Aena presented her educational philosophy and plans for Birch Grove School for the Arts during the council meeting. She emphasized her deep commitment to the arts and explained how she believes artistic expression enhances student learning across all subjects.

Aena brings substantial leadership experience to the position. She previously served as principal at Crestview Elementary and as an assistant principal at Oakview. Throughout her career, she has maintained a student-centric approach, emphasizing the importance of recognizing children's intelligence and creating joyful, intellectually stimulating learning environments.

For Birch Grove, Aena outlined specific plans to strengthen the school's arts focus. She intends to integrate fine arts more deeply into the curriculum and plans to launch a gardening club, which she views as both an artistic and community-building initiative. She also expressed personal interests in gardening and spending time with her grandchildren, suggesting she brings hands-on experience to such projects.

Aena stressed the importance of community connection, noting her desire to live and work in the neighborhood where Birch Grove is located. She expressed enthusiasm about engaging with students, teachers, and staff to ensure a successful school year ahead. No votes were recorded during this meeting, which appeared to be an informational session introducing the candidate to council members and the community.