2025 Focal Issues

I've been deeply involved in Chicopee Public Schools' Strategic Planning work, serving on both the larger committee and the work group. I'm committed to shaping our collective future, not focusing on our past.

As we form our shared vision for the future, Chicopee needs stable, proven leadership that understands that for most of history, people have struggled with limited access to information to define and solve problems; today, we struggle with having too much information and misinformation. Public education needs to prepare young people with information literacy skills to be creative, critical thinkers with social intelligence so they can navigate the complex, dynamic landscapes of our contemporary world.

Realistically, we are facing uncertain times ahead. We don't know what policies and funding are coming from the state and federal levels in the next few years. I will strive for the aspirational goals listed below, while balancing the needs of students and teachers with my fiscal responsibility to taxpayers. Beyond the interests of any individual, I will follow an ethical path to promote our community's vision for what our schools should be.

Get to 10

Rewrite

Rebuild

Fully Staffed

Massachusetts provides over 70% of our budget. School districts must cover the remaining minimum required funding. Many districts spend more than that minimum. Chicopee has not gone 10% over the minimum.

Some of our district policies are over a decade old. I plan to join the policy subcommittee to help align our district with our community values and best practices. Transparent policies support the changes coming to Chicopee Schools.

Our schools are old and we need to fix them to ensure safety, improve learning opportunities, and attract great teachers. We have a great facilities team but they need support.

It may be ambitious, but we need to fill our staffing vacancies. We want licensed teachers in the classrooms, pathways for paraeducators to become licensed, and special education services in our schools.