Candidate for
Board Member; Alvord Unified School District

PHILOSOPHY ON EDUCATION THE TRUSTED CHOICE FOR ALVORD

The health of a community can be measured by its schools. Our public schools are critical for homeland security. A free, safe, and democratic society requires a well-educated population. In order for our children to be properly educated I feel that our public schools need to operate efficiently and effectively. The following eight points outline my philosophy on education:

• T - Teachers are the Most Important Element in the Classroom

o Districts should not establish standards or set curriculum without input from the teachers who actually teach them, or without giving them the help and resources they need to meet them.

o In order to do their jobs effectively teachers must be provided a positive, safe, and professional work environment.

• R - Return Local Control of Education

o The Federal and State Departments of Education set academic standards, however funding received and resources used should be allocated and acquired by local school districts.

o Local control + means the local community. Every member of the community needs to be involved in the education of our children; parents, teachers, staff, and businesses.

o As a local school board I believe we need to plan for our future inevitable growth. All plans for new schools need to be placed on a fast track, our solutions devised for existing schools.

o I believe a school board member's job exceeds beyond a board room, and their local district. As elected officials they need to demand the resources their district needs including adequate funding, and fight against harmful educational legislation.

• U - Utilize Creative Solutions + Eliminate Ineffective Ones

o I believe specialized programs such as academies, vocational instruction, and advanced learning courses need to be expanded across the district.

o Ineffective programs such as NovaNet + online learning courses + are supplements and should not become a replacement to classroom learning. I do not believe that "social promotion" is an adequate answer to meeting student's needs.

• S - Student Needs are the Priority

o Local schools exist for the purpose of educating our children; they should always be the focus of our decisions. We need to be cheap with our administrative dollars and generous with our student dollars to maximize the available resources to students.

o I believe that every student should have a textbook to use in class and take home each day. We need to promote parity among schools so that all students have equal access to technology, facilities, and instructional materials.

o I believe that we need to offer healthy food choices and provide attractive, clean facilities so that our students have the best educational experience.

• T - Teaching Kids Means Also Educating Them

o All students must have access to extra-curricular activities regardless of funding or ability. I believe teamwork, leadership, and discipline need to be fostered so that our students are well rounded individuals.

o I believe that community service should be incorporated as part of the educational curriculum. Our children must also learn to become active citizens with good character and morals.

• E - Education Support Professionals + Extraordinary Spectacular People

• D - Decrease the Quantity of Tests and Standards

o I do not believe that pacing guides are an effective tool to assist with education; they in fact leave some children behind. I believe district benchmarks only add to the load of tests students currently have, and should be eliminated.

These eight points outline my philosophy on the operations of the public schools system. Every educational decision I make will follow these guidelines ensuring fiscal responsibility, sensible leadership, and accountable representation + demonstrating why I am the TRUSTED choice for education.