This is an archive of a past election.
See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/or/ for current information.
Orange County, CA November 2, 2010 Election
Smart Voter

A CONTINUING AGENDA for EXCELLENCE

By Teresa Hampson

Candidate for Board Member; Brea Olinda Unified School District

This information is provided by the candidate
A focus for ongoing improvement in instruction, staffing, facilities and finance
A CONTINUING AGENDA for EXCELLENCE

Leadership:

  • Create a clear and unified vision for progress.
  • Set measurable goals for all and support all in achieving them.
  • Emphasize high performance standards; expect and reward excellence.
  • Communicate openly, honestly and often.
  • Listen well; act to solve problems promptly.
  • Involve stakeholder groups in all key decision making.
  • Oversee and safeguard a culture of integrity, respect and fair play.
  • Encourage innovation, reward excellence, celebrate success.

Staff:
  • In times of lessened resources and heightened anxieties, ensure that whatever support can be offered IS offered - with training, through increased volunteerism and by other creative and collaborative means.
  • Continue support of collaborative planning time and professional learning communities.
  • Evaluate performance often through formal and informal assessments.

Parents & Community:
  • Welcome and involve parents as educational partners.
  • Communicate clearly and often.
  • Team up with government and business on projects that advance school/district goals.
  • Improve outreach to ethnic minority and limited English speaking communities.
  • Welcome the community to witness bond accomplishments.

Finance:
  • Maintain a balanced budget.
  • Protect adequate reserves to ensure financial stability.
  • Wherever possible, tie expenditures to educational goals.
  • Continue legislative advocacy efforts.

Facilities:
  • Plan and build needed new classrooms/schools on a timetable ahead of development. (First on the list: the new Olinda Elementary, now set to open Fall 2011.)
  • Maximize local bond money through state matching funds and enhanced developer fees.
  • Plan and build efficiently to minimize changes and maximize resources.
  • Maintain facilities in a manor that lengthens their lifespan.

Curriculum & Instruction:
  • Ensure that continuing academic improvement remains an overarching goal.
  • Stay current with research on teaching and learning.
  • Regularly analyze programs and test data to refine/realign curriculum and instruction.
  • Visit other high-performing schools/districts and bring back ideas for improvement.
  • Broaden and strengthen the curriculum to provide appropriate challenge for all.
  • Protect arts instruction, too often the first casualty of tight times.
  • Support enhanced uses of technology for academic enrichment.

Student, School, Community & Career Success:
  • Provide instruction that appropriately prepares students for course progress and standardized testing (High School Exit Exam, SAT and AP), college and career success.
  • Continue to emphasize character development through adopted, districtwide program.
  • Consider modigying high school requirements to add service learning (structured community service, including learning and reflection).
  • Welcome all to participate in diverse extracurricular opportunities.
  • Continue to research and enhance practices that help serve students at risk.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -FOCAL POINTS FOR THE FUTURE:- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

  • Academic Achievement: High standards for success must be upheld. In today's complex world, our students need to know more.

  • Personnel: We must attract and retain quality teachers, administrators and support staff, and provide frequent opportunities for professional growth.

  • Curriculum: We must provide a course of study that is well-balanced, up-to-date and challenging to all students at all grade levels.

  • Opportunity: We must dedicate ourselves to providing strengthened support for students at risk.

  • Teamwork: We must support, at every grade level, the vital involvement of parents, and foster strong, cooperative relationships between school and home.

  • Learning Environment: We must ensure adequate space for all students in schools that are safe, clean, orderly and inviting places to learn.

  • Financial Security: Balanced budgets and prudent reserves are essential to the long-term stability of our schools.

  • Outreach: We must expand our knowledge and enhance our opportunities through partnerships with government, business and industry.

  • Ethics: We must live by our commitment to cultural values and personal integrity. To work well, we must model honor and inspire trust.

  • Respect: We must reach out to reaffirm Brea Olinda's role as one of California's finest school districts.

Next Page: Position Paper 2

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Contest
November 2010 Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter


ca/or Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 18, 2010 20:43
Smart Voter <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund.
The League of Women Voters neither supports nor opposes candidates for public office or political parties.