I’m sorry to hear that, of course, but thank you for participating in the DFL City Convention!

Lori Norvell is not seeking re-election, so District 5 is an open seat.

So far, the candidates for District 5 are me and Becca Dryden.

Bigger picture, five of the nine board director seats are up for election this fall. They are: District 5, District 3, District 1 and two At-Large seats.

Shortest possible summary:

Safety and Freedom from Fear for our everyone in our schools–students, educators and staff.

This includes thwarting gun violence, protecting our students from discrimination, and keeping students and families safe from the kind of violence we saw with the ICE invasion.

I’m a tenacious and skilled leader who believes deeply in Minneapolis Public Schools.

The school board is my destination, not a stepping stone to a political career. My daughter is enrolled in Kindergarten. Our MPS journey is just beginning. Whatever my role, I am determined to keep working until MPS is out of our current crisis and thriving on solid ground.

I have the right skills and experience to address the current crisis:

deep understanding of complex financials.

experience as both a leader and a board member; clarity on the tough questions that oversight requires.

skilled in bridge-building, including directly advocating for important causes at the Minnesota Legislature

A strong public school system benefits us all. Public education is at the heart of community and essential for a functioning democracy.

Just like our health care system, our public schools are often undermined by large corporate interests and political forces. For example:

• Charter school licensors in MN have a direct financial incentive to renew licenses regardless of how well the charters under their management are serving students.

• Tech companies are pushing AI as a solution to large class sizes.

• In cities and towns nationwide, MAGA candidates are flooding elections for school board seats.

Keep in mind that strong public schools have long existed alongside private academies and will continue to do so. And while some charter schools don’t achieve their goals, some are excellent.

What we can’t lose sight of is that companies have significant financial incentive to undermine our public institutions’ success. Whether it’s Hennepin County Medical Center, our libraries, or our public schools–we must protect the public institutions that are the backbone of city.

My whole thing is that I don’t quit. So it’s hard to agree in advance that I’ll give up just a few weeks after I’ve launched my campaign.

That said, I’ve served as a DFL delegate, and I know what it’s like to sit in a school auditorium for many, many hours. For a candidate to declare they won’t adhere to endorsement–well, that really sucks to hear.

So I’m holding off on making a decision and am always interested to hear people’s thoughts on THE question that defines all questions at the DFL conventions.

Three of my core values are transparency, communication, and providing way too many options.

• Let me know how to text, call, or contact you when it’s most convenient.

• Call or text me at:

• Email me at:

• Send me your feedback and priorities via this survey.

• Or send me your question on Marco Polo.

Amazing – thank you! If you haven’t already, could you fill out this form? It will be a huge help.

All information is kept confidential.