La House of Representative Candidates (Districts 1 - 25)

Q1: As you campaign throughout your district, what do you consistently hear about public education and how will you address it as a legislator?

Response: I am concerned about our children's early prekindergarten and preschool education, so that our students are equipped to begin school with a strong foundation-- prepared to progress on their academic journey.  I will collaborate with other legislators who understand the value in this approach, and educate those who do not, so that funding can be secured to implement these seminal early intervention educational programs. 

Q2: Over the last decade, the most common topics of debate and legislative action related to education can be placed in six general categories. Rank the categories from 1-6, with 1 representing your top priority.

Response:

1. Expanding Early Childhood
2. Teachers
3. Funding K-12
4. Academic Outcomes and College and Career Readiness
5. Expanding Education Choice
6. Social and Cultural Issues

If we hire and can retain the best teachers, based on legislators supporting competitive teacher salaries, other educational categories and issues that are listed will improve because of a strong pedagogical leadership.  

Q3: We believe that educators are closest to the child when it comes to learning, therefore making them the authorities on the needs within their classrooms and schools. Will you support giving teachers the flexibility and freedom from mandated courses and bureaucracy that is not focused on the core subjects of reading, writing, and math?

Response: Yes. Both of my parents were public school educators.  I earned my teaching certificate in 1981, a time when mandated bureaucratic restraints were placed on teachers. I decided not to become a teacher after my student teaching because of the constraining red-tape and lack of flexibility in teaching.  

Q4: What do you believe is the role of the legislature as it relates to public education in our state?

Response: The legislature's primary role is to equitably fund Louisiana's public educational system. 

Q5: How would you rate your knowledge and understanding of charter schools?

Response:  Somewhat Knowledgeable

Q6: On a scale of 0-5, where would you place yourself on your support for charter schools, with "0" being opposed to charter schools and "5" being a charter school champion? 

Response:  My support of charter schools is a "5," because one educational approach and theory does not fit all students. Time is proving that charter schools often outperform nearby district schools. You can't argue with success! 

Q7: How would you rate the job being done by schools in your district?

Response: Fair

Q8: How would you rate the job being done by schools throughout the state?

Response: Fair

Q1: As you campaign throughout your district, what do you consistently hear about public education and how will you address it as a legislator?

Response:  What I have heard and what I believe is that our school system needs to invest more in early child development and our high schoolers.  I hear namely that high school students should be given more opportunities to pursue trade schools or other career paths, rather than being pushed into going to four-year colleges.  I support giving schools the ability to tailor curriculums to individual students to help each student find what career they will prosper most in.

Q2: Over the last decade, the most common topics of debate and legislative action related to education can be placed in six general categories. Rank the categories from 1-6, with 1 representing your top priority.

Response: 

1. Funding K-12
2. Expanding Early Childhood
3. Teachers
4. Academic Outcomes and College and Career Readiness
5. Expanding Education Choice
6. Social and Cultural Issues

Q3: We believe that educators are closest to the child when it comes to learning, therefore making them the authorities on the needs within their classrooms and schools. Will you support giving teachers the flexibility and freedom from mandated courses and bureaucracy that is not focused on the core subjects of reading, writing, and math?

Response:  Absolutely.  Over-regulation and over-standardization has destroyed our school system because it turns our schools into one-size-fits-all.  An education only works when it focuses on the strengths of the individual student and sets that individual up for success in their own unique way.

Q4: What do you believe is the role of the legislature as it relates to public education in our state?

Response: The legislature's role is to provide students with the most choices and opportunities to pursue their dreams, and then to get out of the way and allow the education professionals to get the students where they need to go.

Q5: How would you rate your knowledge and understanding of charter schools?

Response:  Room to Learn

Q6: On a scale of 0-5, where would you place yourself on your support for charter schools, with "0" being opposed to charter schools and "5" being a charter school champion? 

Response:  I would say 3.  I myself am a product of public schools and fully support the public school system.  However, I also support parent agency in the school system, as well as I do not support the changes schools have seen in recent years pushing more towards standardized testing and college education and less towards trades and crafts skills.  I am neutral on charter schools but in a current world where public schools need a lot of work, charter schools provide parents with necessary alternatives to help their children prosper.

Q7: How would you rate the job being done by schools in your district?

Response: Fair

Q8: How would you rate the job being done by schools throughout the state?

Response: Fair

Q1: As you campaign throughout your district, what do you consistently hear about public education and how will you address it as a legislator?

Response: I consistently hear we have poor public education in Louisiana and that we cannot succeed as a state until that is fixed.  I will continue to fight for choice options that will allow each family to determine what type of educational opportunity is best for their child.

Q2: Over the last decade, the most common topics of debate and legislative action related to education can be placed in six general categories. Rank the categories from 1-6, with 1 representing your top priority.

Response: 

1. Academic Outcomes and College and Career Readiness
2. Expanding Education Choice
3. Expanding Early Childhood
4. Funding K-12
5. Teachers
6. Social and Cultural Issues

Q3: We believe that educators are closest to the child when it comes to learning, therefore making them the authorities on the needs within their classrooms and schools. Will you support giving teachers the flexibility and freedom from mandated courses and bureaucracy that is not focused on the core subjects of reading, writing, and math?

Response: Yes

Q4: What do you believe is the role of the legislature as it relates to public education in our state?

Response: The legislature needs to work with BESE and the Department of Education to craft policies that allow parents  to have more of a say in their child's educational opportunities while reducing red tape.

Q5: How would you rate your knowledge and understanding of charter schools?

Response: Somewhat Knowledgeable

Q6: On a scale of 0-5, where would you place yourself on your support for charter schools, with "0" being opposed to charter schools and "5" being a charter school champion? 

Response: 5

Q7: How would you rate the job being done by schools in your district?

Response: Fair

Q8: How would you rate the job being done by schools throughout the state?

Response: Fair

Q1: As you campaign throughout your district, what do you consistently hear about public education and how will you address it as a legislator?

Response: Parts of my District are having great successes and parts are not. They all see the need for parental involvement, returning to the basics of reading, writing and arithmetic and the need to stop the liberal agendas being pushed into our schools

Q2: Over the last decade, the most common topics of debate and legislative action related to education can be placed in six general categories. Rank the categories from 1-6, with 1 representing your top priority.

Response:

1. Social and Cultural Issues
2. Academic Outcomes and College and Career Readiness
3. Teachers
4. Expanding Education Choice
5. Expanding Early Childhood
6. Funding K-12

I feel several of those are top priorities but it only allows you to put 1 as top priority. 

Q3: We believe that educators are closest to the child when it comes to learning, therefore making them the authorities on the needs within their classrooms and schools. Will you support giving teachers the flexibility and freedom from mandated courses and bureaucracy that is not focused on the core subjects of reading, writing, and math?

Response: YES

Q4: What do you believe is the role of the legislature as it relates to public education in our state?

Response: Guide the state policy and working with the BESE Board to ensure we are serving every child fairly and appropriately

Q5: How would you rate your knowledge and understanding of charter schools?

Response: Room to Learn

Q6: On a scale of 0-5, where would you place yourself on your support for charter schools, with "0" being opposed to charter schools and "5" being a charter school champion? 

Response: 5

Q7: How would you rate the job being done by schools in your district?

Response: Good

Q8: How would you rate the job being done by schools throughout the state?

Response: Poor

Q1: As you campaign throughout your district, what do you consistently hear about public education and how will you address it as a legislator?

Response: Need for improvement.

Q2: Over the last decade, the most common topics of debate and legislative action related to education can be placed in six general categories. Rank the categories from 1-6, with 1 representing your top priority.

Response: 

1. Academic Outcomes and College and Career Readiness
2. Teachers
3. Expanding Education Choice
4. Funding K-12
5. Expanding Early Childhood
6. Social and Cultural Issues

Q3: We believe that educators are closest to the child when it comes to learning, therefore making them the authorities on the needs within their classrooms and schools. Will you support giving teachers the flexibility and freedom from mandated courses and bureaucracy that is not focused on the core subjects of reading, writing, and math?

Response:  Need guidelines to follow.

Q4: What do you believe is the role of the legislature as it relates to public education in our state?

Response: Support and Leadership.

Q5: How would you rate your knowledge and understanding of charter schools?

Response: Somewhat Knowledgeable

Q6: On a scale of 0-5, where would you place yourself on your support for charter schools, with "0" being opposed to charter schools and "5" being a charter school champion? 

Response: 5

Q7: How would you rate the job being done by schools in your district?

Response: Good

Q8: How would you rate the job being done by schools throughout the state?

Response: Fair

Q1: As you campaign throughout your district, what do you consistently hear about public education and how will you address it as a legislator?

Response: Many constituents are also concerned about election integrity and government overreach. I'll work on these issues too.

Q2: Over the last decade, the most common topics of debate and legislative action related to education can be placed in six general categories. Rank the categories from 1-6, with 1 representing your top priority.

Response:

1.  Expanding Education Choice
2. Academic Outcomes and College and Career Readiness
3. Teachers
4. Funding K-12
5. Expanding Early Childhood
6. Social and Cultural Issues

Q3: We believe that educators are closest to the child when it comes to learning, therefore making them the authorities on the needs within their classrooms and schools. Will you support giving teachers the flexibility and freedom from mandated courses and bureaucracy that is not focused on the core subjects of reading, writing, and math?

Response: Absolutely, I believe in empowering our educators. I'll work to reduce unnecessary mandates and let teachers prioritize critical subjects like reading, writing, and math.

Q4: What do you believe is the role of the legislature as it relates to public education in our state?

Response: The legislature's responsibility in public education is to enact laws that guarantee equal opportunities for all students, oversee education budgets, and promote educational initiatives that benefit our state's future.

Q5: How would you rate your knowledge and understanding of charter schools?

Response: Somewhat Knowledgeable

Q6: On a scale of 0-5, where would you place yourself on your support for charter schools, with "0" being opposed to charter schools and "5" being a charter school champion? 

Response: 5

Q7: How would you rate the job being done by schools in your district?

Response: Good

Q8: How would you rate the job being done by schools throughout the state?

Response: Fair

Q1: As you campaign throughout your district, what do you consistently hear about public education and how will you address it as a legislator?

Response: People are very frustrated with the state of our public education right now and we are losing community members left and right to neighboring states!  Parents want the freedom to chose where to send their children to school and as the mother of four children, I absolutely understand and agree with that sentiment.  As a legislator I will work from the start on access to early childhood education, getting back to teaching the basics and ensuring that our kids can read, write and have math skills, and show them the opportunities that exist at a young age.  I will also work to support teachers by allowing them to teach, not to a test, but to the children.  We must elevate the profession, they are not babysitters, they are who we are entrusting our children's learning with and need to support them as such!

Q2: Over the last decade, the most common topics of debate and legislative action related to education can be placed in six general categories. Rank the categories from 1-6, with 1 representing your top priority.

Response: 

1. Expanding Education Choice
2. Teachers
3. Expanding Early Childhood
4. Funding K-12
5. Academic Outcomes and College and Career Readiness
6. Social and Cultural Issues

A few of these all could have been ranked the same, they are really so important and I wish I did not have to choose how to rank my top 3 or 4!  

Q3: We believe that educators are closest to the child when it comes to learning, therefore making them the authorities on the needs within their classrooms and schools. Will you support giving teachers the flexibility and freedom from mandated courses and bureaucracy that is not focused on the core subjects of reading, writing, and math?

Response: Absolutely!!  I agree 100%! 

Q4: What do you believe is the role of the legislature as it relates to public education in our state?

Response: Not to dictate what happens in the classroom but to provide the resources necessary to ensure all children in Louisiana can learn in the best way possible. 

Q5: How would you rate your knowledge and understanding of charter schools?

Response: Very Knowledgeable

Q6: On a scale of 0-5, where would you place yourself on your support for charter schools, with "0" being opposed to charter schools and "5" being a charter school champion? 

Response: 5.  I believe in the free market system and Charter schools are an integral part of that! 

Q7: How would you rate the job being done by schools in your district?

Response: Good

Q8: How would you rate the job being done by schools throughout the state?

Response: Poor