Universal higher education and trade schools

Getting an education used to be affordable in this country, but then we started treating it like a business. Now millions of young Americans have enough student debt to last a lifetime. In order to build up our young people to enter the competitive global workforce, we must make public colleges - career, technical and community - tuition free, and take on the out-of-control student debt crisis.

Build more schools

Some students in my district drive four hours a day just to pursue their education. We need higher education based locally in our communities, all over the country. Our education system needs to meet the needs of our younger generations, and create more job and apprenticeship centers that allow people to contribute to our economy without the need for a two-year or four-year degree.

Invest in our students, teachers and school staff

Teachers and education staff deserve salaries they can plan for a future with, and classroom sizes small enough to steward every child’s development. Our education workers are vital for our society and it’s time they were treated like it. As a school board trustee, I have fought for and successfully raised wages for our teachers, custodians, nutritional workers and bus drivers who are often the first face students see every day. We must invest in our students and communities, not tax breaks for billionaires.