Stakeholders have identified barriers to success:

Chronic Absenteeism: Many students face barriers leading to frequent absences, such as transportation issues, health problems, and family responsibilities.

Resource Inequities: There are significant disparities in access to educational resources, including technology, books, and extracurricular opportunities.

Mental Health and Well-being: Students increasingly struggle with mental health issues, which impact their focus and academic performance.

Engagement and Relevance: Students often feel disconnected from the curriculum, finding it unengaging or irrelevant to their lives and future goals.

Teacher Support and Retention: Teachers need more support and resources to effectively manage their classrooms and address diverse student needs and to prevent turnover.

I would work to:

Improve Attendance: Develop targeted initiatives to address the root causes of absenteeism, by providing reliable transportation options, school-based health services, and flexible scheduling for students with family responsibilities.

Ensure Equitable Resource Distribution: Advocate for equitable funding and resource allocation to ensure all schools have necessary materials, technology, and extracurricular programs. Implement a needs-based funding model to address disparities.

Enhance Mental Health Support: Increase funding for school counselors, social workers, and mental health programs. Create partnerships with local mental health organizations.

Curriculum Relevance and Engagement: Promote curriculum reforms including curriculum and culturally relevant content and experiential learning opportunities. Support project-based learning and career-oriented programs that engage students and connect education to real-world applications. Support Teacher Development and Retention: Invest in professional development, mentorship programs, and competitive salaries for teachers. Foster a supportive work environment to retain experienced educators and reduce turnover.