Q: Why are you running?
A: I want to give back to education what education gave to me and my family. I feel strongly about public education and what it does for the future of our children.
Q: What are your three priorities?
A: To make sure all children have a successful education. Work to help the chool district maintain budgets. The district is still operating off of Prop 13 while other cities like Palo Alto receive $10,000-$12,000 per child Morgan Hill receives less than $5,000 per student. We need to change from Prop 13 to current assessments. Maintain positive relationships with local businesses, students, teachers, administration and board members.
Q: Internally, what is the Morgan Hill Unified School District’s greatest weakness?
A: Funding to attract and maintain excellent teachers that will increase student enrollment.
Q: What role does a board member play in student achievement?
A: Maintain good relationships with teachers and administration. Keep schools headed in the right direction. Keep the school district compliant with current laws. The school district must be physically solvent.
Q: Should the curriculums of San Martin Gwinn School and Jackson Academy be replicated throughout the district?
A: Since the first year of San Martin Gwinn school and JAckson Academy we want to measure success before moving to other schools with the same programs. If successful students will come back to benefit in the programs offered.
Q: Should it be easier to fire underperforming teachers?
A: Every teacher deserves a chance to prove themselves with the district especially when moving up or down in grade levels or switching schools. No school wants an under-performing teacher due to poor attitude and lack of motivation. Morgan Hill School District lets eight to 15 teachers go per year due to poor performance but only keep the best.
Q: When a district school goes into program improvement, what do you think the main causes are?
A: The main cause is the way children are test on a 1-5 scale. Level 3 is basic which Morgan Hill complies to, but unfortunately the system wants level 4 and 5. The system is broken. The teachers are held accountable for test scores while the children are not held accountable whether they pass or fail. The system is changing in 2014.
Q: What school-specific issue has really grabbed your attention?
A: The bully issue. The Morgan Hill District is proactive in this issue.
Q: If the bond measure and governor’s tax do not pass, what will be your budget-cutting suggestions?
A: The district has already prepared for budget cuts whether the props pass or not. Additional funds can be obtained through partnerships with local businesses, fundraising and parent participation with the school.
Q: Who is your favorite teacher and what did they do for your life?
A: My favorite teacher was Sister Mary Catherine, because she taught me the values of friendship, honesty, loyalty and family values. My daughter Jennifer who is a third-grade teacher at Barrett Elementary is currently my favorite teacher.
Q: What the last good book you read?
A: Although I don’t read a lot of novels due to newspapers and magazines my last good book was by author John Grisham and the title was “Calico Joe.”
