Education

‍New York's public education system needs a renewed focus on preparing students for success in school, work, and life.

We should return to the proven fundamentals of learning. Greater use of paper, pencil, and cursive writing helps develop memory, concentration, critical thinking, and fine motor skills. Screens should be used purposefully—not as a replacement for teaching. Except where technology is the subject being taught, classrooms should emphasize direct instruction, books, discussion, and hands-on learning.

Our academic priorities should be reading, writing, mathematics, science, and civics. Every student should graduate with strong literacy, numeracy, and problem-solving skills.

Parents are a child's first teachers. Schools are most successful when parents, teachers, and students work together with shared expectations and accountability. Most teachers work hard every day under difficult circumstances and deserve both our respect and our support.

We must raise standards for public education while providing competitive salaries that attract and retain outstanding teachers. Excellence in teaching should be rewarded with professional development, classroom support, and opportunities for advancement.

School districts should also review administrative staffing and procedures to ensure more education dollars reach classrooms rather than bureaucracy. Resources should be directed toward teachers, students, and academic achievement.

A four-year college degree is no longer the only path to a successful career. High schools should greatly expand career and technical education, including skilled trades, apprenticeships, manufacturing, construction, healthcare, cybersecurity, engineering, artificial intelligence, and computer programming. Students should graduate with marketable skills and multiple pathways to success, whether that means college, vocational training, military service, or entering the workforce.

At the university level, administrative growth should be reduced so that more resources can be invested in full-time faculty, research, and student instruction. Colleges should rely less on adjunct labor and provide professors with the respect, academic freedom, and support necessary to deliver a world-class education.

Education should equip every student—not just for the next test, but for a lifetime of learning, productive work, and engaged citizenship.