Since being elected to the ACSD1 Board of Trustees in 2022, I have had the privilege of serving our community as a Trustee.

My Board service has included:

• Serving as Vice Chair since 2023. I have experience helping facilitate Board discussions, supporting effective governance, and keeping students at the center of decision-making.

• Serving on all three of the Board's standing committees: Finance, Teaching & Learning, and Policy & Governance. I have developed a broad understanding of district operations, budgeting, student learning, policy development, and Board governance.

• Developing the Youth Voice Committee and serving on the Meet & Confer Committee to elevate student, educator, and staff voices in district decision-making. I believe students, educators, and staff should have a meaningful voice in decisions that affect their schools and educational experiences.

• Serving on the Wyoming State Teacher Recruitment and Retention Task Force, working alongside state and local leaders to develop recommendations to address educator workforce challenges and strengthen teacher recruitment and retention efforts across Wyoming. I believe investing in educators is one of the most important investments we can make in student success.

• Working alongside fellow trustees, district staff, families, students, and community members on important district initiatives. I am committed to approaching complex issues with civility, collaboration, and a focus on what is best for students.

I have 20+ years of professional experience researching education policies and best practices and supporting education programs.

My professional experience includes:

• Serving as Deputy Director of the National Comprehensive Center, where I support states, districts, and national initiatives focused on improving educational outcomes, including work related to educator workforce challenges and rural education. I am familiar with national trends, innovative practices, and emerging challenges in K-12 education, while understanding that successful solutions must be adapted to meet the unique needs and context of each local community. Learn more about my work supporting education leaders across the country and why I believe local context and community values matter.

• Directing a national data collection and data analysis of teacher preparation program characteristics and trends. I am deeply familiar with trends, innovative practices, and nuances of teacher preparation and recruitment issues.

• Conducting site visits and providing implementation support for several grant programs related to the teacher workforce. I have expertise in teacher evaluation and compensation systems, and promising practices related to teacher retention and support.

• Leading a workgroup of experts and state leaders to address issues related to strengthening the educator workforce. I have expertise in supporting states and districts address educator workforce issues.

• Working with districts, colleges, and non-profit organizations seeking to increase college readiness, access, and success through innovative partnerships and programs. I understand the barriers to college access and readiness, particularly for first-generation college-goers, English Learners, and marginalized communities.

• Interviewing principals and conducting teacher focus groups to gather feedback on various education programs; and, facilitating roundtables with alternative teacher preparation providers. I am a skilled facilitator and I know what questions to ask to understand challenges and promising practices.

• Conducting classroom observations as a CLASS-certified observer.

In addition to my professional experience, my expertise and perspectives are informed by many years of volunteer and leadership work, including:

• Serving as Chairperson and/or Board Member of several community-based and statewide boards and committees, including the Be the Change Scholarship Committee. I am skilled in working together with diverse personalities and perspectives.

• Volunteering in school, summer school, and afterschool settings, which has included working directly with migrant communities and students, homeless students, children in the foster care system, and English Learners. I am familiar with the ways in which students’ backgrounds and home lives affect not only their academic success, but their social and emotional well-being.

• Volunteering as a youth mentor for high school girls; coaching for the She’s a Runner Girl program; and co-founding and coaching the Laramie Valley Jackalopes track and cross country programs. I am dedicated to increasing positive enrichment opportunities for students in our community.

I am proud to have earned the following degrees:

• B.A. in Sociology, Winthrop University, 2006 (Summa Cum Laude)

• M.A. in Political Science, University of Wyoming, 2010 (4.0 GPA, Outstanding Master’s Student)