MY MESSAGE TO THE CSD BOARD: LET'S MOVE FORWARD, TOGETHER

Tonight, I did something I don’t normally do. I stood up and spoke during the public comment portion of the Christina School District Board of Education meeting. It wasn’t about a single issue or a specific complaint. Instead, I felt compelled to address the atmosphere itself—the lingering sense of conflict that too often seems to overshadow the incredible potential of our schools, our educators, and our students.

Our community deserves a school board that is united in its mission to lift up every child. Our educators and district leaders need unwavering support to do their best work. I spoke tonight to offer a simple plea for collaboration, respect, and a renewed focus on what truly matters. Below are the words I shared, in the hope that they might resonate with others who also wish to see our district move forward with integrity, joy, and love.

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Good evening, members of the Board, Dr. Joyner, and the Christina community.

I’m here tonight not to look backward, but to make a plea for the future our students, families, and educators deserve. We entrusted you to govern our schools with a singular focus: the success and well-being of every child.

Lately, that focus has been clouded by past conflicts. This discord creates instability and distracts from the essential work of educating our children. Their future is simply too important to be sidetracked by adult disagreements.

I urge you, from this moment forward, to make a collective choice to leave the past behind. Choose to listen with respect, find common ground, and model the collaborative spirit we expect from our students.

When you work together as a team, you empower our superintendent to lead with clarity. You show our educators they have a stable, supportive leadership team, which is vital for morale and retention. And you foster an environment where families and community members feel welcomed as active partners.

Let your work be guided by a renewed commitment to serve with operational integrity, hope, joy, and love. Our community is ready to move forward. Our students are full of potential. They need a Board of Education that is united in its purpose and unwavering in its support.

Please, support our superintendent, support our educators, and most importantly, support one another in this vital work. Thank you.