Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1291735
Leaders Who See Us & Know Us TOP ISSUES: My platform focuses on a vision beyond COVID that includes promoting the arts, collaborating with higher education, and advocating for social and racial justice. There are several progressive candidates running in my district, but I am the only one who has identified social justice as my primary long-term focus. I will push hard to implement ethnic studies and simultaneously challenge the deficit thinking model still facing brown and Black youth in Kern County. DISTANCE CAMPAIGNING: My strat- egy for campaigning during pandemic involves making a lot of phone calls. Myself and my awesome 13-year-old plan to keep making phone calls until Election Day. A lot of folks are working remotely or shut in, and my experience has been that those who answer are receptive and welcome the conversa- tion. It is hard to get to know people without face-to-face interaction, so I have been blogging about my life and probably went a little overboard with my website. CHOOSING TO LEAD NOW: Public schools will never go back to the way they were. This is the moment when I believe we can reimagine our schools as something better. My doctoral research focused on education technol- ogy and improving student persistence, and I know I can help keep our district on track with its mission of access and equity. As a mother helping my own two children learn remotely, I will speak with the voice of a parent. I am unafraid. I will speak truth to power. WEBSITE/SOCIAL: chriscruzboone.com; Twitter: @ProfessorCCB; IG: @ccruzboone; Private Facebook Group: ccb4bcsd. Ever Flores CANDIDATE FOR: Santa Rosa City Schools Board of Education EXPERIENCE: 20 years as a school counselor in the Healdsburg Unified School District; prior to that, a paraprofessional providing aca- demic advising, career guidance and social-emo- tional support to migrant students throughout Sonoma County; Healdsburg Area Teachers Association president. WHY: I want to bring the voice of an immigrant Latinx educator to the board of Santa Rosa City Schools. I want to make sure that every student has a voice and equitable access to educa- tion. The district has had a contentious relationship with its staff, and I will work to bridge this divide. I've watched the challenges teachers and students face, I have a solid understanding of the finances, and I feel I can be a stable voice of reason to make sure that all students can succeed. TOP ISSUES: Counseling support for all students, especially those who are at risk of not succeeding. Full funding for appropriate support for all students including English learners to grad- uate in the context of the new "a-g" graduation requirements. Fair and competitive wages and health benefits for all teachers and classified staff, so that Santa Rosa City Schools becomes a destination district for our region's most talented educators and education support professionals. DISTANCE CAMPAIGNING: Primar- ily literature drops, followed up with texts, phone calls and mailers. I also participated in online forums and am planning a social distancing house party in a supporter 's backyard. CHOOSING TO LEAD NOW: Too many students lack access to adequate resources and support. Specifically, I believe that adequate services must be provided at the elementary level, so that all Santa Rosa students have a fair shot at success. Currently, there seem to be significant inequities between elementary and secondary schools in our district. Also, COVID- 19 has highlighted the inequities that many of us knew existed, such as access to small class sizes, bullying and equity technology. WEBSITE/SOCIAL: EverFlores.org ; Facebook page: Ever Flores for School Board Michelle Gates CANDIDATE FOR: National School District Governing Board EXPERIENCE: 14-year ele- mentary school educator; Southwest Teachers Association representative at-large. WHY: When I saw the impact of a school board that doesn't listen and an 28 cta.org " I want to make sure that every student has a voice and equitable access to education." —Ever Flores