Why I'm running for re-election to the Berkeley School Board

By Karen (Johnson) Hemphill

I have proven leadership in achieving overall student achievement while bridging the achievement gap, despite difficult times, through sound fiscal management and creative partnerships. If re-elected, I will build upon what has proven to work in fostering student success and will champion new initiatives to address truancy and alcohol/drug use and establish a career-technical program that is tied to expectations of college preparedness.

Just this past year, fifteen of our schools met and exceeded growth targets on the Academic Performance Index (API) scores + which is the state's multi-test indicator. And, in Berkeley, we do not teach to the test but believe that if we support our students in learning rigorous and substantive academic content+ the tests will take care of themselves.

In our elementary schools:

- This year, 9 out of 11 of our elementary schools surpassed the statewide goal of scoring at least 800 out of 1000 on the API (the statewide benchmark for outstanding academic achievement) with Rosa Parks being just 3 points away from achieving this goal after jumping remarkable 60+ points this past year.

- In the past two years, four of our elementary schools have received state recognition as schools of excellence:

- Jefferson and Oxford Elementary have been designated California Distinguished Schools and Malcolm X and Washington Elementary have been recognized as Title I Achievement Schools (schools with at least 50% lower income students that have achieved exemplary academic excellence - both schools have also been formerly designated California Distinguished Schools and have API scores of over 800).

In our middle schools:

- This year, both King and Longfellow surpassed the statewide goal of 800+ API and Willard is just 12 points away after jumping more than 40+ points two years in a row.

- Algebra I test scores have increased by almost 50% this past year since the institution of a District wide math program improvement strategy - with all of our 8th grade students taking Algebra I (only about 50% of middle schools statewide enroll all 8th grade students in Algebra I)

- Starting this year, Geometry is being offered at our middle schools (previously was just offered at the high school)

- And this September, Longfellow Middle School was visited by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan as a national urban school model of excellence for its 8th grade Algebra I test scores

In our high schools:

- In the past four years, at Berkeley High, we have established the International High School (where my son is a sophomore) which includes the very prestigious and globally recognized International Baccalaureate Degree Program; started 1 out of 5 statewide Green Academy Programs; and started a Mandarin Chinese program

- Expanded Advanced Placement/Honors classes, such as Anatomy; and

- Instituted the first college preparatory program at BTech, our continuation high school

If re-elected, my first priority is to continue providing leadership in building upon our data-proven successes in advancing student achievement (21st Century curriculum, teacher training/evaluation, and early/consistent academic and support service intervention) while meeting the economic challenges facing all Districts throughout California through sound fiscal management and creative partnerships with the City, our university and community college, local non-profits, and other community members. In addition, I plan to focus on addressing truancy, alcohol and drug use at our high school and establishing a strong career-technical program that is also tied to expectations of college preparedness. We need to open our student's eyes to all possibilities - becoming the next generation of innovators (future inventors, engineers and scientists); becoming our nation's highly skilled workforce able to compete in the new global economy; and/or becoming tomorrow's entrepreneurs - to be prepared for their future.