AACPS must continue to engage in recruiting and retention efforts by evaluating wage competitiveness with surrounding counties and adjust accordingly to ensure our teachers, among our most dedicated public servants, are making well beyond a liveable wage. AACPS teachers and staff deserve to be able to live in the county they work in, and students deserve to have high quality educators.

Students and educators deserve to always feel safe, comfortable, and valued. This is a non-negotiable priority, and safety-related investments will always be some of the most important choices the Board can make for the overall well-being of the school system. No person can thrive in an environment where they do not feel safe, nor should they be expected to.

With planning for Blueprint funding underway, accountability and oversight must be at the forefront of our minds. AACPS has an opportunity to make systemic change a real possibility, but only if plans are strategically implemented to increase equity, education quality, and community involvement across the district.

Embracing District 4's large military community means inviting the surrounding community to be active stakeholders in the well being and success of AACPS students, teachers, and families. Schools should be encouraged to work with local external groups to identify challenges and come to solutions together. When communities support incoming transient students and families, transition becomes that much easier.

While many students succeed after high school in one of Maryland's esteemed four-year universities, others can attend a trade school, partake in an apprenticeship, serve in the military, or begin their studies in one of the state's top-notch community colleges, among a multitude of other options. However, they can only take advantage of these paths if they're adequately prepared and informed. While serving on the Board, one of my priorities will be to advocate for our promising Career and Technology Education (CTE) programs, as well as any academic preparation that allows our students to be competitive amongst their peers on a statewide, national, and global scale.

AACPS students deserve a well-planned, quality course selection that adequately prepares them to thrive in their postsecondary educational or professional careers. These courses should be academically challenging and should also encourage the following suggested guidelines:

• Emphasizes the value of diversity and the power of finding commonalities in the human experience.

• Encourages the development of critical thinking skills.

• Develops the skills necessary for engaging in civil discourse.

• Presents historically accurate information.

My priority is to foster an environment where teachers and faculty are encouraged to engage in discussions and research on best practices and methodologies- this is how we elevate our school system and create a quality education for our students.