Every student deserves access to a high-quality education, and that starts with fully funding our public schools and valuing the people who make them run. That means raising pay for teachers and the dedicated support staff—like bus drivers, paraprofessionals, and cafeteria workers—who help our schools function every day.

I believe school funding should be based on need, so that every child—no matter their ZIP code—has the resources to learn in a safe, inclusive, and supportive environment.

To help address our growing teacher shortage, I sponsored HB 905, which would have allowed retired teachers and school staff to return to the classroom earlier by shortening the mandatory waiting period under the Deferred Retirement Option Program. It was a commonsense solution to an urgent problem.

I also proudly co-sponsored HB 19, which supports students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and HB 271, which proposes a higher minimum salary for full-time teachers. Our educators deserve more than just appreciation—they deserve real support.

I found my voice in advocacy as a teenager at Planned Parenthood. That experience sparked my lifelong commitment to protecting the right to bodily autonomy and personal privacy.

As your State Representative, I’ve worked hard to defend those rights. Access to reproductive healthcare is essential to our freedom and well-being.

That’s why I filed HB 1033, the Reproductive Healthcare Rights bill, which would have restored access to care that was available before Florida’s 15-week abortion ban. While I knew this bill would face challenges in a legislature led by the majority party, I also knew it was important to file it because standing up for our rights requires courage, clarity, and persistence.

I will continue to advocate for policies that protect privacy, promote access to care, and respect the deeply personal decisions individuals make about their own bodies.