Like many of you, when my husband and I were deciding on a place to live, we chose Hudson in large part because of the quality of the schools. Our children are now in 7th and 8th grades but they attended River Crest and Hudson Prairie before attending the middle school. In each school we have found a supportive and welcoming community... we have loved having our children in the Hudson school district!
Over the years, I have volunteered and helped out in a variety of ways to support our schools. Like many parents in the early years, I helped with the fun and chaotic holiday parties and by chaperoning field trips. I have also had the opportunity to participate in committees such as the Elementary Re-boundary Committee in 2018, the Human Growth and Development Committee in 2023 and currently participate in the Teaching and Learning Committee. During the pandemic, I temporarily supported lunchroom/recess duties and had a front-row seat to the extraordinary dedication of Hudson School District to keeping kids in school. Their efforts cannot be applauded enough.
I volunteer for the Hudson Backpack program and chair the Vibrant Communities Fund, run by the St. Croix Valley Foundation, which focuses grant funding to support organizations working to address mental health needs in our community. These experiences have shown me the deep commitment our community has to Hudson schools and each to other – I truly believe our community sees that we thrive when everyone is supported.
I am committed to the success of the District in serving all students, staff, and the community. I believe in the importance of every student feeling accepted and valued for who they are and that they know their school community is there for them. I also believe success is more likely when there is a strong partnership between schools, parents and the community.
My professional background is in public health. My career has taught me to utilize and value quantitative and qualitative data – the numbers help us identify areas of concern, and the stories help us better understand the “why” and how to help address those areas of concern. I have had the privilege of collaborating with public and private sectors to translate research and data into actionable programs and policy initiatives. I spend a fair amount of my time leading or listening to focus groups and community conversations to better understand an issue and help identify options for how to best to move forward.
I have a strong understanding of how state and federal legislation direct and impact funding streams, the importance of policy, and the distinction between setting policy (which is what the Board does) and implementation of policy (which is what the administration does).
Thank you for visiting my campaign website and I ask for your vote this spring!
Sincerely,
Maria
"Every person deserves respect and kindness in every conversation. Until we walk in another's shoes or stand in their viewpoint we cannot fully understand
our world or our community."
