Summit County is my home. Within these mountains I found a career I love. As a registered dietitian and lactation consultant I have been able to work with countless growing families in our community. Working with families inspires me daily to never stop learning. I strive to meet families where they are at and help facilitate progress towards achieving their infant feeding and family nutrition goals. I am grateful that my job has allowed me to play a small part in parents’ journeys of raising their families. It is an honor to serve families within our community.

Summit County is also where I met my husband and started a family. Becoming parents sparked conversations and raised the question, “Is this where we want our kids to go to school?” That question brought to light that I don’t know enough about our school district, so I started asking questions. I have heard things that are discouraging and things that inspire me. Stories both good and bad about students whom I worked with before they could speak. Listening to opinions put me on a quest to understand more about where my own children and all the children who have come through my office are now spending their days. On my path of learning about the school district I decided that the best way to be involved is to step up and work together to celebrate successes, tackle challenges and strive to make Summit School District the best it can be.

I am a product of, and I believe in, public education. I want what is best for all students. Teachers want what is best for all students. I support our teachers and on the school board I want to hold our system accountable so that our students receive the best opportunities possible.

I am endorsed by both the Summit County Education Association and Voces Unidas.

Priority No. 1: Literacy

Children need to learn to read and write. They need to understand math. Test scores do not paint the whole picture, but academics can open doors for our youth. Students should not advance through school if they do not meet grade-level standards. Students need to be proficient. I am hopeful that test scores can continue to improve, achievement gaps can be addressed, and students can be engaged and excited about academic opportunities.

Priority 2: Safety

If students are expected to learn, they need to feel safe. If teachers are expected to teach, they need to feel safe. School safety directly impacts academic success, emotional wellbeing and social development. Safe and secure school environments are essential for our students to thrive. I hope to promote and advocate for physical security measures, proactive mental health strategies, and community and incident response. Mental health strategies include efforts to combat bullying, promote social-emotional learning, and foster positive relationships. Our Summit County community needs to take responsibility for protecting our youth. Not just those who work within our district but parents as well. We need to teach our students to look out for one another, take accountability for their actions and intervene or report incidents to adults. As a community we need to take both responsibility and action to work together to ensure our schools are safe and thriving.

Priority No. 3: Value good humans

I want all our students to leave our district as contributing members to society who are proud of where they came from. Students are the heart of our community and are our future. We need to value all the people who help each of our students meet their full potential. Teachers, bus drivers, cafeteria workers, administrators, janitors, every staff member within our district needs to be valued in their commitment and efforts to help all our students succeed.

Whitney Horner is a candidate for Summit School District Board of Education. She can be reached at whityeehorner@gmail.com.