Candidate's Statement: 

My vision in serving on the Board of Directors is rooted in advancing equitable access, elevating instructional excellence, and strengthening the infrastructure that supports sustainable growth in arts education. I believe the arts are not an enrichment add-on but a foundational component of student development, identity formation, and academic success. My goal is to help guide policies and initiatives that ensure every student—regardless of background, school context, or zip code—has access to high-quality, culturally responsive arts instruction led by highly supported educators.

In this role, I would focus on three core strategies: (1) expanding access and equity through intentional policy alignment and resource distribution, (2) strengthening educator pipelines and professional learning systems, and (3) increasing visibility and advocacy for arts programs through strategic partnerships and data-informed storytelling. I am committed to using both qualitative student impact narratives and quantitative program data to support decision-making at the board level.

My service to the field of arts education spans over 15 years across middle school, high school, and community-based settings. I have built and sustained programs from the ground up, developed curriculum, and led large-scale performance initiatives that center student voice and cultural relevance. Notably, I created a state-approved Dance Appreciation course that integrated African American, Mexican American, and Asian American cultural studies, ensuring that curriculum reflected the lived experiences of students while meeting rigorous academic standards. This work required collaboration with district leadership, curriculum teams, and external reviewers, as well as ongoing refinement based on student performance data and feedback.

In addition, I have actively contributed to the broader field through choreography, adjudication, and mentorship of emerging dance educators and drill team programs. I have presented at professional conferences such as NCDEO, sharing best practices on student engagement, male participation in dance, and culturally responsive pedagogy. My work consistently centers on elevating the profession and expanding who sees themselves represented within it.

My leadership experience is grounded in both instructional and programmatic oversight. As a Dance and Drill Team Director for a comprehensive high school program for 10 years, I managed budgets, coordinated performances, led recruitment initiatives, and developed long-term program growth strategies. I have experience in building systems for assessment, managing performance logistics at scale, and aligning extracurricular programming with academic and district goals. My approach to leadership is both visionary and operational—I focus on big-picture alignment while ensuring that day-to-day systems are functional, equitable, and sustainable.

Collaboration has been a defining element of my leadership practice, particularly in diverse educational environments. I have worked across multiple districts and communities with varying demographics, needs, and resource levels. I prioritize relationship-building, active listening, and shared decision-making when working with colleagues, administrators, and community stakeholders. I understand that effective leadership requires honoring multiple perspectives while maintaining a clear focus on student outcomes. I have consistently worked in teams that include educators from different cultural, professional, and pedagogical backgrounds, and I view this diversity as a strength that enhances innovation and problem-solving.

In Board-level service, I bring a strong commitment to policy-informed decision-making and follow-through. My experience developing district-level curriculum initiatives has required me to interpret policy, align instructional frameworks, and implement systems that are scalable and compliant. I have also managed program budgets and contributed to resource allocation discussions, ensuring that funding decisions reflect both equity and program impact. I am highly comfortable engaging with data, translating it into actionable insights, and supporting initiatives from ideation through implementation.

Across all areas of my work, I bring a consistent record of initiating ideas and ensuring their execution. Whether launching new curriculum pathways, designing recruitment strategies for arts programs, or developing student engagement initiatives, I approach leadership with accountability and sustainability in mind. I do not view innovation as a one-time act but as a continuous cycle of planning, implementation, evaluation, and refinement.

In summary, I bring a combination of instructional expertise, program leadership, policy awareness, and collaborative practice that aligns strongly with the responsibilities of the Board of Directors. I am committed to advancing systems that not only support arts education but also elevate its role in shaping well-rounded, empowered students prepared for success beyond the classroom.