Bringing courtroom discipline, foundation experience, and a mother's perspective to the Royal Oak Board of Education.
I am a proud Royal Oak resident, a practicing attorney with over a decade of legal and business management experience, and a mom of two boys currently attending Royal Oak public schools[cite: 1]. My commitment to this district is long-term—the decisions our board makes today will shape my children’s entire K-12 experience[cite: 1].
As a former member of the Royal Oak School Foundation, I have already rolled up my sleeves to secure vital resources for our classrooms[cite: 1]. In my daily law practice handling complex family and criminal law matters, I am trained to cross-examine financial budgets, navigate statutory mandates, and use mediation to resolve emotionally charged disputes[cite: 1].
Transparent bidding and legal oversight across all nine buildings to modernize STEAM hubs[cite: 1].
Immediate, structurally sound secure visitor entry upgrades for all 4,900 students and staff[cite: 1].
Protecting frontline workplace dignity, honoring union contracts, and boosting special ed funding[cite: 1].
Deep dives on community partnership, governance, and the future of Royal Oak Schools.
While I will collaborate closely with student leadership at Royal Oak Schools, I will actively expand our reach beyond traditional student councils or honor societies[cite: 4]. I will intentionally connect with students in alternative education programs, career and technical paths, arts and athletic clubs, and peer-led advocacy groups to build inclusive, informal listening circles where every student feels safe and empowered to share their real experiences regarding district climate, mental health, and wellness needs[cite: 4].
I will work closely with the Royal Oak PTA Council and school PTAs, using meetings as listening sessions to understand how district policies affect daily school life[cite: 4]. As a family law attorney, I am uniquely trained to listen to parents during times of transition, stress, and vulnerability[cite: 4]. I will apply this skill to proactively reach out to single-parent households, working families, and families within the Royal Oak Multicultural Parent Association (ROMPA), advocating for listening sessions held outside traditional school hours in neighborhood spaces[cite: 4].
Our teachers, para-professionals, counselors, and support staff across the district are the backbone of Royal Oak Schools[cite: 4]. I will work transparently alongside the Royal Oak Education Association (ROEA) and all labor groups to ensure our employment policies are fair, robust, and supportive[cite: 4]. I will establish informal listening circles held during non-instructional times so we hear from hourly support staff, cafeteria workers, bus drivers, and custodial teams[cite: 4]. By ensuring our educators have competitive compensation and psychological safety as outlined in our Strategic Plan, we will keep Royal Oak a destination district for top-tier talent[cite: 4].
With the district currently advancing the $160–$165 million Facilities Bond Proposal on the November 3, 2026 ballot, Royal Oak has a generation-defining opportunity to completely revitalize its 9 district sites[cite: 4]. If approved, this 0-millage-increase bond allows the district to build modernized Learning Commons (such as proposed updates at Royal Oak Middle School), enhance STEAM and early childhood spaces, and implement overdue district-wide HVAC and accessibility upgrades without increasing baseline tax rates[cite: 4].
Our educators, para-professionals, and support staff are the foundation of our district's 94% average graduation rate[cite: 4]. A primary challenge is keeping salaries competitive, reducing burnout, and ensuring Royal Oak remains a destination district for top-tier educational talent amidst regional teacher shortages[cite: 4].
When community perspectives, board dynamics, and district leadership collide, a school board member must act as a steady, stabilizing force[cite: 4]. My approach relies on a strict framework of governance: separating personal emotion from institutional policy, and ensuring every decision is filtered through a single question: "How does this directly support the learning, safety, and well-being of Royal Oak students?"[cite: 4]
As a practicing divorce and criminal law attorney, I spend my career operating in high-conflict, emotionally charged situations where stakes are incredibly high[cite: 4]. I am trained to look past rhetoric, de-escalate tension, analyze complex rules, and find path-forward solutions when people are at complete odds[cite: 4]. In the courtroom, arguments mean nothing without evidence[cite: 4]. On the school board, I will apply that same rigor, anchoring evaluations in objective data, educational research, legal frameworks, and administrator expertise[cite: 4].