Part of the process of getting elected is talking about accomplishments.  It feels a lot to me like bragging, and I’m not a particular fan of that.

But I need your vote.  I’m worth it.  And I’m going to tell you why.

In three months on the Board:

• I became the most transparent member.  It’s not a competition, and I didn’t think of it as such, but after being there, I can confidently say it should be.  At meetings and on this site, I explain major issues I vote on so the people know why I do what I do.  I answer every single e-mail, text, call, and Facebook message I get.  Everybody should be open and accessible, period.
• I visited almost every PTA (missing one because of the birth of my son).  This was enlightening and wonderful and far better than Board meetings.  Talking to parents and teachers directly about the issues facing the district is beyond important.  In fact, at a Board meeting I successfully pushed for members to be assigned to schools as PTA liaisons so we can continue the practice.  Fun fact, only Greg Popil, Paul Duffy, and I went to nearly all of these, despite inviting all other Board members.  Mrs. Dixon, the Board President, also attended many of the nearly dozen and a half we went to.
• I’ve been writing on this very space for YEARS offering concrete policy proposals to help the district.  I’ve taken those ideas and forwarded them to Dr. Finan, the district’s Recovery Officer, and I look forward to seeing many of the ideas integrated into the plan to save the district.  No other candidate, or even veteran Board member, has been offering the level of proposals, or details, that I have.

Further, in terms of background, for those who don’t know:

• I have two young kids, ages 2 and 3 weeks.  They will attend Scranton Schools one day, and I want to provide them with a better education than I received.  The same goes for your kids.
• I know education.  I’ve been a public school teacher for 14 years and an adjunct professor at Marywood University for 7 years.  Nobody running has the background in education that I have.
• I don’t know just education, I’m educated.  I have a B.A. in English from Marywood University, and both an M.A. and M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Wilkes University.  This makes me the most educated person in the race.

Lastly, the powers that be don’t like me, which probably belongs under my qualifications since I consider it a badge of honor.  Lots of groups talk transparency, but ignore my record.  I’ve called them out on this space, and I’m not going to stop.  Nobody owns me, period.  Nobody will.  I’d rather stand up against big-money, connected people who buy influence.  I’ve been standing up to these people for years.  They would see the district move backward.

I’m here to move it forward.

Vote for me, and we will move forward together.

Thank you, and see you at the polls on Tuesday!