DEI: A "Four-Letter" Word? (Wait... Three.)

Let’s talk about DEI. Three little letters that have been tossed around so much, they’ve become almost radioactive in political conversations. But when we strip away the buzzwords and the partisan noise, what are we really talking about?

Diversity. Equity. Inclusion.

Three simple concepts—ones that, at their core, have always been part of our schools, our workplaces, and our communities. And yet, somehow, DEI has become the issue to be either fiercely defended or completely discarded, with very little room for nuance.

Here’s the truth: Anytime the government tries to legislate morality, it usually doesn’t go well. No one—left, right, or center—likes being forced into a box, told what to think, or handed a list of "approved" words. And yet, when we talk about our schools, our teachers, our students, and even our Board, we’re already talking about diversity.

Look around.

We have kids with IEPs who need individualized support to learn. We have Black students who deserve to know their history—not a sanitized version that glosses over the struggles that, in some cases, were lived by people still in our community today. (In fact, one of my fellow school board candidates lived through segregation in her own lifetime.) We have students whose families have just moved here from other countries, students from single-parent homes, and students being raised by grandparents.

That’s diversity. It isn’t a government program; it’s just reality.

We also have to make sure that every child—regardless of background—gets what they need to succeed. That’s equity.

And inclusion? It’s about making sure that every student who walks through the doors of Conway Public Schools feels safe, valued, and supported—not just in good hands, but great hands.

So where does the problem come in?

The problem comes when mandates and bureaucracy take over. When well-intentioned initiatives become political tools. When, instead of lifting kids up, DEI gets turned into a weapon that forces compliance rather than fosters understanding. When the focus shifts from education to enforcement.

I believe in supporting all students, all families, and all teachers. What I don’t believe in? Unfunded mandates that burden schools with red tape and bureaucracy that takes time away from what matters most—educating kids.

As a school board member, my role won’t be to enforce a political agenda.
It won’t be to tell kids what to think—but to ensure they have the skills to think critically for themselves. It won’t be to force anyone to celebrate anything—but to make sure every student has the opportunity to feel seen, safe, and supported in their education.

DEI, in its purest form, isn’t a threat. But when it becomes bureaucracy over common sense, it turns into exactly what so many people fear: a system that dictates instead of educates.

And that’s where I draw the line.

Conway’s schools don’t need a political battleground. We need classrooms that focus on preparing kids for the future, not pushing partisan agendas. We need a school board that values all students, while ensuring parents have a voice, teachers have support, and tax dollars are spent wisely.

I’m running for the Conway School Board, At-Large to do just that.

Let's get back to focusing on what truly matters: strong schools, great teachers, and students who leave our classrooms ready to take on the world.

TL;DR:

DEI—Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion—shouldn’t be a political battleground. Diversity is already a reality in our schools, equity ensures every child gets what they need, and inclusion means every student feels safe and supported. The problem isn’t DEI itself—it’s when bureaucracy and mandates turn it into a political tool instead of a common-sense approach to education.

As a School Board member, I won’t push political agendas. I’ll focus on education first—ensuring students learn how to think, not what to think. No forced compliance, no unnecessary bureaucracy—just strong schools, great teachers, and students who leave ready for the future.

Let’s get back to what really matters.