Full Funding for Special Education
Washington school districts are legally required to serve every student with a disability, regardless of cost. But the state’s funding falls over $1 billion short of what districts actually need. That gap gets filled by local levies, which means the burden falls back on families and communities. I will push to close that gap completely. No child should have their needs go unmet because the state refuses to pay its share.

Fix the Funding Formula, For Real
The way Washington funds schools is broken. Materials, supplies, classroom technology, even transportation, the state’s formulas haven’t kept up with actual costs. Small and rural districts like those in LD 2 feel that squeeze hardest. I’ll fight for an updated, transparent funding model that reflects what it actually costs to run a school in 2026.

Support Our Teachers
Teachers are the backbone of our kids’ education, and we’re losing them. Low pay, underfunded substitutes, and a system that asks them to do more with less is driving good people out of the profession. I’ll advocate for competitive teacher pay, fully funded substitute costs, and working conditions that respect what educators actually do.

Protect Early Learning
The 2026 legislative session saw cuts to childcare subsidies and early learning programs that families in our community depend on. Working families shouldn’t have to choose between a paycheck and quality care for their kids. I’ll fight to restore and expand early learning funding, because investment in our youngest kids pays dividends for generations.

Expand Vocational and Trade Education
Not every path leads through a four-year university, and that’s not a failure, that’s a strength. Our region needs skilled tradespeople, and our students deserve access to vocational and technical training that leads directly to good-paying careers right here in Washington. I’ll push for expanded CTE (Career and Technical Education) programs in our local schools.

Reliable Broadband as an Education Right
In parts of LD 2, students still can’t do their homework online because reliable internet simply doesn’t exist. That’s not acceptable. Broadband access isn’t a luxury, it’s infrastructure, and it’s essential to a modern education. I’ll fight to close the digital divide in our rural communities.

Safe Schools for Every Student
Every parent sending their child to school deserves to know they’ll come home safe. Every teacher deserves to walk into a classroom without fear. That means real investment, not just words, in school safety. I’ll fight for:

• Mental health counselors and school psychologists in every building, so students in crisis get support before problems escalate
• Evidence-based programs that reduce the need for restraint and isolation, practices that too often harm the most vulnerable students
• Safe, up-to-date school facilities, because aging buildings create real risks for students and staff
• Community-based approaches that keep schools safe without turning them into places that feel more like prisons than places of learning

Safety and education aren’t separate issues. When kids feel safe, they learn. When teachers feel supported, they teach. Getting this right means investing in people, not just policies.