Issue Position: Education

Issue Position

My two children, Katelyn and Christopher, have received an excellent education in the Marquette Public Schools. However, now there appears to be a movement among many conservative politicians to degrade the value of our educators, which is endangering the future of our children.

I have spoken with teachers from across the district about the growing challenges they must face. One obstacle is the lack of supply budgets for their classrooms. Many teachers have been using their own money for this, but now their personal wages are being reduced, so they can't afford to buy even modest supplies. More worrisome is not knowing if they will even have a job at the end of the school year.

In addition, teachers are struggling to give each student the time they deserve in classes of 30+. The Michigan Education Association said it best "politicians are balancing the state budget on the backs of our kids." Just recently the Michigan Legislature agreed to more than a billion dollars in cuts to k-12 schools, universities and community colleges.

While serving as the President of the Marquette Area Public Schools Board of Education I saw every day the obstacles our teachers face, and the direct impact on our students ‒ especially if they required special instruction. We cannot continue to allow the degradation of our educational system. Furthermore, we must encourage students who desire careers in skilled trades and aid them as they explore their future.

While serving as the Director of the Upper Peninsula Construction Council I worked to expose high school students to hands‒on trade activities, like the U.P. Construction Skills Challenge, and the Industrial Trades Career Day, both of which I established in 2006.

If you elect me, I will take my experience and convictions to the forefront of this battle. I am committed to stopping the war on school employees and restoring Michigan's educational system, so the best of our young people will want to become teachers once again.

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