Who I Am and What I Stand For in Public Education

By Steve Harris

A Detailed Summary of My Background and Philosophy.

My experience in education has been as diverse as my students. At my site, I tested ELD students for fluency. I earned a master degree with an emphasis on Second Language acquisition. When I transferred to middle school I taught in the diverse language program with Level I students of all ethnicities, cultures, and languages. It taught oral, written, and various subjects matters at their language levels. It was a rewarding experience.

I then was appointed as coordinator of our districts peer assistance and review program. It consisted of teachers new to the district, profession, volunteers, and those referred because of unsatisfactory evaluations. I oversaw a program that had a half-million dollar budget. I developed the prototype for a standard-based evaluation and observation form for teachers. I was chair of the County consortium for peer and review.

I moved on to the district office were I became a program specialist for Title I schools and did data analysis. Working with our teachers union, I help form collaboration between the teachers, administration and school board. We worked together to form a common goal--the education and achievement of our students. I have received a variety of recognitions--from the president of the United States to the legislature of the state of Calfornia.

It is my goal, to work for the success of every student, no matter what their ethnicity, their level of fluency, or socio-economic status to assure their success. I want to form a collaborative triangle of teachers and administration, along with the school board as well as parents and our community to assure student success.

I want to seek an education not just based on test scores but of academic achievement in the classroom, social interaction, and the desire to become productive

To summarize my mission, I will paraphrase JFK: Not every student has the same skills but every student should given the opportunity to develop their skills.

I request your support and ask for your vote.