Candidate for
Board Member; Modesto City Schools; Unexpired Short Term

What We Stand For

Student-Centric Classrooms/Common Core Advocacy The introduction of Common Core Education in Modesto City Schools means an exciting and challenging few years for our students and teachers. Despite the extra work it will mean for everyone involved, Common Core Education will bring out the best in our students.

Student-Centric Classrooms are a key piece of Common Core. They are the idea that success can be achieved through many different paths, each path unique to each student. Student-Centric Classrooms give teachers the power to tell our students what they should be learning, while giving our students the power to figure out how to get there. Students are challenged to think critically, to think outside the box, and to come up with answers and ideas based on analytical thinking, rather than simply bubbling in an answer choice. They are a great way for our students to find a path that works for each of them, traverse that path successfully, and still learn everything that we ask them to learn.

21st-Century Classrooms Every student learns in a different way. But the reality is that today's youth are using different technology more than ever before. Many of our kids are on their computers, cell phones, or iPads every chance they get; our students are probably more comfortable Tweeting than talking on the phone. We need to embrace this passion for technology and give our students opportunities to succeed in ways that they enjoy most.

We need to invest in order to make sure that all of our classrooms are equipped with adequate technology. Even if it may be non-traditional, our students need to learn how to responsibly make use of these new-age technologies. It is a reality of moving into the 21st-century.

It's time to invest in our teachers. We need to provide our teachers with the tools and training they need to both understand how to use these technologies and how best to incorporate them into their lesson plans.

Partnering with local businesses will provide students an opportunity to see what the professional industry in the 21st-century is like and give them an opportunity to see what career might excite them most.

Financial Forecasting and Responsibility Our district is fortunately going to be receiving an influx of money this year, mostly thanks to the passing of Proposition 30. However that money cannot be spent irresponsibly. We need to allocate money to reduce class size, invest in technology, develop our staff, secure our schools, and protect all programs in our district that are meaningful to our students.

There will come a day when our economy is struggling again. We need to plan and prepare for that day by investing in forecasting. As a district, we need to invest in people, tools, and data that will help us forecast our financial expenditures and returns years into the future. Every generation deserves to have the resources to achieve academic success.

Social Media Outreach Transparency for the School Board is crucial. We want to develop a stronger social media presence for the District. In today's world, it is vital to share our message, our plan, and our progress with the Modesto community. The best way to do that is through social media.

Our social media outreach plan also champions encouragement of a two-way conversation. We want to hear from you. We want to hear what we can do better and problems you or your students might be having. But we also want to know your ideas, your wishes, and your plans for the future. Social media is an easy way for the District to connect with staff, parents, and students alike.

Safety and Security for our Students There have been tragic events at some of our nation's schools recently. We can't expect our kids to learn if they don't feel safe and secure at their schools. If the administration feels that additional security or other district-managed safety measures are necessary to keep our kids safe, then we need to make that a priority.

Recruit and Retain Local Students to Educate our Next Generation Teaching is one of the most honorable and impactful professions. We have a lot of smart kids in our city: it seems natural that we should give our kids the opportunity and the resources to come back to Modesto City Schools to pass on knowledge to our next generation.

Partnering with CSU Stanislaus will provide a chance for our students to earn credit toward a degree and begin the path to a teaching credential. We should also give students the chance to shadow and learn from current teachers. Not only can these people serve as positive role models for our students, but they can also inspire a love of teaching in our next generation of educators.