Candidate for
Member, Board of Directors; Berkeley Unified School District

Dear Parents, Neighbors and Friends,

As your school board president, I know that staying within budget will require making difficult choices in the months ahead. Some desirable programs will have to be delayed in order to insure that basic programs and services are in place. At the same time we must invest in new and effective management systems that permit staff and students to focus on their primary mission: teaching and learning.

As a social worker, I have been trained to reach out and bring people together around common goals. As a public school parent and working mother, I am committed to supporting working families as they raise and educate their children. As a school trustee, I am dedicated to the faithful stewardship of Berkeley educational resources for the benefit of "all" our children. I am honored to have the confidence of so many members of our community. Please join with them and give me your vote so that together we can decide the direction of our schools.

Thank you, Shirley Issel

My record:

My professional work is about creating positive change. None of us will be content until Berkeley's rich tradition of academic excellence is fully reflected in our schools. By holding high standards and insisting on administrative accountability, our academic mission can be achieved. As your School Board Director I've focused my efforts in the following areas:

• Took decisive steps to secure High School Accreditation,
• Helped craft & campaign for passage of School Maintenance and Safety Measure BB,
• Introduced "Writer's Room" coaching program to address literacy levels & close achievement gaps, and
• Guided Board adoption of an interim fiscal recovery plan and distribution of disaster supplies to schools sites.

• Implementing accountability systems to monitor progress and report results;
• Delivering safe and well maintained buildings and grounds;
• Improving student achievement by delivering comprehensive teacher training and student support services.