Louisiana State Senator Candidates

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: Schools look and feel like factories, hospitals, or prisons where learning happens by accident. Neither the teachers nor the students are happy. Creativity is dying. 

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. Expanding Early Childhood
5. Funding K-12
6. Social and Cultural Issues

Obviously, preparing our young people for society is the goal of every school system. However, we must allow teachers to teach and reward those who teach well. 

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: I consider teaching a profession. A profession is and occupation requires considerable training and specialized study. However, today's approach to the classroom is to follow burdensome and often degressive policies. These policies often forbid the creative approaches that benefit both teachers and students. 

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

Response: To work with educators, not bureaucrats, to create proven avenues for success. 

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 feel that Charter Schools provide a choice for parents and creates competition, which leads to positive outcomes. 

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:  Senate District 6 is diverse. I have found that the Central Community School System and Livingston Parish School District share strong local support. East Baton Rouge Parish has many more challenges. People I spoke with in parts of St. Helena have serious concerns about addressing teacher shortages and teacher retention as they feel it has a direct impact on the community as a whole.

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. Expanding Education Choice
4. Academic Outcomes and College and Career Readiness
5. Funding K-12
6. Social and Cultural Issues

Clearly these are all important issues. As an experienced legislator, I am confident in my ability to work on all of them. 

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, teachers need the flexibility because students need the flexibility. Flexibility should come with reporting requirements and accountability provisions. 

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

Response: One of the primary roles the legislature has as it relates to public education is to fund public education. Other roles the legislature performs is to create policies that expand access and opportunity for student's academic and post graduation success. 

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 was first elected in a special election in 2013. I asked to serve on the Education committee. I spent much of my first term in House Ed trying to protect the policies that have advanced charter schools & school choice in Louisiana.

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: Low standards, poor discipline, teacher dissatisfaction

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 Early Childhood
3. Expanding Education Choice
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: To set standards, fund and hold accountable

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: The main concern is the woke movement, which I would like to see totally removed from our public 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. Academic Outcomes and College and Career Readiness
2. Teachers
3. Expanding Early Childhood
4. Expanding Education Choice
5. Funding K-12
6. Social and Cultural Issues

In my opinion, school safety should not be grouped in with social and cultural issues.  I feel safety is very important.  

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: Flexibility should be given as long as they do not indoctrinate their views on the students, if those views go against the standards of sound educational practices.

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

Response: To help the parents keep good oversight of the educational system and keeping everyone accountable to give our children a good moral foundation and education to become a good productive citizen.  

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 - I believe parents should have a choice and this gives them that option.

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: I hear that there is no consistency from area to area and that kids are having a hard time keeping up after the 3rd grade level. Parents want more options when it comes to their child's education. As a legislator, I'll support increasing educational opportunities whether its from expanding choice or increasing partnerships with trade schools. We have to prepare our kids for the real world and make them workforce ready.

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. Teachers
4. Expanding Early Childhood
5. Funding K-12
6. Social and Cultural Issues

My 1 through 5 rankings are very close to one another as they are all important to me.

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:  I want teachers to have the tools to teach our kids actual knowledge that will serve them in the real world without government mandates and bureaucracy. 

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

Response: Holding public schools accountable for below average scores. I do not believe in changing standards in order to meet statistics. We should be teaching our kids to be workforce ready rather that test ready.

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

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: Although, I believe that  our public schools and charter schools have a strong core of dedicated, educated professional administrators, teachers and support staff, working hard to provide the best education it can provide to our students, there is a perception that we can do better and be better.

I will support continuing to invest in early childhood learning and support the efforts for reading comprehension in 3rd grade, because then we will see positive results in the future. 

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. Expanding Education Choice
5. Academic Outcomes and College and Career Readiness
6. Social and Cultural Issues

I believe that 1 thru 5 could be interchangeable as these are all very important pieces of providing a quality education.

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: Flexibility, but still provide a well rounded education

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

Response: To provide the appropriate funding and resources and to provide the parameters within which BESE and School systems shall operate and educate.

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: 4 - As Chief Administrative Officer of St. Mary Parish Government for the past 27 years, I have had the pleasure of working with the board, administrators and staff at Glencoe Charter School to ensure it has the proper infrastructure, safety and facilities. I have seen the children of Parish employees flourish at the Charter School, providing them with a well rounded education and a pleasant learning environment. The Parish recently facilitated its growth into jr. high and high school sports by upgrading  nearby ballfields to meet LHSAA standards on behalf of Glencoe. 

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: Good

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: My largely rural and low-income district feels trapped in an underperforming school system. They also believe there is serious inequality in school quality in the district. I hope to be a tireless advocate for education innovation and school choice. I learned much during my time in New Orleans from research from the Cowen Institute and the Education Research Alliance. Choice works, and we need to expand the options students and parents have throughout the state. 

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. Expanding Early Childhood
5. Funding K-12
6. Social and Cultural Issues

Tough list! I believe in expanding early childhood ed, so I don't want the low ranking to make it seem low-priority. I tried to prioritize the issues that are not just a matter of low money or resources. For the time being, we have plenty of money in our school system. ur problem is that we do not spend it wisely.

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. My mother was not just a public school teacher; she was the best higher-level math teacher I encountered in the public school system. She and other educators in my rural public high school challenged their students to go beyond the published curriculum, and as a result 5 students in my class of 95 achieved 30+ ACT scores in 2011 (these scores were much less common 12 years ago, and we had classes in FEMA trailers). That doesn't happen if educators are forced to narrowly teach the curriculum put front of them. 

But as important as educators are, parental involvement is still quantitatively more determinative of student outcomes. Our education system must involve parents and educators in partnership, not in conflict, and must place expectations on parents to enable their children to enter their learning environments prepared for success. 

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

Response: To facilitate the maximal innovation 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 can cite by memory the bodies of academic studies that demonstrate that charter schools work. No issue has a more compelling or overwhelming scientific record of 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: 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: How the education system can improve. Hold meetings with educators to find solutions.

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. Social and Cultural Issues
3. Teachers
4. Funding K-12
5. Expanding Early Childhood
6. Expanding Education Choice

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: As long as it’s in the best interest of the children 

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

Response: Support our teachers who teach our children 

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: 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: The most consistent theme that I hear is that traditional public education is not working, and that we need to try some thing else. “Money followers the child“ is very popular in my district and the vast majority of my constituents support the concept as do I.

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. Expanding Early Childhood
3. Funding K-12
4. Academic Outcomes and College and Career Readiness
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: To explore all options. To make all options available to many children as possible, and to provide funding.

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

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

Response: Poor

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: Senate District 6 is diverse. I have found that the Central Community School System and Livingston Parish School District share strong local support. East Baton Rouge Parish has many more challenges. People I spoke with in parts of St. Helena have serious concerns about addressing teacher shortages and teacher retention as they feel it has a direct impact on the community as a whole.

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. Expanding Early Childhood
5. Funding K-12
6. Social and Cultural Issues

All of these are important, it was tough to rank them. 

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: To ensure that all of our children have access to a quality education. 

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

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