Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1291735
Christopher Pope CANDIDATE FOR: Visalia Unified School District Board of Education EXPERIENCE: Educator for 22 years, primarily in elementary grades (now retired from Visalia Uni- fied); Western Regional Director for the NEA American Indian Caucus. WHY: I decided to run for school board, as the incumbent has been in office for nine years. Even the president of the United States can only be in office a maximum of eight years! The incum- bent has no classroom experience, so it's difficult for her to relate to parents, students and administration. TOP ISSUES: Correct our procedures on classrooms behavior, which impact student learning and are emotionally draining on teachers and students. Increase career technical education and training to offer a promising future for students who will not pursue a college degree. Add a reading inter- vention specialist at every elementary school in the district to ensure that all students are reading at grade level by the end of third grade. Embrace diversity and work toward equity and equality in our community. DISTANCE CAMPAIGNING: Campaigning is very different in this era of social distancing. Speaking to civic clubs is not possible. Some organizations have organized Zoom or other types of platforms to introduce me as a candidate. CHOOSING TO LEAD NOW: We are living in difficult and challenging times. Today more than ever, we need a school board to meet the challenges. Our board needs new insight and direction. Having just retired after 22 years of teaching, I've been in the trenches. I hear the voices of our par- ents, students and staff. WEBSITE/SOCIAL: sites.google.com/view/ pope4schoolboard; Facebook page: Christopher Pope for School Board Roberto Rodriguez CANDIDATE FOR: Palomar College Board of Trustees EXPERIENCE: Educator with Sweetwater Union High School District since 1987; CTA Board of Directors, District P; Sweetwater Education Association member. WHY: I'm running for Palomar College Board of Trustees because I believe that community colleges play an inte- gral part in fulfilling the promise of a public education. Palomar College plays a critical role in my community and is a vital resource in North San Diego County. Unfortunately, years of deficit spending and questionable decisions have put the college in dan- ger. I feel my experiences as a teacher, a union leader and an advocate for public education have prepared me to face the challenges that are coming. TOP ISSUES: My top priority is to bring the college's budget under control. Years of deficit spending have created difficult decisions for the board. Second, there have been racial tensions on campus in the past, and I'm concerned that real and difficult conversations regarding institutional racism aren't happening. Lastly, I'd like to bridge the trust gap that exists both on the current board and between the board and faculty on campus, as well as the community. DISTANCE CAMPAIGNING: Cam- paigning has been a challenge. Being in the high-risk group for COVID means door knocking is out of the question for me. So, I've been making the "Zoom rounds," virtually visiting Democratic clubs in my district, getting endorse- ments from labor and the Democratic Party, and using social media advertis- ing. We are planning on phone and text banking, and of course the ubiquitous mail pieces. CHOOSING TO LEAD NOW: It's because of the unprecedented crises that I feel compelled to contribute to my community. Not only the pandemic, which I think the college is handling relatively well, but the crises down the road — the ones we might have to 31 O C T O B E R / N O V E M B E R 2 0 2 0 " It's because of the unprecedented crises that I feel compelled to contribute to my community." —Roberto Rodriguez