Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/969549
schools should be the anchors of our communities. As governor, I will work to create full-service community schools across the state, building on my record as mayor in support of wellness cen- ters, after-school programs and safe school programs. How has being dyslexic made you stronger? I had a learning disability and also bounced around to four or five schools in seven years. It wasn't just about reading and writing — it was about my self-esteem and self-worth. My dyslexia shaped me in every way, and I would not be sitting here today if not for dyslexia. It was a gift that I've come to appreciate and embrace, because it allows me to see the world differently. It's given me a willingness to take risks — and that has defined my life. Literally hundreds of thousands if not millions of kids in our public education system are struggling with learning differences. I believe we should cel- ebrate those differences, not tolerate those differences. A learning disability is not something that necessarily holds you back; it can compel you forward, because you find ways of overcompen- sating. In that overcompensation, you find strengths that you otherwise would have never discovered about yourself. A teacher who made a difference? There's not a human being that walks this state who doesn't have a story about a teacher who changed their life profoundly. For me, Tino Lavazzo was that guy. He customized and individu- alized learning for me. He allowed me to self-pace differently than the rest of the class. His willingness to do all these things changed not only the trajectory of my academic experience, but my life. How do you differ on education from Antonio Villaraigosa? I support teachers. He announced a "holy jihad" against teachers in the LA Times. Then he said he didn't mean teachers, he meant the union. He wanted the city of Los Angeles to take over the school district. In stark contrast, I partnered with our district and unions to create a "partnership for achievement" memorandum of understanding that respected the inde- pendence and autonomy of the school district while we worked together to create a framework of community. During my term, San Francisco was the highest-performing urban school district in California, and the city and county balanced seven budgets in a row during economic recession with- out severe education cuts or teacher layoffs. I believe it is important to collaborate with teachers and teacher unions, not bash them. ere has been a lot of union-bashing these days. Yes. But what I love about CTA is that it is not just an organization about organizing — but also about public policy, political activism, protecting public dollars, and increasing invest- ment in our public education system. This should be universally embraced and celebrated. With the Janus decision and right-to- work legislation coming down the pike, and the stacking of federal courts with anti-labor judges, this is a profound moment for organized labor. We have to double down and make the case about why unions matter and why they play an important role in addressing issues such as poverty, ignorance and social justice. Unions aren't the problem: They are the antidote to the fear and anxiety that persists in this country. according to the Center for American Progress, are safer than non-sanctuary counties because they build trust with their community. If you're a victim or witness of violent crime, you are more likely to cooperate with law enforce- ment organizations if you are not convinced they are an arm of the Trump deportation force. You are more likely to send kids to school in a mixed-status family if you are not concerned that you could be deported when picking them up from school. You are more likely to get a child immunized if you are not worried that a nurse at your community clinic will report you to ICE. Our sanc- tuary policy is about keeping people safe, educated and healthy, and that's why I embrace it. How do we improve our schools from a social justice standpoint? We must address the African American and Latino achievement gap from a social justice perspective. People are not being left behind, they are starting behind. As mayor of San Francisco, we initiated universal preschool after voters approved Proposition H. Aggres- sive intervention in the early years is critical, so we're not triaging later. Along with advancing a comprehensive preschool framework in California, we must provide prenatal care and focus on children ages zero to 3, because 85 percent of the brain is fully formed by the time a child is 3. We must educate fathers and moth- ers on the importance of reading, singing, playing and talking to children. We must deliver K-12 curriculum in a more culturally competent way, make sure that our workforce is diverse and reflects the community, and provide students in low-income areas the same types of enrichment programs students have access to in wealthier areas — art, music, computer science, etc. Public " Dyslexia was a gift that I've come to appreciate and embrace. It allows me to see the world differently. It's given me a willingness to take risks — and that has defined my life." 44 cta.org