Behavior Management

Our students, teachers, parents, and all residents of Alachua County deserve the benefits that come from safe, effective classrooms. Our teachers need support for their classroom discipline decisions. Unfortunately, that's not happening right now. Our school board and the past administration have been ignoring or selectively enforcing th

Our students, teachers, parents, and all residents of Alachua County deserve the benefits that come from safe, effective classrooms. Our teachers need support for their classroom discipline decisions. Unfortunately, that's not happening right now. Our school board and the past administration have been ignoring or selectively enforcing the code of conduct, and that's not fair to anyone, least of all, the child who has been misbehaving.

Disruptive students, and physical violence directed at students and teachers create stressful, ineffective learning environments. That chaos is what eats up at least 30% of class time.

The system of Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) that some schools use has been ineffective. Rather than working to inspire students to be their best and enforcing consistent standards of behavior, the PBIS system promotes trying to reason with students who disrupt classrooms and act inappropriately at school, while rewarding students for behavior that simply should be expected. 

We must provide teachers with the support they need to manage their classrooms. We need to ensure that disruptive behaviors are being addressed consistently and appropriately to provide a positive classroom environment for every student and teacher. 

Every student in Alachua County deserves to be set up for success. They deserve an education that gives them the tools and guidance they need to achieve academic excellence and leave our schools prepared to thrive in the workplace, in higher education, in leading a family, or whatever path they choose. This starts with the ability to rea

Every student in Alachua County deserves to be set up for success. They deserve an education that gives them the tools and guidance they need to achieve academic excellence and leave our schools prepared to thrive in the workplace, in higher education, in leading a family, or whatever path they choose. This starts with the ability to read and do math proficiently. Our current system isn’t getting that done. 

Fewer than half of our students are reading and doing math at grade level. That’s unacceptable. We have the funding needed to provide after-school and summer tutoring across the county. Let’s do what it takes to help all students excel. My goal is for our schools to be No. 1 in the state, and we can make it happen.

  Parents and teachers have described to me how the current school transportation process is failing our community. Students often are forced to wait hours, sometimes in the dark of morning, for a delayed bus. That puts our students at risk. They’re often missing critical classroom instruction as a result of delays. Unreliable bus pick-up

  Parents and teachers have described to me how the current school transportation process is failing our community. Students often are forced to wait hours, sometimes in the dark of morning, for a delayed bus. That puts our students at risk. They’re often missing critical classroom instruction as a result of delays. Unreliable bus pick-ups are creating chaos for working parents. We can do better.

We are obligated to ensure every bus-riding student is able to arrive at class safely and on time. We need to consider every transportation solution possible, including privatization.

Privatizing part or all of our school bus operations can improve punctuality and safety,  save tax dollars, and allow the administration to concentrate on education, rather than management of an ancillary service that’s not performing as it should.