Rachel Blakeslee

Education It also means respecting educators as professionals. That includes listening to their expertise about what’s working and what isn’t when it comes to curriculum, assessments and district initiatives. Teachers need to be part of the decision-making process of the policies that are impacting them, not just expected to implement plans handed down from above. Government Reform As a board member, I’d advocate for more inclusive, transparent decision-making processes, where communication is early, honest and two-way. I’d push for clearer data, more accessible and engaging public forums and enough lead time for real dialogue. Education Better pay and benefits for our teachers and providing the resources educators need to meet students where they are. It means rethinking how we support classroom management, individualized instruction and student behavior, so that teachers don’t feel like they’re doing it all alone. Education I’d like to see ASD slow down its pace of sweeping changes and take time to evaluate what’s really working, and what’s not. I want to see a shift toward thoughtful, data-informed decision-making that supports— not further strains — our school communities. And I want parents and teachers to feel informed, not overwhelmed and forced to become expert researchers just to make sense of what’s happening in their schools. Education As a school board member, I’d work to bring greater clarity to how our district’s finances function: where money comes from, where it goes, what financial constraints the district is under and how funding shortfalls impact our students.