Although you might know me from my involvement with the baseball team and Greenwood athletics, do you really know who I am and what I stand for? This involvement over the past several years has inspired me to want to do more—beyond athletics—to include what’s best for all Greenwood students, staff, teachers, administrators, and even the parents… all of these people make up who we are in Greenwood.
Throughout my life, I have had a deep conviction to serve and be a part of impacting the next generation. I want to serve on the Greenwood School Board to help be a catalyst in the vision, growth, and development of the Greenwood School District. My children are all elementary-aged and I feel it is time for me to be able to step in and serve my family and our community in this capacity. I will stand on the shoulders of those who have served before me that have created an outstanding foundation to build upon.
Regarding the attributes that I can contribute to the community of Greenwood and the School Board that represents it are: proven leadership, loyalty to the community, service, un-matched work ethic, and a voice for teachers, staff and families. Throughout my 21-years of military experience as both an officer and enlisted Airman, I have had the privilege of serving alongside hundreds of the Nation’s best Service men and women. Many of those individuals reside in the Greenwood School District, and through that I have managed millions of dollars in assets and fiscal budgets. That experience enables me to understand how to lead in a fast-paced and ever-changing environment which mirrors the realm of education in terms of personnel, pace, and change. I am a self-starter who is able to cast vision and manage the details. I am blessed to have young children who are currently coming up through Greenwood School District, so I am vested in the future and will be around to see projects through to completion. By being a young parent who is heavily involved in the community, I have a unique perspective on the interests of the next generation of students, parents, and leaders within the Greenwood community and I look forward to demonstrating that for years to come.
If elected, I will truly be humbled and honored. Accountability, transparency, honesty, and continuous process improvement will be the keys to success as a board member. First, I will listen to the needs of those who elected me to this position by developing a clear line of communication so that they know and understand that I truly am available to them so that when needs arise, I will be there to answer. Secondly, I will focus on what’s best for all students as a whole in the district, not just those in a select group. It is crucial that the school district remains balanced in its focus on the future in academics, athletics, and the arts. It is widely known that Greenwood is an athletic town and our student-athletes are challenged on the playing field day in and day out, and we are extremely proud of that. However, we have to continue to build upon that excellence in the classroom and in the arts as well. We want to ensure that we develop well-rounded students who are having rich and engaging experiences across multiple educational disciplines. This type of preparation will ensure they have diverse experiences they need to have the foundation required to launch into the world our students currently face.
The path to success for our children is a “full-spectrum” approach. Parents, Teachers, Coaches, Administrators, and School Board members must be on the same page, which includes the students to ensure we are providing elements necessary for their success in the classroom, on the field or wherever life leads them. To ensure we provide a world-class education for our students and parents, I will ask the hard questions when needed, make sure that we are fiscally responsible in how our community’s money is dispersed, drive our school toward reaching key milestones in the realization of our District Strategic Plan, ensure that our teachers, staff, and administrators are supported and appropriately funded, and help be an asset to the future growth of our community. One of the most important aspects of hiring high-quality and new talent to local businesses is the quality of the school system in the community, and I will ensure that it is the best and a place to be proud of. We are all a part of what makes Greenwood such an incredible place to live. Let me be the spark and the voice that creates new change and growth within our schools.
