School Board Issues

These aren’t just talking points — they’re priorities shaped by the real conversations I’ve had with folks across Dubuque. Below, you’ll find a snapshot of the issues I care most about and what I plan to do about them.

Feel free to reach out if you have ideas, questions, or concerns. This campaign is about all of us — and it starts with transparency.

Let’s be real—these school closures aren’t isolated events. The loss of Fulton Elementary, the likely closure of Jefferson Middle, and the final days of Hoover Elementary mark a dangerous trend—and families in the North End are paying the steepest price.

The North End has long been strategically undervalued, not by accident but by design. These communities face deep-rooted inequities—and now their schools are vanishing, too. That’s not just unfortunate—it’s unacceptable.

We can’t keep saying this is about “saving money” while students in other parts of town are getting brand-new gyms and modern cafeterias. This is educational redlining. And it’s happening with the full backing of Governor Reynolds and state legislators who’ve pushed policies that hurt public education and hand power to private schools.

And yes, Hoover isn’t in the North End—but its closure proves this isn’t just a neighborhood issue. It’s a citywide crisis. No school is safe when our values are this upside-down.

My Commitment: 

• I will oppose any further school closures that disproportionately impact ANY school, but especially those within the working-class, Black, and underserved families.

• I will fight for transparency in how decisions are made and where the money really goes.

• I will push for community-led solutions, not top-down decisions disguised as efficiency.

• I will stand up to state-level overreach, because public schools belong to the people—not politicians.

• And I will make damn sure that no child in this city grows up believing their neighborhood isn’t worth fighting for.

If we want to build a better Dubuque, let’s start by investing in our schools—not erasing them.

Let’s be real—missing the bus shouldn’t mean missing an education. But in Dubuque, families across the city—especially in working-class and single-parent households—are struggling to get their kids to school safely and consistently. And it’s not because they don’t care. It’s because our system doesn’t care enough to meet them halfway.

We’ve got routes going uncovered, driver shortages going unaddressed, and students forced to walk long distances, cross unsafe intersections, or stay home altogether. That’s not just a logistics issue—it’s a justice issue.

Transportation is access. And when we fail to provide reliable, timely, and safe school buses for every student, we’re telling certain families—often the most economically stressed—that their kids' education is optional.

We can’t say we believe in equity while making it this hard for students to simply arrive. And we sure as hell can’t expect academic success when the journey to school is filled with barriers from the jump.

My Commitment:

• I will push to expand our school bus workforce, so no route goes unfilled and no child is left behind.

• I will support better pay and benefits for drivers, because our transportation system only runs when they do.

• I will advocate for more accessible bus routes that truly reflect where our families live—not just what’s most convenient on paper.

• I will center the needs of single-parent and low-income households, who bear the brunt of these gaps in access.

If we want to build a better Dubuque, let’s start by getting every single child to school—with dignity, safety, and consistency.

Let’s be honest—our kids are carrying a lot. From pandemic aftershocks to rising community violence to social media pressures, students today are walking into classrooms already overwhelmed. And for many—especially those living in low-income or trauma-impacted households—there's no reset button once the school bell rings.

Mental health support can no longer be an afterthought. It needs to be embedded in how we structure our school days, train our staff, and design our student services. That means more on-site counselors, more trauma-informed educators, and stronger community partnerships with organizations that understand what our students are going through—culturally, emotionally, and psychologically.

We can’t test our way out of trauma. But we can start showing up for students in the ways they need most.

My Commitment:

• I will fight for increased funding for school-based mental health services.

• I will support peer-led wellness programs that empower students to care for themselves and each other.

• I will push for staff-wide trauma-informed training, so our educators are equipped to meet students with compassion, not punishment.

• I will advocate for community-led mental health efforts that reflect the diversity of Dubuque.

When students feel safe, supported, and seen—they thrive. And that’s the kind of classroom culture I’ll fight for.

Our teachers are not okay—and that should matter to everyone. We cannot expect excellence from people who feel overlooked, underpaid, and under-supported. And we certainly can’t build the Dubuque we want with a revolving door of burnt-out educators.

But we also have a powerful opportunity right here at home. Dubuque is home to four colleges and universities—UD, Clarke, Loras, and Emmaus—that graduate a steady stream of future teachers every year. And while a good number of those graduates do stay in the area, we need to create more reasons for them to stay—especially for those who reflect the lived experiences of our students.

Support isn’t just a paycheck—it’s purpose, mentorship, respect, and resources. Let’s start treating our educators like the professionals and culture-shapers they are.

My Commitment:

• I will advocate for stronger partnerships between our K–12 schools and local colleges to create more intentional pipelines that lead to long-term careers in Dubuque.

• I will push for mentorship and onboarding programs that support new teachers—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds.

• I will support teacher-led leadership initiatives, because nobody knows the classroom better than the people inside it.

• I will fight for livable wages and ongoing professional development that allow educators to grow without burning out.

If we want students to believe in their future, let’s start by showing them what it looks like to invest in the people who teach them.