League of Women Voters - Text of Opening and Closing Speech

By Judi Carmona

For those who were unable to be present at the Candidates Forum hosted by the League of Women Voters on 10/21/10, what follows are my Opening and Closing Remarks

Good evening. My name is Judi Carmona and I am running for a two year term on the Placentia-Yorba Linda School Board.

I thank you for attending tonight. An engaged electorate and parents who care deeply about the education their children receive are part of what makes our community so special.

I would like to begin by thanking the other candidates who are seeking terms on the school board. You are waging a positive, issues-oriented campaign and are good hearted people who, like our audience, care deeply about education. I am proud of the civility of our electioneering, very unlike what we have seen in other state and local campaigns.

I commend the volunteerism and business background which many of my opponents possess. Like them, my first career was in business, specifically, personnel management. My last position before going into education was as the Employment Manager of St. Joseph and Children's Hospital of Orange County.

Also like my opponents, I dedicated years of volunteer hours in sports, scouts, and school activities. It was during those many hours in classroom and school service that I recognized my passion for education. I became a teacher and for the last over 20 years have dedicated my career to student learning.

So while I commend the volunteerism and business acumen of my opponents, I believe I have a unique perspective to offer the board.

I have worked in the easternmost schools in the district - Bryant Ranch and Travis Ranch, and the school the furthest to the west, Rio Vista Elementary. I taught many years at Kraemer Middle School and have served students and parents from very different backgrounds. My work as a special education teacher has given me the opportunity to understand the needs of a child with learning disabilities and the challenges they and their family face. Finally, in my last position...with the Professional Development Department...I planned and coordinated training for teachers, administrators, paraprofessionals, support personnel, and even parents. I have worked with the teachers and principals at virtually every school in the district.

This is what I have to offer in terms of experience. Now, what can I do for you, as an important stakeholder in our district's educational team?

I am dedicated to the belief that all children should have the opportunity to reach their full potential regardless of their school or classroom. This is accomplished when we focus on the whole child. I am committed to the following:

• Maintaining fiscal solvency during these difficult times
• Ensuring opportunities for students to participate in visual and performing arts, athletics, academic clubs, and intervention programs
• Providing quality classroom instruction in a safe,supportive, and nurturing environment
• Involving parents as partners in their child's education

Closing Remarks - 1 minute

I have talked tonight about wanting to work and communicate fully with all the stakeholders in our district: Parents, teachers, support personnel, and administrators.

I would like to take my last minute to address another group of individuals who are here tonight. Many of you present do not have students who are attending our district's schools. I thank you for your investment in our community's future.

The young people in our schools are the future leaders and, yes, taxpayers of our communities. Our schools have gained wide recognition not only for the excellence of our academic programs, but our visual and performing arts programs, our athletic programs and, most recently, our intervention programs.

Excellent schools equate to stable or increasing home values. Many potential residents are drawn to the communities in which our schools are located because of the fine education their children can receive.

So I thank you for your investment in our schools and our communities' finest resources: Our Children.

I commend my fellow panel mates for their articulate responses to the questions. I thank them and you for coming tonight and urge you are to vote for the candidates of your choice on November 2nd. Thank you.