Dora’s Priorities
Career and Life Readiness
Our students' graduation is just the beginning of their journey toward a bright and secure future. It is not enough for them to simply earn a diploma—they must also emerge with real-world skills. With worker shortages in every line of work across the state, I believe investing in education is the way to rebuild our economy. The focus on Career, College, and Life Readiness (CCL) empowers students through career and college experience so they can obtain the necessary skills to make informed decisions about their life after high school. Soon, our school district will expand opportunities that already exist, enabling students to earn certifications in everything from aviation, medical technician, culinary, and child care to college credits through a dual degree program.
Teacher Recruitment & Retention
To attract and retain quality teachers, our school district must offer a fair living wage and provide the tools required for learning. We expect so much from our educators today and the pressure on them is high. Teachers need support from administrators and community leaders so they can focus on students. We can do this by elevating teaching as a desirable profession and ensuring salaries and benefits keep pace with an ever-changing economy. We must work together in supporting smaller class sizes, school safety, and school facility upgrades in order to demonstrate the value Anchorage places on education.
Equity
The recent national focus on standardized testing has illuminated the achievement gap between students from diverse backgrounds and the average student. Specifically, students of color are performing at lower levels than the average student. School communities should support the healthy positive development of students and help them grow their unique gifts and talents. Communities, parents, teachers, and community-based organizations have unique and important solutions for improving outcomes for our students and educational systems. We must welcome the opportunity to be inclusive, make appropriate accommodations, and celebrate the assets of every student. I believe the district should adopt a student-centered, racial equity and social justice-focused lens in all decisions.
School Funding
The key to rebuilding our economy is investing in education. We must have long-term, sustainable, education funding from the state to bolster what Anchorage residents pay through property taxes. As a school board member, I helped streamline the district budget, identify efficiencies, and worked to ensure buildings would be adequately maintained. I supported the effort to keep six schools in the Anchorage district from closing, in response to the community's concerns.
State funding is necessary for education, and the state needs to provide sufficient and reliable funding through the Base Student Allocation (BSA). During the legislative session in Juneau, I spoke to student leaders and asked legislators to raise the BSA so we can keep schools open and pay teachers fairly. Investing in our youth is an investment in our economy and community, and I believe education is the key to success.
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