Eliminate Special Interests​
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When I got on the school board three years ago, I never even considered that this would be a primary concern for our district. Unfortunately, my experiences have taught me otherwise.
If your questions you ask yourself before voting are "how will this benefit me," or "how much money have they contributed to my campaign?" rather than "what's the best choice for the kids and for our district?" you have no place in Hickman Mills.
I have strived to ensure that only qualified teachers, administrators and contractors work for our district. I will continue to do so into my second term.
Create a World Renowned STEM Program​
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In 2014, the new Cerner Complex will break ground in the area once known to house Bannister Mall. This is an 11 year project that will create an estimated 11,000 new net jobs in Hickman Mills. In 11 years, kids who are right now in middle school will have graduated college and entered the workforce. I want Cerner to hire our kids. But that means Hickman Mills must have the foresight to create a program rich in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM).
In the fall, I helped negotiate a deal for Cerner to provide 6 million dollars to Hickman Mills for STEM education. It's a great start, but I want to go further. There are grants available for Federal and State STEM programs, as well as non-profit and foundation based STEM grants. Let's explore every avenue available. I want Hickman Mills to have an education the envy of the rest of the United States, and I truly believe it to be possible.
Full Accreditation
No one likes being provisionally accredited. If I could snap my fingers and take us to full accreditation, I would. Rome wasn't built in a day and, frankly, I wouldn't trust a foundation put up so quickly anyway. It will take hard work and dedication for years from staff, administration, students, parents, and the school board. But -- bit by bit -- can be done. In fact, I believe it will be done in three years.
I believe that if we bring on a strong pre-K program to prepare incoming students, focus on STEM for secondary students, and at the board level stop looking to special interest groups, we'll achieve something extraordinary: we'll stop looking at quick fixes and start focusing on long term solutions.
MY GOALS
Develop Early Childhood Education​
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A growing body of research provides good evidence that pre-K programs have positive impacts on children’s cognitive skills, including both pre-reading and pre-math skills. On average, kids who do not get a good preschool education are at a significant disadvantage their entire educational career versus those who have received it. In short, early education matters.
Hickman Mills needs an early childhood program in the district. It should expand upon the great work that the Freda Markley Center is already doing, but it should be available for everyone, regardless of need or ability. The state is currently lacking in funding to provide a universal pre-K program, so for the moment we'll have to solve the problem ourselves. But I want our district to be a model in Missouri for how we can turn this district around.
