Great Expectations

By William "Bill" Hajdu

This paper comments on my expectations of the school system and the qualifications I bring to the job of overseeing it.

Cheryl Kinsman's statement in a recent issue of the Coastline News was on-target; financial leadership is crucial. I will put in the time and effort to analyze and monitor the school budget and bring my experience to the task. As an Air Force officer stationed at RAF Mildenhall, England, I managed the budget for the base commander, a program with twenty-eight cost centers, including the library and administrative services.

At a recent Board meeting Director Rabago reaffirmed his commitment to long range planning. This function is also critical if we are to insure the continued excellence of our schools into the future, a future characterized by an accelerating rate of change. I will continue his efforts and add my experience. In one of my two plans-officer assignments I was responsible for worldwide planning for wartime Air Force human resources intelligence operations.

Speaking of the future, I'm a member of the World Future Society and have given considerable thought to futures scenarios for society in general and education in particular. I hope fellow board members, teachers and administrators will follow my example and join the society and occasionally attend a convention.

Leadership by example is a great thing the Air Force taught me. I would not ask others to do anything I haven't done. Along these lines I would ask two things of our teachers and administrators.

First, I challenge you to instill the value of education in our students---as I have. My daughter graduated from the University of California, Berkeley, and now supervises their computer labs. My son graduated from the University of Washington and is now a program manager at Microsoft. Both plan on going back to school for advanced degrees.

And, I challenge you to bring out the best in every student, whether a student like my second son who graduated through your special education program or the most gifted young artist or computer whiz in town. When I was tutoring gifted and talented (GATE) in Irvine, a doctor brought her daughter to me, saying she was bright but not good in math. I told the girl I didn't believe she was bad in math and that I expected her to be one of the best. Today she is in the GATE program and excels in math.

I have seven years teaching experience in over 20 public schools, including every middle and high school in Laguna Beach, Newport Beach and Irvine. I have been fortunate to teach in some of the best schools in the state and to be exposed to a variety of approaches that have led to excellence. I will share what I have learned and bring my experience to our common task, providing the best possible school system for Laguna Beach.

Thank you.