*Safety. As a parent of current students, Jake recognizes that every parent lives in an unfortunate state of fear for the safety of his or her children. While it’s true that we as parents are raising our children in different times than the times of our youth, there is no reason that a trepidatious learning environment needs to be a foregone conclusion. Jake believes that OCPS needs to create safe learning environments where teachers are respected, students are respectful, mental health counseling and intervention is available, and physical surroundings are secure.

*Literacy Proficiency. Students across the Country and District are facing a literacy crisis. OCPS has a reading proficiency rate hovering around 60% across grade levels. Jake's goal is to have every k-2 teacher properly trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach within the science of reading. This "gold-standard" approach has a proven track record to significantly increase the literacy proficiency with all types of students. Jake believes increasing literacy will positively alter the trajectory of student success.

*Growing Career and Technical Education. As a former CTE teacher, Jake is committed to growing our CTE/Trade programs at OCPS. He believes that strategic partnerships with industry leaders will drive innovation and grow our CTE programs. Ultimately, CTE/Trade programs connect rigor and relevance for an educational experience that is truly valuable.

* Teacher Support. OCPS has amazing and talented teachers who are stretched and stressed to the limit. Just as our students need a village of support, so do OCPS teachers. Jake wants to do a better job of empowering our teachers, understanding their needs and supporting their classrooms so that we stop losing talent to other professions and can attract the best and brightest for our classrooms.