Frequently Asked Questions

Who are a few national political figures you respect?

I'm not really into politics, and don't believe politics should be involved in our school board.  Our board should represent all members of our community, and be independent of any political influence.

How would you describe your personal political affiliation and/or ideology?

I don’t believe partisan politics should play any role in our school board. The board exists to represent the entire community, and I want it to remain independent of outside political influence. My own affiliation is independent — I try to look at the facts, consider what’s best for students and families, and make thoughtful decisions without simply following the crowd.

Why should I vote for you?

First, because I’ve done this before. For nearly 10 years I provided oversight of a half-billion-dollar annual grant to the State of Iowa. I know how to manage complex budgets, ask tough questions, and ensure accountability.

Second, because I’ve been doing the work. I attend board meetings, monitor legislation, review policies and contracts, and speak out when risks appear. I don’t just talk about what needs to be done — I show up and stay engaged.

Finally, because our district has no policy for AI or AGI — and we can’t wait. These technologies will arrive during the next board term, and if we don’t prepare now, we’ll be reacting instead of leading. We need solid policies, processes, and staffing models in place to manage AI-driven education responsibly.

As a software developer and cloud engineer who has worked with major international corporations on preparing their data and infrastructure for AI, I bring the technical expertise our district needs right now — as we begin shaping AI curriculum, updating staffing models, and ensuring our community understands the changes ahead.

I’m not running to be a career board member. I’m asking for just one term — to help establish strong AI and AGI policies, and prepare DCG for what’s coming: Artificial General Intelligence and dynamic AI tutors by 2030.

What motivates you to run for school board?

I’ve lived in Grimes for 25 years and have known many school board members, superintendents, and principals. I’ve followed the board’s work closely for years, but when I attended the 2023 school board candidate forum, I saw firsthand how political agendas were starting to creep into the discussion. That concerned me deeply.

Since then, I’ve been attending nearly every board meeting, reviewing board packets, policies, and contracts, and speaking up when necessary. I’m running because I want to:

  • Strengthen parent engagement policies.

  • Ensure our infrastructure projects get approved and completed.

  • Bring my professional background in software development and cloud engineering to help the district prepare for the rapidly increasing role of AI and, within a few years, Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).


What’s the most important thing our school needs right now in your opinion?

The safety and security of our students is paramount. We need to move forward with our infrastructure plan so families can be confident their kids are safe in school.

What’s the most important thing our school needs right now in your opinion?

The safety and security of our students is paramount. We need to move forward with our infrastructure plan so families can be confident their kids are safe in school.

What is the biggest problem facing our school right now? How can we fix it?

We lack clear policy and a long-term strategy for AI and AGI. Without those, we risk reacting to changes piecemeal, instead of leading with thoughtful planning that puts students first...let me explain.

My two granddaughters in kindergarten (in a different school district) already use iPads and AI-based tools to learn to read.

* Do I know exactly what content those AI tutors are teaching? NO
* Do I have confidence their school district understands the content that AI is teaching them? NO
* Does their school district have clear district policies, procedures, and safeguards for AI in the classroom? NO
* Is their district preparing for the 3-10Gbps bandwidth requirements which will be needed as more AI/AGI on-line learning is implemented?  Not sure, but doubt it

I also believe the district should not rely entirely on vendor-provided AI learning platforms, where the vendor dictates the content. In the future, school districts must establish curriculum committees to provide oversight and guardrails for what AI and AGI systems are teaching our kids.

We can fix it by developing a plan and strategy.  Below is an example:

2025–2026: Laying the Foundation:
Form an AI/AGI Task Force (teachers, parents, students, community)
Conduct an AI Readiness Audit (tech, equity, training gaps)
Draft Interim Guidelines (safe/ethical AI use, vendor transparency)


2027–2028: Building Structure & Capacity:
Adopt a District-Wide Policy Framework (safety, equity, accountability)
Invest in Teacher Training + “AI Coaches”
Pilot Approved AI Tools (measure student success, equity, workload)


2029–2030: Preparing for AGI:
Establish an Office of Digital Learning & AI
Require district approval for all new AI/AGI tools
Integrate AI/AGI as a support tool — keep teachers in charge
Ensure transparency: reports, parent/student advisory boards, appeal process
Plan ahead for 2030+: bias, job shifts, misinformation

Bottom line:
If DCG starts now, we can build clear, equitable, and sustainable policies so that by 2030, AI and AGI will strengthen public education — not undermine it.

Do you hold any religious beliefs?

Yes, I am a person of faith, and I was a member of Grimes United Methodist for 20 years.