Candidate for
Trustee; Palm Springs Unified School District; Trustee Area 4

My Priorities:

Equity

Academic achievement levels across the district currently vary a great deal among individual schools and tend to be lower in schools in socioeconomically challenged areas and schools with a higher percentage of minority students and/or English learners. I will work to allocate resources to retain academic achievement levels at high-achieving schools while making sure funds are in place for programs and schools that warrant further assistance.

Career & Technical Education

CTE is beneficial for all students, whether or not they attend college. I will support current and future CTE programs at PSUSD that are based on the workforce needs of our valley for the mutual benefit of students and our local economy.

College Preparation

I will work to align PSUSD high school graduation requirements with college entrance requirements to avoid students falling in the "gap"- having earned a high-school diploma but not qualified for acceptance to college. Also, by partnering with College of the Desert I hope to further concurrent enrollment as one of several ways to introduce students to college at an earlier age.

Early Childhood Education

Children who have access to early education tend to be more successful in school. Families without means to provide pre-school education for their children in the home or via private education are especially important to reach out to so that they are aware of ECE programs available. I will support ECE programs and promote the awareness and importance of such in our communities.

Teachers

On the heels of the Vergara case, I want to make sure that teachers are evaluated in a comprehensive manner that goes beyond standardized testing and that qualified, skilled teachers are given an appropriate level of job security so that they will remain in our district.

Arts Education

The arts are part of a well-rounded education and one of the areas that suffered most from budget cuts during the recession. Now that monies are coming back into school districts I will work to rebuild, in accordance with the budget and district needs at large, in-school arts programs while furthering the district's partnerships with local arts and non-profit organizations.