10/12/2024
Hey everyone. I pray that everyone made it through the storm. Despite the destruction and devastation of the last several weeks it was amazing to see the way that our community responded and rallied around one another.
I answered some questions via email for an upcoming article in index journal and figured I would also post my responses here. Please always reach out to me if you have any concerns or questions.
What inspired you to run for a school board position?
My primary job is as a Family Medicine physician at Abbeville Healthcare Center. As a result of this position I have the privilege to sit and talk to 20-30 different folks every day. It is through these opportunities that I have the chance to learn about the challenges and struggles facing our community as well as the hopes and dreams of the future. This has allowed me to realize that we all want a future for our children that is not only equal but potentially exceeds those living in larger communities. Having the opportunity to raise children in a small, tightnit, supportive community with an excellent education system is the perfect ecosystem to allow our children to excel. Coupled with the fact that I have 3 children in the education system further motives my desire to serve our children and bring further progress to our school district.
What specific goals do you have for the district if elected? Are there any specific issues you feel the board needs to address?
The biggest goal that I have is to ensure that our students have equity of opportunity, not only among the various schools in the district, but also compared to other public institutions across the state. This comes from class offerings, extracurriculars, and having the structure and positions to serve those who may be struggling. We need to ensure that we have the appropriate funding and certifications to ensure that those that have different learning styles or struggles have a full opportunity to excel in our district. We need to ensure that our vocational opportunities remain top notch, preparing a future work force for those that do not desire to pursue secondary education. We need to ensure that those that have the opportunity to progress to a college setting are prepared to start their course work at a four year college not only equal to their peers but with the opportunity to excel above their classmates at a university setting.
If elected, how have your past roles prepared you to take on this responsibility?
As previously mentioned through my role as a primary care physician, I have a unique opportunity to understand the needs of the community and directly communicate with them. I also serve as the Medical Director of Community Health and Health Equity at Self Regional and Abbeville Area Medical Center. Through this role I dedicate my time to ensuring we are reaching all those in the community and understanding the struggles and desires of our population. I also have a large amount of interaction with the youth of Abbeville through my volunteerism as a soccer coach for Abbeville Youth Athletics and I serve as the Cubmaster for Cub Scout Pack 93 and Assistant Scoutmaster of Troop 62 here in Abbeville. This allows me to have direct interaction with the youth to understand and empathize with the struggles of a changing society.
Regarding school safety, what plans do you have to maintain a safe environment for students and staff?
Obviously the safety of our students is an utmost concern. I feel that the staff, students, and administrators are currently doing an excellent job with planning and protocols. Changes have been made to the school environment over the last several years with safety as a primary goal. I would continue to support the current administrative action plan and ensure that there is continued awareness and training on the existing protocol structure.
