Connecting, Creating, & Caring

A Closer Look at the Issues

Part of being a senator for District 14 is to have a willingness to listen and learn from all viewpoints while maintaining an open mind with the goal of working with everyone to better the lives of my constituents.

Regarding future legislation, I cannot make promises towards votes one way or another with legislation that does not exist before me right now. Wording, amendments, and the impact on constituents must be taken into consideration with every piece of legislation prior to voting. This is one of the many skills I have learned from Senator Ennis during my internship.

Mental Health

As a public servant, I have first-hand witnessed the crisis we face with mental health. After the pandemic, CDC indicated that there was a 24% spike in emergency room visits for mental health issues for ages 5 to 11.

I have firsthand experience helping families and adults navigate the difficult journey through the mental health care system in Delaware.
I believe everyone should have access to high-quality and affordable mental health care providers regardless of their ability to pay.
We need to extend HB 100 & HB 300 to provide additional mental health supports to high school students
I will continue to push for legislation that increases access to mental health services for both private health care and Medicaid, increases community and school-based interventions, and promotes prevention and partnerships

Workforce Development

I have received national recognition for my programs and initiatives in workforce development. I have increased student participation in teacher preparation programs by over 26% in recent years, as well as promoted the inclusion of all students in career technical education programs.

I believe students need to be afforded the opportunity to engage in work-based learning opportunities in the K-12 setting.
We need to increase the ability to attend post-secondary training (college, trade school, apprenticeships, etc) for all, while removing barriers.
We need to review data to determine the needs of the workforce in Delaware to grow our own employees, instead of racing to catch the standard.
I want to provide exposure to workforce development skills at a younger age to promote future success.
We need to explore alternative methods to provide learning opportunities to non-traditional learners.

Public Safety

Throughout various stages of my life, I have served communities through volunteer fire and EMS. I also come from a family with deep roots in the military, law enforcement, and corrections, as well as being a military spouse.

I believe we need to...

Provide more incentives to recruit and retain volunteer and paid first responders in Delaware
Increase access to mental health clinicians for all areas regardless of population
Promote advanced training opportunities to best serve our communities
Continue funding for first responder agencies

Education

I have served in both public and private education for over 20 years. I worked with students and their families from early childhood through college. I have also served as a national leader in education and have been recognized at the local, state, and national level for success in the field of education. I believe every child should have access to an excellent education regardless of socio-economic status, ability, race, beliefs, or residency. We need to support the school systems in providing the best education!

I believe we need to...

•Increase workforce skills, emotional intelligence, and appropriate academic rigor in all grades that promote an active and civil society, which will impact the future economic success of Delaware

•Meet staff and students where they are and provide the supports and services to reach the highest standard possible

•Assist families in understanding rights and policies that already exist and continue to explore areas of concern

•Empower the voices of students and establish paths to success

•Create environments that promote inclusion, equity, belonging, and academic excellence

•Diversify the teaching workforce and recruit top-notch education professionals

•Continue to promote critical thinking and financial literacy skills

•Increase mental health supports

•Provide appropriate professional development strategies and supports for staff

•Remove barriers that make the systems difficult to navigate and promote collaboration with families to ensure their voices are heard

Affordable Housing & Community Supports

I believe we need to...

Maintain affordable housing for low-income citizens or those living on a fixed income
Protect homeowners from unreasonable rent increases
Reassess and realign the financial obligations of our senior citizens to the government
Establish and maintain affordable healthcare options for our seniors that are on a fixed income
Improvements and access to subsidized housing for those that are in need
Access to shelters and food banks throughout the year
Additional funding for safe living arrangements and supported living opportunities
Educational opportunities and support for those seeking housing
Supports to help navigate a complicated system and develop methods that streamline the process

I believe we need to...

Maintain affordable housing for low-income citizens or those living on a fixed income
Protect homeowners from unreasonable rent increases
Reassess and realign financial obligations to the government of our senior citizens
Establish and maintain affordable healthcare options for our seniors that are on a fixed income
Improvements and access to subsidized housing for those that are in need
Access to shelters and food banks throughout the year
Additional funding for safe living arrangements and supported living opportunities
Educational opportunities and support for those seeking housing
Supports to help navigate a complicated system and develop methods that streamline the process

Healthcare

I believe that access to affordable healthcare is essential to the health of our citizens and communities. During my work with the state senate and for the district, I continue to work with families to navigate the systems to ensure access to meet the needs of all. Most recently, I assisted several independent pharmacies in overcoming barriers associated with insurance providers and constituent needs.

Provide access to high-quality, affordable healthcare regardless of their ability to pay.
Working with Senator Ennis and supporting families in the district, I understand the struggles of navigating the health care systems and believe a better system of support needs to be established.

The health care system is a vital part of how we create a fair and inclusive society, as well as provide the basis for strong economic growth. Proactively meeting the challenges in health care will lower the costs of health insurance and lower the expenses faced by small businesses.