Education
Quality education starts with quality educators. From early childhood education through high school and beyond, we must stand with and support those who nurture and instruct our children.
Teachers are so much more than mere conveyors of knowledge—they are advocates, counselors, coaches, caretakers, and mentors. Their work extends far beyond the classroom. They are dedicated professionals who have an enormous influence on who our children become, and they should be treated accordingly.
If we want to attract the best teachers in the country to build the best schools in the country, we must pay and support them appropriately. Salaries and benefits must be increased, along with in-classroom support and effective professional development.
Our teachers and educational support staff have been overextended for far too long—well before the COVID-19 pandemic. It is past time to recognize educators as the extraordinary resource they are.
Early Childhood Education
Every child in Minnesota deserves a strong start in life. The best way we can prepare our children for success is to ensure that every neighborhood has fully-funded, quality schools and that our educators have ample resources to build and maintain a thriving educational community.
Our children are our future. If we do not equip them with the tools they require to be lifelong learners, we fail them. And as we refuse to correct this systemic problem, we will continue to fail them.
I want every child in Minnesota to have access to high-quality early learning and childcare programs that have been proven to prepare them for kindergarten and beyond. We must do everything possible to help them develop the skills they will need for a lifetime of success and personal growth.
Access to world-class early learning and childcare should not be considered a luxury for American families - it is a fundamental necessity that every child should be able to partake in.
As your legislator, I will:
Seek to fully fund public education in Minnesota
Increase funding specifically for early childhood education, including need-based subsidies for childcare and transportation
Advocate for community-based and culturally-competent educational programs for children of all ages
Champion full-service community schools that support students and their families, in and outside of the classroom
