Why Schools and Childcare Must Be Treated as Essential Infrastructure

As a working mom, I know firsthand how difficult it is to juggle competing demands, and how expensive it is to get help.  We need to make childcare accessible and affordable.

Strong communities are built on strong support for families. I’ll work with county and state partners to advocate for our schools, invest in early childhood care, and use city planning tools to help meet the urgent need for affordable childcare. Every family should feel supported in raising the next generation.

Families can’t fully participate in our economy—or our community—without reliable, affordable childcare and strong neighborhood schools. I’ll lead efforts to turn unused city spaces into childcare centers, offer incentives for businesses to step up, and bring together public and private partners to expand access. Because when we invest in care, we invest in everyone’s future.

Childcare isn’t a luxury infrastructure. Just like roads and water, it’s essential to how our city functions and how families thrive. Yet too many parents in Frederick are left with limited options, long waitlists, and high costs.

That’s why I’ll treat childcare and education support as core responsibilities of a growing city. I’ll push for creative use of city-owned spaces for childcare centers, explore incentives for local businesses to support working families, and pursue public-private partnerships that expand access without putting the burden solely on parents. We’ll also work closely with state and county partners to bring more funding home to Frederick and make sure our schools and childcare facilities reflect the needs of our growing community. Adequacy of schools is not a city problem or a county problem; we both have skin in the game.  We must work together to make our school system great.

At the end of the day, childcare and schools aren’t side issues — they are the foundation of a thriving Frederick. When we support families, we strengthen our economy, our neighborhoods, and our shared future. As your At-Large City Councilmember, I will fight to ensure every parent has access to reliable, affordable care and every child has the chance to succeed in a great school. Together, we can build a Frederick where families don’t just get by — they thrive.

I’d love to hear your thoughts — what challenges have you faced with childcare or schools in Frederick?

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Thank you for your support and I'm honored to earn your vote on September 9th.