Candidate Statement for George Valenzuela

By George R. Valenzuela

George Valenzuela has the right combination of personal attributes and professional qualifications to serve effectively as a board member of the Windsor School Board for the next four years. He is a parent of young children in Windsor schools; he has extensive experience in education; he is a believer that public education can and does work for children; he has a history of public service; and he has the personal qualities that make for a dedicated leader.

GEORGE: A PARENT

• George Valenzuela is first and foremost a parent who, like other parents, wants the best education for his three children.
• His two older sons attend Windsor schools as an 8th grader and a 1st grader at Cali Calmecac Language Academy; and, his third son will begin kindergarten next year.
• Ensuring that all children have the best education that Windsor schools can offer is what motivated George to seek election to the board.
• Electing George to the board will provide for a balance parent perspective on the board. George's election will strengthen a K-12 spectrum of parent perspective and interests, and it will provide a cross-section of parent representation from across Windsor schools.

• Apart from being a parent, George brings a unique combination of skills and experience from within the educational field.
• He has worked in the field of education for 17 years. He has been an elementary school teacher, middle school teacher, is a school district administrator for child welfare and attendance, and is in-house counsel for a school district in Sonoma County.
• The aforementioned has given George the unique advantage of understanding the educational process from multiple perspectives: a parent, a classroom teacher, district office personnel, and an education lawyer.

• George is a product of public schools. He came from a socio-economically disadvantaged background, and a strong public education enabled him to attend college via scholarships.
• He has seen firsthand the life-changing experiences that teachers and schools have on children. Windsor schools must continue to be a positive life-changing agent in the lives of students.
• Teachers, the greatest instructional tool available, deserve the support and resources they need to make learning happen.

• George has been immersed in the local community youth programs.
• He is a soccer coach for the Windsor Youth Soccer League.
• He has coached tee-ball in Windsor.
• George has served as a mentor for the SRJC Puente Program.
• George is a motivational speaker on pursuing higher education for elementary, middle and high school students.
• George serves on the Santa Rosa Mayor's Gang Prevention Task Force.

• From every vantage point, George has noted the common necessary thread for sound educational decision-making: "Putting Windsor's Children First"; and, he knows that it is this perspective that must underlie decisions at the board level.
• George is a person of integrity, passion, and trustworthiness.