The three candidates vying for seats to represent the San Ramon Valley on the County Board of Education discussed their platforms and answered questions from residents at a public forum last week.
Area 4 incumbent Mike Maxwell, along with challengers Anate Letna and Cheri Carcaño, Contra Costa County in the context of questions aimed at a wide range of issues that have attracted recent national and state debate, such as diversity. I tried to clarify the role of the Board of Education. Equity and inclusion education in the classroom, potential changes to state mathematics frameworks, relationships with county superintendents and local independent districts and boards.
“People need to understand the role of the Contra Costa Board of Education and what we oversee. It’s a very small section of students and in fact our goal is to We want our children to leave the bar school and go back to their residential school.
The goal of reducing the number of students under supervision is one way that county commissions’ purposes and objectives differ from those representing local school districts. Nonetheless, as all three candidates emphasized at the October 18 forum, the board’s work to assist students across the county requires close working with local district and county superintendents. It also includes cooperation.
Carcaño, a health educator at Chabot College in Hayward, said, “I like to believe that people who take on these kinds of roles have a heart that wants to serve their students and the community as best they can.
She added that she is particularly optimistic about the prospects for this priority with county superintendent Lynn McKee.
“I think we share a desire to help disadvantaged and underserved students. I hope you use your mind,” continued Calcagno.
Letna says from her perspective as a longtime educator, including special education students, the need for county boards to work with districts and teachers in the classroom is particularly clear, and so is the board’s role in doing so. said it was.
“My role as a resource teacher is to address the learning gaps of my students. to do,” said Letona. “And in our role we can do that. We need to be able to receive direct instruction from the level.”
Letna is best approached as a service gap to be addressed by the school board and other local educational institutions in addressing the needs of students in county and court schools under the supervision of the school board. said.
“Academic gaps are access gaps,” Retna said. “This is a lack of access gap for many children who do not understand how curriculum content can be handled in the classroom to support all learners. That’s what we have to deal with. I think we can do that on the county’s side. This is done through the support of staff development in the areas where we are.”
As Calcagno noted, since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent difficulties associated with the rapid shift to virtual learning, there has been an increasing need to address performance gaps and students’ underlying emotional and academic needs. I started to get attention and then I started to return to the classroom. Been away for over a year.
“I sympathize with parents as many children have unique needs and are able to meet them on all levels…many teachers are already doing their best to do that.” In two years, I think that gap has widened for many students who are already struggling,” said Calcagno.
If elected, she explained what COVID relief funding would be available to the county department of education compared to the local school district, and how that funding would be used to reach high-level matching peers. He added that he would like to know if programs such as mentorship opportunities could be created. High-achieving students and at-risk students against each other.
Maxwell reiterated his support for working with school districts to support more peer mentorship opportunities, but the need to support all students in their career goals, not just those pursuing higher education. It also emphasizes gender.
“We should challenge every student,” said Maxwell. “We now realize that college is not the only profession, it’s not the only direction to go…we don’t have to take things away, we need to add.”
Maxwell, who is completing his second term on the board, said he is generally looking to continue and improve on his previous responsibilities.
However, despite their incumbent insight into the board’s operations and goals, both Letna and Carcaño’s experience as special education and community college instructors, and often as educators of non-traditional students, respectively, provided a unique perspective on the functions of the board and ideas for working with teachers and school districts.
“Teaching college online and having four kids online school at home has given me a valuable perspective on how different students are learning online,” says Calcagno. says Mr. “By talking to families whose children are not doing well academically or emotionally, I want to help them with the recall recovery process they will need in the years to come.”
Letna also points to a longstanding passion for and career in education, and sees her service on the board as another step in her role as a teacher advocate.
“I have been a teacher in a special education classroom for 10 years. Before that, I worked with adults with disabilities after high school,” said Letna. “I am the only candidate with experience working in both an adult and her K-12 education system and services.”
In addition to advocating for at-risk students and working with counties and school districts, Maxwell said the board’s role was to act as an advisor to parents, students, and families, and to provide input from all. He also advocated addressing the concerns raised.
“I think children, teachers, staff and families need educational options and need support,” said Maxwell. “They need resources, they need someone to listen. The county school board doesn’t have a direct impact on the school district, but we are there to listen and feel for them.” We are there to provide opportunities, as if you heard.”
The full video of last week’s forum, hosted by the PTA’s District 32 and the PTAS’ Las Trampas Creek Council and moderated by the League of Women Voters of Diablo Valley, is available here.
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