Access to a strong public education is the foundation of strong communities and the cornerstone of a healthy democracy. But Oregon's schools are confronting rising costs, growing student needs, persistent staffing shortages, and too many years of unstable funding. Every kid deserves a great public education, regardless of their ZIP code, their family's income, or the resources available in their community.

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As a parent of toddlers who will one day attend school in the Greater Albany Public Schools district, I'm committed to protecting and strengthening public education on principle—and because I have skin in the game. Our educators and school staff deserve the resources to do their jobs well, parents deserve confidence that their kids' needs will be met, and students deserve schools set up to help them succeed.

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And that investment needs to begin long before kindergarten. The research is clear: investing in kids during their earliest years is one of the highest-return investments we can make in their future wellbeing and economic stability. Childcare and early learning aren't just family issues—they're education policy, workforce policy, and essential economic infrastructure.

I'll take a cradle-to-career approach to education and opportunity, and prioritize strengthening public education and job training pathways that lead to well-paid careers in Oregon's critical industries. That means:

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• Fully funding our public schools with real accountability: I will fight for stable, equitable K-12 funding that keeps pace with what it actually costs to educate Oregon's kids, while strengthening accountability so additional dollars translate into better outcomes, smaller class sizes, stronger student supports, and the resources educators and classified staff need to succeed.

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• Recruiting and retaining great educators and school employees: I will support effective investments and incentives to recruit and retain the teachers, classified staff, specialists, and other school employees who make public education possible. That means not only addressing teacher shortages, but investing in the educational assistants, counselors, nurses, behavioral health professionals, bus drivers, nutrition workers, custodians, and other staff who provide the essential wraparound supports that make public education possible.

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• Expanding career and technical education: I will invest in CTE programs that give students hands-on experience and direct pathways into careers in construction, advanced manufacturing, healthcare, agriculture, renewable energy, and other industries critical to Oregon's future.

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• Strengthening registered apprenticeships and workforce training: A four-year university degree should never be treated as the only path to a successful life. I will expand registered apprenticeships, trade programs, pre-apprenticeships, and other earn-while-you-learn opportunities that connect Oregonians with family-wage careers without requiring them to take on enormous student debt.

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• Investing in community colleges: Community colleges like Linn-Benton Community College are essential economic engines, providing affordable education, workforce training, career changes, and pathways to four-year degrees. I will fight for stable funding that allows them to keep tuition affordable, expand programs in high-demand fields, and respond directly to regional workforce needs.

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• Making higher education more affordable: I will work to reduce the financial barriers that prevent qualified Oregonians from pursuing college, professional credentials, and advanced training, while strengthening Oregon's public colleges and universities and holding institutions accountable for keeping education accessible and affordable.

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Education doesn't end at graduation, and opportunity shouldn't depend on whether a four-year degree is the right choice for you. Whether someone chooses college, community college, a union apprenticeship, the trades, or another career pathway, Oregon should give them a real opportunity to build a secure future. I'll fight for an education system that invests in our kids from their earliest years, supports the educators and school workers who serve them, and connects learning to real economic opportunity throughout people's lives.