League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Alameda County, CA November 4, 2014 Election
	Nina Senn Answers Questions Candidate for School Director; Oakland Unified School District; Trustee Area 4

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Oakland and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. How do you plan to get parents and the community more informed and involved in educational policy and programs?

As a current public elementary school parent and former parent leader at Montera, the largest and most diverse middle school in Oakland, I know firsthand the importance of giving parents and the community a voice at the table. Too often it seems that policies and programs are developed without actively engaging those directly impacted by them. I've spent my career successfully building bridges of trust and collaboration between different groups with different needs as either a mediator or a negotiator of hundreds of complex agreements, and I know how to bring people together to create success. I believe we all share in the responsibility of educating our students. I also understand that often people are too busy to stay up on what's happening. To make sure your hopes and concerns are heard, I will:

• Provide language translation and childcare services during educational forums ++ everyone's voice, insights and suggestions are important!
• Hold office hours in rotating and convenient community locations such as local schools and libraries ++ I will go to you
• Engage parent and community leaders through regularly scheduled town hall, PTA and School Site Council meetings
• Distribute a monthly newsletter and provide updates via a website

2. What will you do to raise the incentives and motivation for students to study, stay in school, and choose a skilled trade or a college career?

First, students need to know that others believe in them. They need to feel liked, seen, heard and respected by teachers, administrators and peers. With that as a foundation, anything's possible. So the question is, how do we create school climates in which all kids flourish? I strongly believe that much of the answer lies in the transformative power of positive behavioral practices such as Restorative Justice, which I helped bring to Montera.

As the former President of SEEDS Community Resolution Center, I have witnessed the tremendous impact these types of programs have on kids and their school communities ++ they motivate students to stay engaged and to stay in school. Knowing that people care about them is the best incentive there is for students who might otherwise check out or drop out. In addition, I fully support the District's College and Career pathways initiative for high schools. Between positive behavioral practices and smart pathways, our students will be well positioned for a college and/or a skilled trade.

3. What is educational equity? Using your definition, how will you address the most critical issues of inequity facing Oakland public schools, and how will you attempt to resolve this issue as a school board member?

Education equity to me means equitable access to educational resources. I believe in the CARE of all students: Community Access to Resources and Education. Inequality in Oakland public schools is evident in many places, but perhaps no more so than in District 4. As a parent leader here for more than a decade, I've experienced firsthand the amazing ways families enrich the educational opportunities for the students in their schools. They pay for PE teachers, computers classes, music programs. They make field trips and art classes possible. But there are a significant number of Oakland students that are not so fortunate, including many in our district.

I've had in-depth conversations with nearly all District 4 principals. There are those who enjoy the support of active PTAs and those who have no PTAs at all. Parent engagement is extremely important to the success of students, however, creating schools that educate the whole child requires the involvement of parents, teachers, staff, community members and the school district.

My job as a School Board member will be to evaluate what resources are needed at our schools and to determine how to make them available. For example, some schools do not have school libraries. The Oakland Public Library has offered to create a closer partnership with the School District and I, for one, will leap at that opportunity to give our students more access to library services and books. I will also actively work with the school district and other elected officials to increase access to resources and pursue partnerships with community members and businesses that wish to make a positive impact in the lives of our students and in the future of our city.

4. What can the School Board do to hire and retain high quality teachers and encourage diversity among staff?

The District has established strong partnerships with the Mills College teaching program, and I want that to continue. I would also pursue teaming with other institutions focused on diversity to attract a more diverse pool of teachers, which I believe is extremely important given that over fifty languages are represented in our city. In any event, I believe that having passionate, inspiring and skilled teachers in the classroom should be our #1 priority. A great teacher is a great teacher to everyone.

I also believe that we need to do everything possible to stop the turnover of our talented teachers. Our students and schools deserve a teacher community that is given professional development that they need to succeed, understands both our challenges and opportunities, believes in our mission to educate the whole child, knows how to engage students where they are, and is committed to staying. I have marveled at the extraordinary OUSD educators who have taught my children. I want that for all Oakland students. But it won't happen unless the District takes steps to make it happen.

As your School Board member, I will work with my colleagues and the Superintendent and his staff to:

• Demonstrate our respect for teachers through restorative practices, meaningful support and regular two-way communications
• Deliver a competitive compensation package
• Offer relevant and continuous training and professional development
• Create opportunities for promotion and growth
• Share best practices among teacher leaders
• Provide regular mentoring/support via principals and teacher leaders especially for new teachers

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' statements are presented as submitted. References to opponents are not permitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 28, 2014 13:01
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