Having grown up in extremely difficult circumstances, with major childhood trauma and adversity, school was my refuge—and launchpad. I experienced firsthand the transformative power of schools, as places and spaces of safety, stability, access, and opportunity. With caring staff, an excellent education, and hard work, I was able to get all the way to Harvard Law School. I want to ensure that all students in SFUSD have access to the same sense of security and opportunity that I had.

I have advocated for school safety for years. For example, I:

• Led efforts for outdoor learning in SFUSD, including as the safest strategy for reopening schools during the pandemic.

• Worked with District and City officials to address safety breaches at Jefferson Elementary.

• Supported Spanish-speaking families at Everett Middle School in their fight for a safe school environment and outdoor learning.

• Collaborated with the SF Parent Coalition to push for necessary gun safety infrastructure, such as secure door locks and functional PA systems.

SFUSD schools must be equipped with essential safety features, including Columbine locks on classroom doors, fully functional PA systems for emergencies, and secure entry points. These measures, which have been neglected for far too long, are crucial for ensuring the safety of students and staff. It is unacceptable for any school to be without these basic security features. If elected, I will prioritize implementing these improvements across the District to ensure schools are prepared to respond swiftly and effectively in an emergency.

In recognition of my commitment to gun violence prevention, I am proud to be the first 2024 SFUSD School Board candidate to be named a Gun Sense Candidate by Moms Demand Action.

Safety is not limited to physical security; it also includes addressing the mental health challenges that contribute to safety issues in schools. Bullying, violence, and trauma can all affect a student's ability to learn and feel secure. I will advocate for wellness centers, trauma-informed counseling, and other mental health services, particularly for students who have experienced violence or bullying. By addressing these challenges early, we can help prevent future incidents and foster a healthier, more supportive school climate.

Ensuring student safety requires strong partnerships between SFUSD and city agencies, such as MUNI, the Department of Public Works (DPW), and the Department of Children, Youth, and Their Families (DCYF). Too often, safety concerns outside of school grounds are neglected. For example, students, families, and staff should not have to navigate discarded needles and broken glass or worry about being assaulted on buses.

I will push for stronger collaboration with City agencies to address safety risks in the communities surrounding our schools, improving the overall safety of students and families as they travel to and from school.

School safety starts with clean, well-maintained facilities. SFUSD must ensure that all schools are free from physical hazards, adequately staffed with custodial teams, and equipped with modern safety features. The proposed school bond (Proposition A), which focuses on improving and modernizing school facilities, presents a crucial opportunity to make significant progress. As a Board member, I will work to ensure that these funds are used effectively and transparently by pushing for real Board and Central Office oversight and supporting the work of the independent Citizens Bond Oversight Committee (CBOC). We must restore trust in the District’s ability to maintain safe and welcoming schools.

SFUSD has tools such as the California Healthy Kids Survey that measure perceptions of safety and school climate, but we must do a better job of analyzing and acting on this data. By sharing survey results and safety-related metrics with the public, we can build trust with families and demonstrate a commitment to transparency. Additionally, tracking safety complaints and response times for safety-related work orders will help the district remain accountable and responsive to the community’s concerns.

SFUSD’s approach to discipline, including its use of restorative justice, must be balanced with accountability to ensure safety for all students and staff. While restorative justice is an important practice, training in when and how to use restorative justice is crucial, and it must be implemented alongside clear, evidence-based discipline policies that prioritize the safety of everyone in the school community. I will work with staff, families, and experts to evaluate the effectiveness of our current discipline practices and ensure that they create a safer, more inclusive learning environment.