Why Vote for Joe Ross?

By Joe Ross

The Daily Journal Endorses Joe Ross

The people of San Mateo County are the beneficiary of two high-quality candidates to fill the area seven seat of Memo Morantes on the Board of Education. Jo-Ann Sockolov Byrne and Joe Ross are both dedicated citizens who bring much to the table.

However, Ross has an edge in his ideas, history of innovation and ability to be immediately up to speed on the divergent issues facing the county Board of Education.

That board often flies under the radar as its purview is defined by its support role and limited oversight. The board is often one of last resort in that it oversees community and court schools, offers assistance to districts in distress and decides intradistrict transfers. Day-to-day operations of this county's schools is left to individual districts but the board offers support, ideas and the ability to see the larger picture.

It also works in tandem with an elected county superintendent, who receives her orders from the general population when there is an election. The current superintendent, Anne Campbell, seems to be working on all cylinders with a wide array of initiatives. One of those is the concept of offering assistance to districts looking to share services, and the members of the board must be willing participants in that concept.

Both Ross and Sockolov Byrne are open to ways in which local school districts can share services, whether it be in food services, operations or finances. Technology, and its role in the classroom, is also a path in which the Board of Education can take a lead. Ross prefers the board and the Office of Education take the lead in evaluating technology and determine what might have the most utility in the classroom -- saving the county's myriad school districts from the individual heavy lifting such an endeavor may require.

Ross is also a strong proponent of making students complete the requirements to apply to a state college or university a standard for graduation. The board has no direct jurisdiction of such a mandate, but it can ask for the conversation to begin. He also is a big proponent of increasing staff in the classroom through additional student teachers, which would serve an extra purpose of preparing those student teachers for becoming first-year teachers.

That's a big idea, but one in which most everyone who cares about education and student-teacher ratios can get behind. As executive director of Citizen Schools, an education nonprofit that seeks to extend learning time for middle-school students and better prepare them for high school, college and a career, he understands the need to ensure education on all levels does not fall short.

By linking the best ideas from Silicon Valley and allowing more opportunities for advancement for both students and teachers, Ross has found an elected office in which he can put his life work into more specific action. Sockolov Byrne is also an engaged candidate with a breadth of public service and private experience. We hope she stays involved and lends her voice to the conversation. However, Ross gets the edge for his experience and ideas.

The San Mateo County Office of Education has always had an opportunity to offer its support to local school districts. Through Ross, it can elevate its responsibility into a leadership role in creating new connections that can only benefit our districts, our schools, our administrators, our teachers and our students.