I’m a mom, classroom volunteer, and education activist who was elected to Seat B on the Anchorage School Board in April 2021 and re-elected in April 2022. I currently serve as Board Treasurer, chair of the Finance Committee, and a member of the Communications Committee. I’m also a member of UA’s Early Childhood Advisory Board.
My husband and I have lived in Anchorage for over eight years, and we love it here! Before moving to Alaska, I earned a BA from Stanford and a PhD from the University of Michigan. Although I planned for a career teaching American history, I chose to focus on our young family. We have two children enrolled at our neighborhood elementary school—right where my school board story started.
For years, my daughter came home from school saying “Mom, I didn’t have time to eat!”
Parents across Anchorage knew that short lunch and recess times were a problem, especially for the last kid in the hot lunch line, but they didn’t know what to do about it. Three years ago, I decided to take action. Having volunteered on the PTA and in classrooms, I knew how important it would be to connect with parents and teachers across the district. I helped form a group called ASD60 and we testified at school board meetings. Our research on best practices, combined with grassroots support from Chugiak to Girdwood and backing from groups like the Anchorage NAACP and the Alaska Reading Coalition, prompted ASD to create a Wellness Pilot for elementary students. Because of our collaborative, evidence-based work, more than 8,000 children across Anchorage received more time for recess and lunch in the 2019-2020 year!
NEA-Alaska named the group I co-founded as their 2020 “Champions of Children” and the State of Alaska also recognized our work as a “School Health Success Story.” Two recently published, peer-reviewed studies of ASD’s Wellness Pilot showed that participating students were happier, less hungry, and had fewer disciplinary needs, and that school wellness initiatives in which teachers play a large role (and are supported by the administration) can support both teachers and students. In short, focusing on student wellness primes kids to learn.
I ran for School Board in the April ‘21 election eager to build on that work and having Zoomed through nearly a year of online school with my kids. I wanted to improve educational outcomes in Anchorage by taking strong stances in support of student wellness, equity and learning.
I’ve been working hard since being elected to keep those promises. I continue to believe that when we do our research, talk to our teachers and parents, and roll up our sleeves and get to work, we can make things better.