Kelly Lessens

Wages / Job Benefits Ensure that educators’ salaries, work conditions, access to health care, and retirement needs are met and that teachers have adequate time to prepare, engage in ongoing professional development, and to collaborate. Taxes / Budget Working with legislators to update the State’s Foundation Formula, including the District Cost Factor and Base Student Allocation, to accurately reflect the costs of educating students in ASD. Education Decreasing class sizes so that teachers are more able to focus on students’ progress. Education Ensuring that all students have access to social-emotional learning opportunities and adequate mental health supports. Education Increasing the representation of underserved students in advanced coursework and programs of choice. Education Continuing to support our charter, alternative and open-optional programs, but improving transportation to those sites to increase families’ access to ASD’s options. Education Expanding pre-K opportunities and finding new ways to support Anchorage-area families in the crucial “Birth-Age 5” chapter of life, when children’s neural networks are formed and school readiness begins. Education Supporting students that fell behind because of the pandemic and continue to need additional, targeted resources to catch-up. Education Improving student reading and math proficiency, as well as their graduation rates, by providing accountability and oversight. Education I WILL CONTINUE TO PRIORITIZE Student wellbeing, learning, and life-readiness Retaining, attracting, and training highly effective teachers Engagement with parents and families Oversight and financial stewardship. Education Adopting curricular materials that are up-to-date, evidence-based, accessible, and support student engagement.