La House of Representative Candidates (Districts 26 - 50)

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 people inquire more about should the money follow the child. I believe that kids don't determine the environments they are born into. As a legislator, I will work hard so that all students can receive better education opportunities no matter what environment they are born into.

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

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 support teachers being more flexible. I also believe they should have a moral compass but I don't believe in making that moral compass a law.

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

Response: I believe my role as a legislature as it relates to public education is to make sure to have that relationship with the educators and students and be a merge for them when it comes to what's best for them.

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: I place myself on support for charter schools at a 4. My reason for the answer is I believe we need to make some improvements to the charter school system.

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

Response: Excellent

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:  Input from people on the campaign trail varies on education.  The overall message is they want to make sure children have good schools and kids are being prepared for their 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. 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

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: To answer this question, I would need to know more about the mandated courses and bureaucracy you mention in the question.  Without an example, I'm not sure how to answer the question.  Both my kids attended parochial schools, so I have limited knowledge of the public school system curriculum and possible bureaucracy that needs to be eliminated. 

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

Response: To help set policy that creates the best educational environment for all kids in our state. 

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 I likely do not know enough about charter schools, I do believe parents should have a choice in where to send their children to school and what's the best situation for their child. 

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 consistently hear concerns about discipline, teacher shortage, underpaid staff and the need for increased technology. I would first meet with educators to hear their ideas and solutions.  I would then develop a plan once I have met with a team of eductors.

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

Each topic is a top priority. I ranked them as per the instructions. I believe that all the topics must be addressed as top priority to have a successful system. All the above topics affect our system as a whole and each topic should not be addressed in isolation but should be addressed because one topic affects the other.

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,  We should get back to the basics in order to build strong educational foundations for our children.

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

Response: The role of the legislature is to support the enhancement of education by supporting educators. The legislature must be the voice of the educators.

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: 4

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: It’s not working. More school choice. Less administration, more dollars in classroom

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

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: Set overall framework of education policy

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: 6

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: Citizens ask if we can strengthen public education by paying teachers more and bettering school environments. We will continue to fight for teacher pay and investments in education. 

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

Most of these are top priorities. It was very difficult to trully show what I want to support by listing them in priority order. All 6 are very important for our kids success. 

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 learn as much as we can from educators and kids across our state to make the best educated decisions on laws or investments that we should make to our education system.

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: 4

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 get questions about our education system. People are displeased with the current public school system. I have not been in the weeds of what legislation would be best for our current system, but I can say that I am a big proponent of school choice. 

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

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, I think the teacher and the parent know what the child needs most.

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

Response: Minimal, but yet making sure our children get a solid education that they can later build on. 

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

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: School choice. Give parents the right to send their children where they want.

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 Education Choice
3. Expanding Early Childhood
4. Teachers
5. Academic Outcomes and College and Career Readiness
6. Social and Cultural Issues

All are very important to educating our children.

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: Making sure funding is available.

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: 3

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: Priorities. Addressing priorities like teacher and staff pay, student achievement, and fairness in access would all be items that I would propose legislation for and advocate for broadly. 

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. Teachers
2. Expanding Early Childhood
3. Funding K-12
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: Certainly. Teachers are the experts on learning not politicians, they need the freedom and respect to practice their profession, which is our most important public service.

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

Response: Funding education for all citizens, providing equitable access and supporting those who actually do the work . 

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: 3

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

Response: Excellent

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

Response: Good, 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: It will be one of my top priorities.

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

I believe in a strong viable public education system. It starts with the will to invest and make it a 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: Support and fund our public school system.

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: 3

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: Many parents are frustrated with subpar education outcomes for their kids and they feel powerless to help them. This must change now.

We are spending more than $14,000 per student in Louisiana public schools and getting a much poorer education outcome than Texas where the per student expenditure is 35% less at approximately $9,000.

I plan to be a leader in enacting legislation that will allow educational funds to follow the student to the educational structure that give their kids a better chance for success.

In order to provide real opportunities for choice, I believe we should create an environment that encourages competition.  Unnecessary regulations must be removed that harm creation and operation of charter schools, private schools, micro schools, and home schools.

Parents want choices for their kids, and charter schools should be an easily accessible option utilizing existing education dollars.

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

The major objective is to make a quality education available to those who really want to learn, and in many cases, the current traditional public school is not accomplishing that objective.

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: In a perfect world, I would agree.  However, I am concerned this could lead to indoctrination on personal agendas if there is no parental transparency.  Mostly, I would like to stick to the basics but if there is parental transparency, I'm good with some flexibility.

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

Response: Measure outcome based on existing legislative action.  I will not support a one-size-fits-all approach to educating our students. I will support more local decision making including the application of state funds.

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.  Louisiana charter schools provide a better educational outcome for nearly 90,000 students across the state.  For most of those students, charter schools were their only lifeline to a better education.  Charter schools work, and I want to be a part of the solutions that give even more parents a choice in education.  These 90,000 students are served by nearly 140 Louisiana charter schools that employ 10,000 dedicated teachers and staff who are dedicated, and accountable, to quality education.

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