Economic Policy

I've worked in New Gloucester since I was 15 years old, when I could first work under Green Papers, and volunteered at the Pineland Y's summer camp before that. I've worked with children over half my life. Since college, I hoped to move back to Maine and establish myself in a school district where I shared a common interest and knowledge of rural life with my students. My ambitions seemed simple enough after the ease with which I'd found teaching jobs in New Hampshire and Vermont. Over the summer though, I quickly discovered that our LePage era budget hindered school districts so much that I was competing against veteran teachers with decades of experience for full time jobs, or even year long temporary jobs.

Once I am up in Augusta, I intend to find ways to expand our education budget so that schools are able to create entry level jobs for educators. Additional education technician positions will have the triple benefit of allowing educated young professionals to settle in our great state and get a foot in the door at entry level positions, help over burdened teachers in the classroom, and offer support to the next generation of young Mainers while they work hard at the education they deserve.

Education Policy

I've spent the past school year working as an education technician in a preschool special needs classroom. I've wanted to be a kindergarten teacher since elementary school, and worked hard through college to obtain my teacher certification. After completing my practicum and working as a long term sub in New Hampshire and Vermont schools, I knew I had made the right choice in careers. I was excited to return home to Maine and find a school district where I could settle down and be happy with my adult life. However, during the past year I spent almost as much time taking data to prove to the state of Maine and insurance providers that I was an effective teacher than I did actually being an effective teacher. Before I find and commit to a full time classroom job of my own, I feel it is important to go up to August and change our current legislation so that fully trained professional teachers can do what they do best. Teach.