All students deserve a competent and loving teacher, all schools need the proper materials and personnel to offer a quality education and all parents should be awarded the opportunity to make the educational choice that is best for their children. In that respect, I strongly support Illinois’ “Invest in Kids” need-based scholarship program and encourage parents, educators and elected officials to do the same.

As a 16-year public school teacher and coach, I have experienced the structural challenges as well as the satisfaction of educating at Chicago Public Schools. I have seen firsthand how students are lacking school resources in many ways and how teachers and parents alike wish more was done to help these students. I have also seen the resiliency, and gravitas CPS students provide in overcoming systematic disadvantages. I believe in public education and won’t hesitate to once again participate in strikes in order to safeguard what is in the best interest for public school students and their families.

Similarly, I am willing to publicly demand the rights of low-income families who choose to send their children to parochial schools, charter schools or home school. These students and their families also merit attention and the same concerns and fairness in schooling apply.