Meet Your Candidate

I was born and raised in Redlands; I graduated from our K-12 public schools before going on to earn a BA in Psychology from CSUSB and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from the University of Redlands. In addition to my experience gained in pursuing higher education, I have extensive history working with children, youth, and their families in this community - first as a childcare worker at our local YMCA for many years and then currently as a licensed therapist.

As a mother of a child in our district, I am proud to be a member of the Kingsbury PTA and the district-wide Special Education PTA (SEPTA), and I served on the Kingsbury School Site Council as Vice President for the 2023-2024 year. With my experience in these roles, as well being a daughter of a family of educators, I will bring a fresh perspective to our school board that weaves together the needs of students, staff, and our families. I am rooted in this community, and I care deeply about the well-being of our schools. I will fight to keep our schools safe and welcoming to all, for my child and for yours.

My Why

I am passionate about creating schools that support neurodiversity as a default. I have heard many stories (both as a therapist and on the campaign trail) about how hard families and students need to fight to get accommodations, testing, or even understanding/compassion for a range of physical, mental, and behavioral health issues. I've worked with many late/adult diagnosed ADHD and ASD folks who would have had a much kinder view of themselves and more joy in learning if they had access to neurodiverse supports as a default, not something they have to test into or fight to get access to. And I have seen firsthand how devastating it is to a student’s education when they and their families are struggling with homelessness, food insecurity, or foster care involvement. When our most vulnerable students (our foster care and homeless youth, our neurodiverse youth, and our LGBTQ+ youth) are appropriately supported, we all thrive. Especially when we prioritize early intervention and inclusion efforts.

Education is the foundation of our society, and I know my life was made better in so many ways by the teachers, clubs, and programs of our school district. I am committed to ensuring that my own child, and that ALL our children, have the same access that I did to quality public education that supports all our learners.

More Info

You can visit the following 3rd party resources for more information about me and other Redlands Candidates:

• Ballotpedia

• Community Forward Redlands 2024 Election Hub

• Redlands Daily Facts

• Redlands Community News

• The Supporter by Israel J. Carreón Jr. of Redlands Community News
  (from an article series about local candidates)