Let's give our kids the education they deserve.

I was raised here in Town and Country by two lifelong teachers, and I returned here so I could work for an educational institution and provide an excellent education to my four kids.

In our district, we don't just value an excellent education; we demand it. We expect a high-quality learning environment—safe, up to date, respectful and inclusive, expertly and intentionally led.

Missouri's teachers are among our greatest resources. Any parent who lived through the "home schooling" of the pandemic knows just how hard the job of a teacher can be, and our teachers deserve to be professionally compensated.

We love our children. We go out of our way to provide the best in every part of their life. We should do the same when it comes to preparing them for success.

I chose the words "professionally compensated" rather than "competitively compensated" because existing pay scales for teachers across the state and nationwide are insufficient. Our teachers are professionals—they are highly trained advanced degree holders, with deep expertise and knowledge. They command classrooms that contain a diversity of abilities, backgrounds, and interests, and learning styles; they take their work home with them; they provide 360º of care for our children like members of the family.

I grew up witnessing the devotion of our teachers day in and day out, and now I am honored to work alongside them. I know that we love our children. We go out of our way to provide the best in every part of their life. We should do the same when it comes to the most important preparation for adulthood.