League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA May 19, 2015 Election
	Ref Rodriguez Answers Questions Candidate for Board Member; Los Angeles Unified School District; District 5

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What is the single most important issue facing LAUSD today? As a Board Member, what would you do to deal with it?

The most important issue facing the LAUSD is its failure to help the %30 of students who aren't graduating from High School. We are leaving children behind. I believe that by increasing local control of schools, empowering teachers, parents, and principals, and by focusing on middle schools, we can dramatically increase the number of students graduating from high school ready for a career or to make it through college.

2. What is the role of the Board, and what is the role of the Superintendent? How should they interact?

The role of the Superintendent is to execute a well-crafted strategic plan for how to move the LAUSD forward and improve education for all children in Los Angeles. The role of the Board is to support, oversee, and hold accountable the Superintendent. Too often the Board has taken a managerial role over the Superintendent and that has created confusion about who is in charge. The Board should support the next Superintendent by adopting a strong set of metrics aligned to the strategic plan, and adhering to clear lines of responsibility and oversight.

3. What are your criteria for an effective teacher evaluation plan?

I believe in a comprehensive approach to teacher evaluation. Rather than relying strictly on student data, I believe that it is essential to carefully craft evaluations based on all the available information. That's what we have strived to do at Partnerships to Uplift Communities.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' answers are presented as submitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: March 31, 2015 06:16
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