Our district is the best-kept secret in this state.
PERSONAL HISTORY
When my husband, Jim Patiņo, and I married in 1987, we moved to Redwood City from San Jose. Our children, Colin (15) and Harry (9), were both born in Redwood City and both attend public schools here. I have been associated with the following organizations:
- Redwood City School Board (2001-2005)
- Roy Cloud PTA Executive Board (1999-2005)
- Leadership Redwood City & Redwood City Chamber of Commerce
- Peninsula Conflict Resolution Center & Library Internet Policy Task Force
EDUCATIONAL PHILOSOPHY
I grew up in California, graduating from SJSU in 1980, with a BA in English. Those in my generation benefited from an exceptional public school system. In the past four years, as Trustee of the Redwood City School District, I have worked hard to bring that same educational experience to my children's generation. The RCSD is a remarkable school district, both for what it has accomplished and for the many challenges that it faces. With leadership, experience, and vision, we can make the public schools in Redwood City even better . . . as remarkable as they were two generations ago.
RAISE SCORES AND REACH OUT
To accomplish this goal, we must equip all students for academic success and prepare them for a future full of opportunities. To do this, I pledge to:
- ELIMINATE THE LEARNING GAP between English language learners and native English speakers.
- RAISE TEST SCORES FOR ALL STUDENTS and provide tutoring for any student requiring it.
- REDUCE DROPOUT RATES IN THE HIGH SCHOOLS by better preparing our K-8 students.
- IMPROVE DISTRICT FINANCES and increase the public's trust in our fiscal management through transparency, better communication, and sound fiscal practices.
- CREATE PARTNERSHIPS with local high schools, colleges, businesses, foundations, and governments to forge a future for district students and create student networks that connect students to mentors, schools, and businesses.
CREATE COMMUNITY-BASED ADVISORY COMMITTEES
Cities and counties benefit from a vast array of boards and commissions to improve their communities by dedicated volunteers who contribute their knowledge, skills, and passion. And in the process these volunteers gain a better understanding of their community. I would like to do the same by creating community-based advisory committees for the RCSD that will focus on:
- COMMUNICATION: Our district is the best-kept secret in this state. With expert volunteers on a PR/Web Site/Outreach advisory committee, we can educate our community about our vast successes and incredible programs.
- GRANT WRITING: Our successes depend on finding sustaining funds for our innovative programs. Expert grant writers can help fill this need.
- FINANCE: No state is more complicated than California when it comes to funding public education. Our district will benefit from a community-based committee to review our budget and report our finances back to the board and community in an easy-to-understand way.
HELP ME HELP OUR KIDS
With your help, I will continue my work on the Redwood City School Board to help improve all our children's education and, ultimately, to help improve their lives.
Find out more by visiting my campaign page on the Smart Voter website:
http://www.smartvoter.org/2005/11/08/ca/sm/vote/wright_p/
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