Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1291735
administrative leader who goes largely unchecked, I had to run in order to speak for students, families and teachers. TOP ISSUES: I believe strongly that we need to focus on providing an equitable learning environment for all students in all areas of curriculum and staffing to ensure that all voices are heard. Second, as a small district, we need to have transparent accountability in our financial matters, while working with all stakeholders for the best we can provide to students. My final concern is my greatest, as it has been a consistent problem for years: We have not done well at being truly collaborative, and that needs to change. DISTANCE CAMPAIGNING: It's hard, and I 'm new at this . I have set up a web site as well as Facebook and Instagram page s . I 'm par tic ipating in National Cit y Elementar y Teach- ers A s soc iation-led Zoom meetings and planning to ho st my own meet and greet s as well as mini-Q&A se s sions online. CHOOSING TO LEAD NOW: It boils down to the combined pieces of who I am: A mom, an elementary school teacher, a union board member, and a person of faith. Wrap those together, and I am committed to stand for the stu- dents in my neighborhood, the families they represent, the teachers and staff members who work for them every day, and the community they come from. WEBSITE/SOCIAL: VoteMichelleGates.com; Instagram: @VoteMichelleGates; Facebook page: Michelle Gates for National School Dis- trict School Board Michael Gonzales CANDIDATE FOR: New Haven Unified School District Board of Edu- cation EXPERIENCE: 14-year elemen- tary school teacher (K-5) with United Teachers Los Angeles, now with Hayward Education Association. WHY: As a third-generation Union City resident, I and my family are embedded in this community as both coaches and educators. I grew up here but spent the last several years teaching elementary school in Los Angeles. Not only did I learn how to be an excellent teacher, I also learned how to help grow my union as a site leader. I left an amazing career in LA to return home and run for school board in Union City. My sole purpose for running is to help elevate our fellow educators, students and families to find real solutions to our ever-changing educational challenges. In these difficult times, we need to elect leaders who will prioritize how our dis- trict spends our precious tax dollars. TOP ISSUES: There is a lot of mistrust with the current school board, and the new superintendent is never held accountable. I will bring trust back to the district and help keep our students and staff safe through this pandemic. I will prioritize the budget so there are no cuts to the classroom. DISTANCE CAM- PAIGNING: My campaign consists of handwritten postcards, cam- paign literature door hangers, texting, and phone calls. I am endorsed by the New Haven Teachers Association. CHOOSING TO LEAD NOW: Currently, this school board doesn't have any experience with distance learning, and no one on the board is an educator. I bring that important voice to the table as a practitioner. WEBSITE: mikeg4newhaven.com Demetrio Gonzalez-Hoy CANDIDATE FOR: West Contra Costa Unified School District Board of Education EXPERIENCE: Third grade bilingual edu- cator for eight years; United Teachers of Richmond CTA/NEA president for four years. WHY: I am running because I care deeply about the students, staff and families of WCCUSD. I owe my success to public schools and the support of educators to get me through very difficult times as an immigrant student at 14 years old. I became an advocate because I know the challenges of being unsupported and navigating an educa- tional system that sometimes pushes us to fail. I want to continue to close our achievement gap; provide the tools and resources our students need/deserve in order to succeed, especially our students of color; support our schools and educators and retain our teachers; and advocate for inclusive processes of feedback from all of our stakeholders in every decision we make. 29 O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0 " We have not done well at being truly collaborative, and that needs to change." —Michelle Gates