: includes additional funding for student support services
- School Safety: K-12 funding
- Disproportional discipline practices (School to Prison Pipeline)
- Decrease of high stakes testing
- Incentives to recruit and retain quality educators
- Protect current retirement systems for educators
- Keep public taxes in public schools
- Support Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics S.T.E.A.M. education
- Support vocational and technical education