I believe in an equal and equitable distribution of resources for every student. I played an integral role in developing the FCPS “Portrait of a Graduate” (POG). I was one of two School Board members who worked together with 50 community leaders for 6 months– tasked with developing a series of “skill sets” necessary for student success in our diverse and interconnected world—skills our students would acquire and secure by graduation. Our full Board enhanced the community’s work and from that developed our Strategic Plan. With Student Success being “Goal 1”, we have outlined specific strategies to eliminate and close achievement and opportunity gaps. While these gaps persist nationwide, I am committed to programming initiatives that will aggressively close these gaps.

I brought forward to our Board and staff the need to review and modify our High School ESOL curriculum. In talking to teachers and counselors at John R. Lewis HS, I was made aware of the struggles of our students with interrupted formal education. Through my own continuing education opportunities with the National School Boards Association, I was able to bring to my colleagues, via our forum process, ideas for potential curriculum changes. The Board approved this initiative, and I along with staff visited other school systems. Staff spent several months developing a crosswalk of our current practices and potential improvements. Our Board passed the adoption of a pilot program at John R. Lewis and Justice High Schools. This eventually led to the expansion of this revised newcomer curriculum in all FCPS high schools. This improved curriculum saw more students receiving verified credits leading to greater hope for achieving a diploma.

In addition, years of collaboration between our Board, county and state partners have fostered exceptional initiatives to help eliminate gaps:

• As our Board’s State Legislative Liaison, I lobbied state leaders to help them better understand why state testing must measure not just student achievement but student growth — leading to SOL changes in 2017 that reward progress and growth;
• Our Board instituted “FCPS On”, providing all our high school students with laptop computers for use at school and home beginning in SY2019-20, with plans for all students in grades 3-12 to have 1:1 access by SY2023;
• A joint school / county Early Childhood Readiness Strategic Plan has been developed laying out a road map to help our youngest children enter kindergarten ready for academic success;
• Funds have been allocated to provide Advanced Academic Resource Teachers in all Title 1 schools to help identify students ready for advanced learning in typically underserved populations;

I pledge to continue to invest in our special education students, children with disabilities and all of those from underserved populations. It should always be the goal of public schools to remove barriers and obstacles to learning to ensure student success for all.