Why am I a candidate for the school board? Public education is the foundation of our democracy. It enables our children to succeed as citizens and provides them with the knowledge and skills to fulfill their potential. I grew up in Austin, Texas, the second of seven children. We all enjoyed 12 years of public education. We were expected to do well, complete our homework (all working together at the kitchen table) and fully participate in sports, music or the arts. We had chores after school and on the weekends, including, for us older children, babysitting at home. I was the only one of my siblings to finish college right after high school. I paid for my own expenses, working as a secretary in a department at the University of Texas and eventually getting scholarships to cover the expenses. I continued my graduate studies at Cornell University where I obtained a doctorate in developmental psychology. I then served as a professor at Rutgers University for two decades, teaching large classes in developmental psychology and conducting research on infant and child learning. In 2003, my husband Dave and I moved to Missoula where I accepted an associate provost position at UM. In this role, I oversaw a number of programs, including the Center for Writing and Public Speaking, Office of Student Success, Internship Services, TRIO, and Upward Bound. My educational background spans many levels, as a K-12 student, undergraduate student, graduate student, page at the college library, department secretary, faculty member, and administrator. Each experience cemented my belief that education for all is crucial and that knowledge-enhanced critical thinking is needed in our society to maintain democracy and achieve individual goals.