LOOKING BACK, UNDERSTANDING NOW, FOCUSING on the FUTURE

By Teresa Hampson

What's been done well in the last decade and a half, where we are now, where we should be

• Continued to increased test scores K-12.

• Kept salaries competitive to hire the best staff.

• Brought aging campuses up to date.

• Built a 16-classroom new high school wing, maximizing 1999 voter-approved facility bond funds with developer fees and state matching monies; turning in this project on time and with change orders of just 3%.

• Celebrated 7 California Distinguished Schools, 2 National Blue Ribbon Schools and 1 Title 1 School of Achievement.

• Involved parents as learning partners.

• Embraced technology districtwide as a learning tool, in recent years adding keyboard labs and the JiJi program to Accelerated reader on our elementary sites and adopting the highly popular Global IT Program (GITA) at Brea Olinda High - the latter step keeping more of our top students in town grades 9-12.

• Made collaborative staff planning time a dedicated part of the weekly schedule, providing training and encouraged the development of Small Learning Communities.

• Bounced back from disaster (the Fall 2008 Freeway Complex Fire that burned part of Brea Canyon High and destroyed all lawns and landscaping around BOHS) through hard work, donations and volunteer aid.

• Maintained rock-bottom drop-out rates.

• Balanced budgets in increasingly difficult times.

• Enhanced the arts, adding elementary music and expanding our high school band; winning more awards than possibly ever before in both vocal and instrumental music.

• Graduated more than 7,000 students---the vast majority of whom have gone on to college and career success.

Since 1985, as a classroom volunteer, PTA leader and BOUSD board member, it's been my privilege to help make the good schools of Brea better. Working side by side with staff, students and parents, I've seen curriculum and instruction improve, test scores rise, aging campuses again become comfortable, opportunities in academics, the arts and athletics expand, and thousands of students graduate, go out into the world and do well.

There's a great deal to be proud of when it comes to Brea's schools: strong academic emphasis, sound athletic accomplishments, growing and successful arts programs, a nearly non-existent drop-out rate, and site and district staff that oversee this and more with skill and talent and heart.

I believe in the schools of Brea.

But I also believe they can be better---and never should rest on today's success.

Fiscally, this means that we must spend every dollar wisely, focusing resources on student learning and ensuring that - even in tight times - we do all we can to hire and retain the best staff.

Structurally, this means that all students and staff must have safe, comfortable, welcoming places to learn and work, and that the tools needed to do these tasks well are available.

Academically, this means doing a better job of truly challenging and supporting all students, ensuring that basic skills are learned early, that reading, writing and critical thinking are continually emphasized, that teachers continue to have time to talk, share and plan together, that parents are supported as learning partners, and that all work together for kids.

Administratively, this means ensuring that Brea's schools are steered by capable and caring leaders who understand what quality is---and know how to inspire all to pursue it.

These are the continuing goals I believe in for Brea's schools, and these are the things I will work hard for, should you return me to office this November.

Many thanks in advance for your support!

Teresa