Education
Education
Investing in Our Children's Future
As a former educator for the Oshkosh Area School District and now at Lawrence University I know the importance of a quality education. My commitment is to advocate for policies that create a world-class education for every child, equipping them with the tools to succeed in a changing world. From the classrooms of Waushara County to the schools in Manitowoc and Dodge, our public education system must prioritize quality teaching, modern facilities, and equitable access. I support school choice options but insist they complement, not undermine, our public schools—ensuring transparency in funding diversions like vouchers. I’ll advocate for federal investments that help boost teacher pay, reduce class sizes, and enhance learning environments, while addressing higher education challenges like declining enrollments and supporting alternative paths like trade schools.
Wisconsin’s 6th District grapples with pressing education challenges: Waushara County schools face 10-15% teacher vacancy rates, leading to overcrowded classrooms and strained resources, while statewide vacancies hover at 2,400 unfilled positions in 2025. Public school enrollment has declined by nearly 2% to about 759,800 students in the 2025-26 year, partly due to voucher programs diverting $700.7 million in taxpayer funds to private schools (up $69 million from last year) with 46% of private school students now on vouchers, siphoning $357.5 million from public aid. Per-pupil spending stands at $14,882, below the national average, contributing to chronic underfunding and teacher turnover, with only 55.6% of first-time teachers remaining in Wisconsin after seven years. Rural areas like those in our district suffer from health professional shortages in schools, with 20% of mental health needs unmet, and special education retention at a low 46%. Higher education faces a "demographic cliff," with enrollment dropping 5% statewide since 2019 due to fewer high school graduates, threatening institutions like UW Oshkosh and trade programs vital for our manufacturing economy. Representative Glenn Grothman has exacerbated these issues, opposing Affordable Care Act expansions that support school health services, backing budgets that slash public funding, and supporting voucher expansions without safeguards—diverting resources from public schools while voting against measures to strengthen educator expertise and local control, such as opposing bills that undermine teacher-led curricula. His anti-higher ed stance echoes attacks on institutions, prioritizing ideology over support for colleges and trade schools. It’s time for leadership that values public education. My proposals aim to increase funding, address shortages, and ensure accountability, creating brighter prospects for every child and young adult in our district.
Below is my blueprint to revitalize public education in Wisconsin’s 6th District. These initiatives cater to the aspirations of our families, educators, and students, fostering excellence and inclusion across our communities.
Increase federal aid to public schools, prioritizing districts like ours with high vacancy rates, to enhance per-pupil spending from $14,882 and reduce reliance on local referendums, which have surged due to stagnant state support. This will help address chronic underfunding and support essential programs without overburdening local taxpayers.
Why I’m Different: Grothman has backed budgets slashing public education funds, exacerbating Wisconsin’s funding lag. I’ll secure investments to strengthen our schools.
Provide federal grants to raise teacher salaries by 15-20%, targeting the 10-15% vacancy rates in Waushara County and statewide 2,400 unfilled positions, while offering loan forgiveness for educators in underserved areas to improve retention, where only 55.6% of new teachers stay after seven years. This commitment values educators as the foundation of quality learning
Why I’m Different: Grothman opposed measures supporting educator expertise, undermining local control. I’ll value teachers with competitive pay and incentives.
Higher education costs have soared, with average tuition at $10,000 yearly for in-state public colleges, burdening families. I support expanding Pell Grants to cover more middle-class students, providing targeted grants for booming fields like AI, tech, and trades that meet future workforce needs, and implementing a plan for free higher education starting with the first two years at community colleges for an associate's degree, with a pathway to expand coverage over time.
Why I’m Different: Grothman’s policies ignore rising costs and demographic shifts. I’ll make higher ed accessible and aligned with economic demands.
Millions carry $1.7 trillion in student debt nationwide, with Wisconsin graduates averaging $31,000. I support broad student loan relief, including forgiveness for public service workers, income-driven repayment reforms, and targeted cancellations to alleviate burdens without overpromising universal erasure, ensuring relief reaches those most in need.
Why I’m Different: Grothman opposes debt relief, favoring lenders over borrowers. I’ll advocate for fair forgiveness to free up futures.
Provide federal support for universal pre-K access, extending high-quality early learning to all 4-year-olds in Wisconsin, building on programs that boost long-term outcomes and counter Grothman’s past push to defund similar initiatives, rated false for lacking evidence.
Why I’m Different: Grothman sought to eliminate early education funding, dismissing benefits. I’ll ensure every child starts strong.
Fund school-based mental health services, adding counselors and telehealth in rural areas where only 20% of needs are met, addressing the crisis affecting 1 in 5 youth and reducing teacher burnout from high vacancies. This prioritizes holistic student well-being as essential to learning.
Why I’m Different: Grothman supported budgets slashing mental health funding, worsening our crisis. I’ll integrate mental health to support students and educators.
Allocate federal resources for vocational training and STEM programs, partnering with unions and local industries in Manitowoc to prepare students for high-demand jobs, bridging the gap in districts with declining enrollment.
Why I’m Different: Grothman’s focus overlooks workforce readiness. I’ll equip kids for real-world success.
Support school choice but require full transparency in voucher programs, which divert $700.7 million from public schools in 2025-26 (up $69 million) with 46% of private students on vouchers; mandate reporting on funds siphoned from public aid ($357.5 million) to prevent draining resources. Reforms should include capping voucher amounts to essential needs, prohibiting over-allocation that exceeds public per-pupil costs, and requiring private schools to demonstrate fiscal efficiency to avoid taxpayer waste, ensuring choice doesn’t starve public education.
Why I’m Different: Grothman expands vouchers without oversight, shifting burdens to public schools. I’ll balance choice with public school protection.
Direct federal resources to rural districts like Waushara, addressing health professional shortages (104 primary care HPSAs statewide) and enrollment drops, ensuring equitable funding and resources for special education, where retention is only 46%. This upholds fairness in opportunity for all students.
Why I’m Different: Grothman’s cuts exacerbate rural disparities. I’ll bridge gaps for all students.
Increase federal special education funding, reimbursing districts for high costs and improving retention, where only 18.6% of special ed teachers stay in the same school after seven years, supporting inclusive learning.
Why I’m Different: Grothman backed reductions ignoring special needs. I’ll fully fund to meet every child’s potential.
Higher education enrollment has dropped 5% statewide since 2019 due to fewer high school graduates. I’ll secure federal aid for institutions like UW Oshkosh, funding retention programs, online expansions, and partnerships to stabilize enrollment and prevent closures.
Why I’m Different: Grothman overlooks non-traditional paths. I’ll expand options for diverse career success.
Trade schools offer vital alternatives, with demand for skilled trades rising 15% in Wisconsin. I’ll allocate federal resources for apprenticeships, equipment upgrades, and scholarships, partnering with unions to prepare students for high-paying jobs without four-year degrees.
Why I’m Different: Grothman aligns with attacks on higher ed. I’ll defend institutions as engines of opportunity.
Higher ed shouldn’t be a political target. I’ll oppose efforts to defund or attack institutions, as seen under Trump, and instead promote federal grants for research, diversity, and free speech protections at colleges like those in our district.
Why I’m Different: Grothman aligns with attacks on higher ed. I’ll defend institutions as engines of opportunity.
I’m seeking Congress because Wisconsin’s 6th District merits a leader who invests in our children’s education, not one who cuts corners. Raised in Wisconsin, my family’s hardships instilled in me the value of opportunity through education. That drive led me to be the first in my family to earn a college degree, and it’s informed my firsthand experience in the field: as an educator in the Oshkosh Area School District, I saw the daily challenges of underfunded classrooms and dedicated teachers stretched thin; now at Lawrence University, I witness the demographic cliff’s impact on higher ed and the need for robust support. Glenn Grothman’s track record of opposing educator expertise, backing voucher expansions that drain public funds without transparency, and supporting budgets slashing school aid undermines our public schools and attacks higher education. I’ll champion increased funding, teacher support, accountable choice, and protections for colleges and trade schools, delivering the education our kids deserve.
My initiatives are anchored in equity, investment, and accountability. By raising teacher pay, modernizing facilities, ensuring transparent school choice, and addressing higher ed’s demographic cliff while supporting trade schools, we can forge an education system that prepares every student in our district for success. United, we can elevate public education as a foundation for prosperity.