WELCOME! I’m pleased to welcome you to my website. Your interest in learning more about my candidacy for the Lee County School Board is most appreciated. As a life-long educator, I’m excited about the opportunity to make a leadership difference in our community. While I’m running to represent district 3, everyone in the county can vote. That’s why I’m pleased to share my thoughts with all citizens in the county. We can MAKE QUALITY A REALITY! But, the challenges require more than rhetoric—talking the talk is not enough; we must walk the talk—put plans into action. We must take steps to improve the quality of education for all students.

Click on the circles to read about my plans for our schools.

We have an unmatched opportunity to make Lee County one of the top ten school districts in the state. Depending upon the criteria you might use that’s a big jump from 40th or 48th out of our 67 counties. (continued below) JOIN LES FOR A "MEET AND GREET THE CANDIDATE" Call for the next planned meeting in your neighborhood: 239-267-4755 The challenge reminds me of a statement made in the 1960’s by Terry Sanford, then governor of North Carolina, that textiles and tobacco were not the future of their state. His commitment to education moved one of the weakest systems in the country into the top ten. While tourism and construction may not serve as a direct parallel, we have the same opportunity. Education is a core value that assures our quality of life, produces an educated workforce and stimulates our economy. It requires a commitment to excellence ensuring that valuable resources add educational value. New financial resources are not coming. We must reallocate funds and make better use of what we have. Investments in our elementary schools are critical. Students who leave the fifth grade without a firm grasp of the basics fall further behind as they progress through the system. We have many good programs, numerous success stories and hundreds of outstanding teachers, but when compared with state and national measures, we fall far short. Our kids deserve better; our community deserves better! My platform illustrates the types of quality improvements that need to be made. We can make Lee County one of the top ten school districts in the state. Help me get on the ballot by clicking on this button, completing the petition and faxing or mailing it to the address at the bottom of the form. I invite you to read my editorial commentaries in the Opinions section of my website.