Public Schools Need Parents

Last week, my tenure as the Newberg-Dundee Public Schools Board Chair came to an end. The four years I spent on the school board were amazing. They were a mix of being hard, easy, fun, difficult, and all the emotions you can think of. I wouldn’t change an thing about my experience, because I, along with my fellow board members, were given an opportunity to make history at a time where school boards needed to stand up for kids. It was necessary for Newberg-Dundee schools to be at the center of a parent-led movement, that demanded accountability from public school officials. With all of the pushback and media outrage, it was still a pleasure to serve, even though at times it was difficult to navigate. I sincerely wish the newly elected Newberg-Dundee School Board members all the success in the world. I want our schools to be better for our kids, and I will continue to pray for their safety and well-being.

If we are to save and revitalize public schools, it’s going to require that parents rise up and get involved. Parents are the key to the success of our public schools. It is vital for parents to understand that public schools have drastically changed since they were in school. It is not the same experience, and their children are being taught ideology that strongly contradicts the American value system. Parents also have to know that they have the numbers and the power to influence what happens in public schools, in a big way. But in order for positive change to occur, they will need to stand up and demand that their voices be heard. We see the mama bears out there fighting. We need the dad’s to stand up and fight as well! They are key to winning the battle for our children’s hearts and minds. It’s OK for men to play golf, go fishing, coach baseball and football. BUT IT’S NOT OK FOR MEN TO NOT STAND UP AND BE LEADERS. This country needs good men to start leading. They need to protect their wives, their families, their daughters who are having their identities stolen from them. Women have been carrying the burden for too long. I’m not saying that women aren’t capable of leading. They have many God-given strengths and skills that men will never have, and men have skills that women will never have. We need to stop arguing over who can do what, combine our strengths, step into our roles, and work together to take back out children and save our schools!