More Opportunities for a Better Future
Public schools are one of America’s best ideas. But here in West Virginia, our schools have been asked to do more with less while politicians spend too much time fighting culture wars and too little time focusing on what our kids actually need.
Our children deserve better.
Public Education
Making Education a Priority
Photo: West Virginia Department of Education, “Third Grade Success Act.”
As your representative, I will make public education a priority again. I will work to:
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Invest in our public schools and make sure they have the resources they need.
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Recruit and retain great teachers by making West Virginia competitive on teacher pay.
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Expand opportunities beyond the classroom so every child can participate in sports, music, theater, arts, and other activities.
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Strengthen early education and make sure students get the support they need to succeed.
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Keep political and religious culture wars out of the classroom and put students first.
Public Schools First
Public education is not a radical idea. It's an American tradition.
From the beginning of our nation, communities understood that public schools benefit everyone. They educate our children, strengthen our communities, and prepare the next generation to participate in our economy and our democracy.
Public money should prioritize public schools.
West Virginia's Kids Come First
Photo: West Virginia Department of Education, “WV Among Top States for Learning Recovery, Harvard-Stanford Study finds."
West Virginia's children deserve schools that are well-funded, teachers who are valued, and opportunities that aren't determined by their family's income.
Photo: West Virginia Department of Education, “Educational Resources for Students.”
That's the Kind of Public Education I'll Fight For.
Great Schools Need Great Teachers
Teachers across the country are underpaid, and West Virginia continues to lag behind. We need to change that if we want to attract and keep the best educators in our classrooms. This issue is personal for me: my mother was a career school psychologist, and my brother was a high school teacher. I have seen firsthand the dedication, sacrifices, and challenges that come with working in our schools. It is time for West Virginia to stop lagging behind on teacher pay and start leading.
Our teachers deserve it. Our kids deserve it.
Extracurriculars for Every Kid
School should be about more than what happens during the school day. Every child should have the chance to play a sport, learn an instrument, perform in a school play, join a club, or discover something they love. These opportunities teach teamwork, confidence, responsibility, and perseverance—and they give kids a sense of belonging. But too often, access depends on a family's ability to pay.
When I was in college, I tutored students in an after-school program in the largest housing project in Harlem. I saw firsthand what can happen when a young person is given a purpose, a community, and someone who believes in them. Every child deserves that opportunity—not just the kids whose families can afford it.
Let's open doors for kids, not close them.
Strong Foundations
Every student deserves a strong foundation, and that starts in the earliest years of education. We need clear, meaningful standards and early interventions that help children develop the skills they need before they fall behind. Teachers should have a central voice in developing those standards. Education policy should be informed by educators—not handed down as political edicts from the legislature.
A child can't succeed in algebra without mastering the basics. And a child can't fully appreciate a great American novel if they haven't been given the tools to read it.
Student success starts now.
Keep Politics Out of Classrooms
Our public schools belong to every child and every family. The First Amendment protects every American's right to worship—or not worship—how they choose. But it also makes clear that government should not impose religion on anyone. Our schools should teach students how to think, not what to believe. Curriculum should be guided by evidence, reason, and sound educational practice—not by religious mandates or political issues. And every child deserves to feel safe, respected, and welcome at school, regardless of their background.
Our classrooms should be places where kids learn, grow, and prepare for their future—not battlegrounds for politicians.
The classroom is for every kid.
"Our Kids Deserve the Best."