Service, Recovery, and the Work Ahead: Supporting Waynesboro School Recovery
After taking the past week to focus on my family and our community, I wanted to share a reflection with our neighbors today.
Twenty-five years ago today, I was sitting in tenth-grade chemistry class when our world changed. I remember the confusion, the rumors, and the suffocating uncertainty. When I got home, I watched my dad, a career firefighter, pack his gear to head toward ground zero to serve and help with recovery in the only way he knew how. That day became an inflection point that shaped my commitment to public service forever.
Nine days ago, my son experienced his own inflection point at Westwood Hills Elementary.
As a family and a community, we are still processing the shock, the questions, and the uncertainty of that morning. But just like my dad twenty-five years ago, my commitment is to step up and serve our community so that we move forward safely, clearly, and together. A real, lasting Waynesboro school recovery starts with showing up for one another.
Two Essential Commitments to Waynesboro School Recovery
Over the last two decades, our understanding of emergency recovery has deepened. Moving our community forward through Waynesboro school recovery requires two equal, unwavering commitments: uncompromising physical protection and proactive mental health support for our students, teachers, and staff. One cannot succeed without the other. We must secure our schools and streamline our emergency communications—and we must ensure our classrooms remain places of joy, stability, and focused learning.
As a Westwood parent and your candidate for School Board in Ward D, I am focused on listening and doing the work to support Waynesboro school recovery.
Connecting in Our Neighborhoods This Weekend
This weekend, I will be walking through our Ward D neighborhoods to check in on families, listen to your concerns, and talk about how we keep our schools safe and strong. If you see me on your street, please stop me to chat. If I miss you, or if you just need a listening ear, please reach out directly.
We move forward together.
Although we were not able to spend much time with you when you came through the neighborhood we were impressed with the time you took on a weekend day to introduce yourself. We are new to Waynesboro but have heard that perhaps the city needs new, more forward thinking leadership. You have our support.