Candidate for
Board Member; San Diego Unified School District; Trustee Area B

I believe that key components to well functioning schools are respect and accountability. Students, teachers, administrators, parents, and members of the school board need to treat each other with respect and courtesy. Over the past seven or eight years, most of the problems I have had with the school system can be traced back to a lack of respect for parents and students, and the failure of administrators and teachers to accept responsibility for their actions. Attending school board meetings over the years I have heard other parents express their frustrations with the seeming lack of respect they receive. As a parent I understand their feelings.

Teachers, administrators, the superintendent and members of the school board need to remember at all times that they have been given a public trust, to supervise the education of our children. They must also remember that San Diego Unified is a Public School System, and that they are servants of the public.

The declining enrollment of students in our public schools reflects a growing frustration not only with the perception of failing schools and sinking test scores, but it speaks to the sense of powerlessness that many parents feel when dealing with the system. I support the shared decision-making process at the local and district level. When decisions are made by one person or only one group, feelings of disconnection, disrespect and distrust grow.