CONTRIBUTE

PRESS RELEASES

PRESS REPORTS

CONTACT US

1. Why are you running for School Board?
   
   As a long-standing active parent in our community, I have been involved w/the SMMUSD with issues that affect us all, but specifically our youth. I see the needs of our youth, and watch them not being met. The issues continue to be the same: Race, Social Economic, inequalities, inequities, and although the District has taken action on hard issues i.e. Equity Policy and made strides to close the achievement gap it is still a major concern of mine. Policies are changed and passed on. I have been a voice for many others and I feel that in order to make a more effective difference, it is time to start acting. One of the ways I can do that is by joining those who have a direct influence on the implementation of those policies.
   
   
2. What has been your personal involvement with education in our community?
   
   I am a by-product of our District. As an immigrant from Guatemala, I started by attended John Muir School where I learned to speak, read and write English within six months, quite an accomplishment and a big credit to our District’s ESL program. My four daughters, whom attended our District schools, three out of the four have successfully moved on to further their educational careers to Santa Monica College and my youngest is completing her Senior year at SAMOHI. In addition, my involvement with the District dates back to 1985 when I enrolled my oldest daughter to McKinley School and promptly became the parent representative to Site Council. In 1989, I was invited to be a member of the Intercultural Advisory Council for which I am still a member and which Council has now become a Board Appointed Committee. I am a Past-President for Santa Monica High School PTSA, McKinley School Site Council Ex-Officio, District Strategic Planning Design Team Member, Co-Chair of the District Action Team “Equity and Equality for Education”, and most recently am serving as Co-Chair for the Race and Discipline Task Force. I was appointed to the Budget Committee, Coordinating Council and President of the Classified Senate of Santa Monica College for which I am now serving as the Past-President.
   
   
3. What makes you stand out among the other candidates? What special attributes, talents, and abilities will you bring to our district?
   
   I have been a steady figure in our district for the past 19 years. I have proved to be inclusive, respectful, knowledgeable and posses a strong commitment to our children and a passion for their success. I bring a different style of leadership skills to our Board. Leadership skills learned through participation with government officials, Dignitaries and leaders worldwide. As well as my experiences as a student of our district, as parent and advocate. I bring my life experience and skills in working in an economically, racially and culturally diverse community. I have been successful in engaging students, teachers, parents, community members, and leaders of our community. This has led to change in policies at school level and alternative ways of doing business within our community. I am a single parent of four daughters – all of whom have attended our district schools. I have been actively involved in the development of their education and instilled at a very young age the importance of being an advocate not only for themselves but for their peers as well. These are principles for which I live by and carry over to every child I meet.
   
   
4. What do you feel is the number one challenge facing our schools today?
   
   There are many challenges facing our schools today. Closing the achievement gap; implementation of policies; evaluation process; Special Education needs; and of course the funds to see them through.
   
   
5. Do you fully support the agreement negotiated for the City of Santa Monica to provide funding to the School District?
   
   Of course, I support the agreement. In a City as rich in diversity as in resources, I only wish we were able make additional agreements with other entities in order to provide the necessary funding to meet the needs of our schools and provide the tools necessary to accomplish extraordinary achievement and the success of all of our children.
   
   
6. If the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District faced a budget crisis brought on by circumstances outside the District's control, such as by funding cuts from the State of California, would you be willing to support crisis funding to the District even beyond the City-School District funding agreement?
   
   I think that SMMUSD should accept any grants given that would enrich and ensure the education of ALL the students as long as the grants do not have a special clause that limit the District. The organizations should share the vision of the District and the State mission of “NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND”.
   
   
7. Despite the agreement with the City of Santa Monica, SMMUSD continues to face financial uncertainty. If the District’s financial situation continues to deteriorate, what measures would you suggest in response?
   
   This community is rich, rich in resources, capital and vested parties that want this community of children to succeed. We must unite these parties and create an arena where they can collaborate. The Districts needs to start looking into other venues for revenues i.e. the existing contract agreement it has with the Doubletree, explore the possibility of other partnerships with other entities, organizations, or agencies such as city, or look into the possibilities of grants. Additionally, the District needs to be responsible with expenditures and allocation of funding. Complete a facilities report and look into different ventures that are beneficial to students and community alike to form partnerships with both the City of Santa Monica and Malibu.
   
   
8. Although standardized test scores show increasing improvement in our schools, significant differences among economic and cultural groups still exist. What can the District do to continue the overall success in academic achievement while significantly closing the achievement gap?
   
   First, the District needs to find out why it is that we are still failing 25% of our students; second, the district should address those reasons; thirdly, it should be assisting the teachers in providing innovative ways of instruction and support different ways of measuring achievement.
   
   
9. What is your view of the redesign of Samohi? What do you think should be the priorities in moving forward?
   
   I support and embrace the theory of personalization that the re-design brings to Santa Monica High School. However, the District needs to invest on a comprehensive evaluation on the effectiveness of the re-design. The evaluations should be done by an outside source. In continuance with creating partnerships and building relationships, the District may look into the evaluation system that UCLA has in place “CREST”. I would like to see innovative methods incorporated at the high school to deal with issues that come with high population, methods that incorporate the multiculturalism that makes this District what it is, methods that deal with meeting the needs of disenfranchised and underprivileged children. The District should consider the input from the faculty on the impact of the re-design.
   
   
10. What are your views on the district Gift Policy/Equity Fund? What is the value of using a student-weighted formula in the distribution of funds?
    
    Thanks to the community support, parent advocates and schools approval the Board was successful in passing such bold action. As an advocate for our children, I participated in speaking out at Board and PTA meetings to encourage other parents to support it. I was successful in engaging various parents and students to speak in favor of the concept. I was a strong supporter and advocate for its speedy implementation so that our most needy students receive the resources necessary to succeed academically. The value in using a student-weighted formula personalizes the needs of the students and does not rely solely on the school or community disparities.