Why My Experience as an Educational Planner Matters for Lakewood

When we talk about schools, we often focus on what happens inside the classroom. But behind every classroom is a bigger story of how we plan, design, and sustain the spaces where learning happens. That’s the work I’ve dedicated my career to as an educational planner, and it’s why my professional experience is so valuable to Lakewood at this moment.

I have worked for 20 years as an educational planner and have worked for an architectural firm and a construction firm, which design school buildings for school districts, and I have a total of 25 years’ experience in construction.

What an Educational Planner Does

In my role, I help schools and districts make decisions that shape the future of education. That means:

• Evaluating facilities to see if they meet the needs of today’s students.

• Engaging the community so families, teachers, and students have a voice in decision-making.

• Leading Task Forces to bring together diverse voices and expertise to guide decisions.

• Analyzing data on enrollment, demographics, and usage to plan responsibly for the future.

• Collaborating with architects and leaders to design schools that are flexible, innovative, and welcoming.

At its heart, educational planning is about making smart, sustainable choices that honor both the community’s history and its future.

Why Lakewood Needs This Perspective

Right now, Lakewood is facing big decisions about the future of our schools. Conversations about enrollment, facilities, and potential closures are front and center. These are not just logistical questions- they are community questions. They shape our neighborhoods, our property values, and most importantly, our children’s opportunities.

I bring both the technical expertise to analyze data critically and the practical experience to ensure planning is rooted in community values. Too often, decisions are made with incomplete information or without a long-term vision. I know how to bridge that gap by asking the right questions, listening to stakeholders, and weighing both the numbers and the human impact.

What a Typical Work Day Looks Like For Me

Communication and collaboration are at the heart of my work. A typical week for me involves balancing internal team coordination, client planning sessions and community engagement.

I start the week with internal meetings focused on project updates and business development. From there, much of my time is spent preparing for and leading facilities task force meetings with school districts across the state, where we review enrollment trends, facility assessment data and project priorities.

I often have evening meetings with district task forces or school boards. I make it a point to tour newly built schools with districts who are in the early design phase as those visits provide valuable, firsthand lessons about design decisions that impact teaching and learning.

Equally important is building relationships with school districts and education leaders across the state. My background with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission gives me a strong technical foundation, and I’ve been able to share that knowledge through conference presentations and panel discussions on topics like STEM/STEAM spaces and community-first planning. In fact, in a few weeks I will be participating in a presentation at the Buckeye Association of School Administrators, titled, “Flip the Script. A community-first approach to master facility planning”. This particular school district did their own planning but was not supported by the community 30%-70%. After a few years, they approached my firm and after following our planning process in 2022/2023, they flipped those numbers and passed 68%-32%.

Every part of my week, whether it’s internal prep, community engagement or professional outreach, is aimed at helping districts make smart, future-focused decisions that result in facilities their communities can be proud of and support at the ballot box.

My Commitment to Lakewood

As a candidate for the Lakewood Board of Education, I can bring this lens, formed by 20 years experience, to our district. I understand how to turn challenges into opportunities and how to balance fiscal responsibility with educational excellence. Most importantly, I believe planning should always reflect the heart of a community, not just the bottom line or numbers on a chart.

Our schools are more than buildings. They are the anchors of our neighborhoods, the hubs of our community, and the foundation of our children’s futures (including my own three young Rangers). With my background in educational planning, I am ready to make sure that the decisions for Lakewood today support our residents for generations to come.