Candidate for
Member, County Board of Education; County of San Francisco

We must invest in science, math and technology education from Pre-K through 5th grade to help attract, retain and train the very best teachers in these fields. It is estimated that we are going to need close to 100 science and math teachers in the next four years in order to build a sustainable pipeline of educators with subject matter expertise to help integrate `inquiry-based learning' into the core curriculum, exposing our children early to critical thinking about scientific concepts.

We must also develop new partnerships in the areas of science and math with institutions that have a strong reputation for providing excellent professional development programs for teachers and educators. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Academy of Sciences serve as distinguished enterprises offering hands-on learning for students, and professional development experiences for teachers, especially at the elementary and middle school levels. Many of these programs have existing funding support from the US Department of Energy and Education Foundations, and are available for free or at little cost to a school district.

In addition, the school district, in partnership with SF State University, should aggressively explore and apply for grants from the National Science Foundation that are targeted to increase the knowledge and skills of economically disadvantaged students in science, math and technology. Since 2008, NSF has recognized SF State University for having one of the top 1% best science education programs in the country.

In conjunction with this focus on math, science and technology, I would also like to see us build a "Pre-Trade Skills Hub" at the middle school level, which would offer appropriate curriculum and hands-on learning to middle school students in carpentry, tooling, welding, ceramics, materials and geographical information systems. With this, we will have an incredible chance to promote economic opportunity through education for all of our students, and further advance the closing of both the academic and skills gaps that exist today.

After almost ten years of draconian state budget cuts to public education we are now facing unprecedented times. How do we stop the `crisis' and change the conversation away from a `cuts mentality' to a `we must invest strategy'? In my race to be a member of the San Francisco School Board, I am committed to pursue bold and innovative ways to stabilize the workforce and find pragmatic solutions to stop the lay-offs.

It is imperative that we address the existing "achievement/opportunity gap" head-on and own it as the most critical public policy issue of our time, as we guide the SF Public Education System to the next level of accountability, transparency and academic excellence for all parents, kids and stakeholders.

Only 17.7% of the households residing in the County of San Francisco have children totaling approximately 156,000 kids. Our public school enrollment is estimated around 56,000 kids + compromised of 39% Asian, 25% Latino, 11.3% African American and about 11% White.

More than 41,000 kids in San Francisco below the age of seventeen live the following communities: Outer Mission, Excelsior, Ingleside, Inner Mission, Bernal Heights, and Bayview/Hunters Point. A majority of families in these communities suffer from income inequality and lower education attainment than other parts of the city.

I support the following strategies to help identify and support kids to stay the course from early childhood education through high school, and graduate college and career-ready:

• Wrap around services to help kids and their families to be ready to learn from Pre-K + 4th grade
• Special Education services focused on reading from K + 3rd grade
• Integrate science literacy with the basic curriculum from K + 3rd grade
• Integrate parents as primary partners from Pre-K through High School and incorporate parent engagement and education strategies.
• Fully supported community schools + that will also offer summer classes
• Develop a sustained monitoring and tracking system that focuses on early identification of students who veer off-track in their academic studies, and implement intervention strategies.
• Integrate the SF Workforce System from middle school through high school so that kids begin to understand the labor market, skills needed and opportunities available.

I grew up as a client of the Head Start program in the inner-city and have always recognized the value and importance of early childhood education starting at pre-school. We will need to assess our capabilities to leverage local discretionary funds with state and federal dollars to holistically support early childhood education opportunities system-wide. An increase of funds dedicated through Proposition H funds should help SFUSD adequately address inequities and demands for early education programs.

As a child of immigrant parents from Puerto Rico I am also very aware of the struggles English Learners face on a daily basis. When a teacher from my school visited my home to speak with my mother, she felt the support she needed to help me be successful. I am committed to jump in with both feet when I see challenges and problems that need to be addressed, and find solutions through collaboration and perseverance.