I was unable to attend the League of Women Voters Candidate forum on September 25 due to illness. Below I have added my answers to the questions from that event. Since candidates were only given one minute to answer questions, I kept my answers brief and succinct as possible. A full recording of the event can be found here. 

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As a board member how would you find out what the county thinks to set the direction for the board? 
The function and duties for a County Board of Education are mandated by the state. We are obligated to ensure SCOE operates in compliance with Ed Code and the constitutions of the United States and the State of CA. As board members we are informed regularly by SCOE staff, through our attendance at SCOE sponsored events, and by the public comment period at each of our meetings. 

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How can SCOE better support students with mental health challenges? 
Access to mental health is a huge challenge in our community, particularly for youth. Programs such as Community Connect offer mental health supports at many schools, but the need far exceeds capacity of the program. At the very basic level, emotional regulation skills can be taught to staff and students and incorporated into school culture. We are not born with innate skills on how to effectively handle big or challenging emotions. When staff or students are not able to regulate emotions effectively, the learning environment suffers for all students. Conversely, when emotional regulation skills are prioritized, behavior, test scores and the general vibe of the learning environment improves. 

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Do you support SCOE’s current focus on substance use prevention? 
Yes. Substance use in our community is significantly higher than the state average, with overdoses increasing at an alarming rate. Students need to be prepared with accurate information about drugs and alcohol before they are put in a position where they are asked to try something. We need to equip them with knowledge about the dangers of substance use, and also skills to navigate the peer pressure that they will invariably experience sooner or later. 

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What is your stance on AB1955 the “safety act”? 
As a parent, I understand the desire to know what is happening with my children at school. However, many of our students live in homes where it is not safe to engage in conversations around sexual orientation or gender identity. I believe students should always be encouraged to discuss questions and challenges with their parents or guardians. But when those questions destabilize the safety of a student’s living environment, it should not be forced. Ultimately, the State of CA has provided clear guidance and we, as a board, are obligated to follow that. 

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What are your thoughts about educating students about media literacy and helping them navigate mis-information? 
All students need critical thinking skills to help them navigate the overwhelming mountain of information that is available to them with the click of a few buttons. They should learn to differentiate between “news” and “opinion”, and understand how to cross reference multiple, credible sources to separate fact from fiction. 

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If you’re elected, what would your approach be to abiding by CA state law and Education Code if it conflicted with your personal values? 
I am obligated to comply with the ed code, along with federal and state law. I embrace the non-partisan nature of this role and do not use it as a platform for political maneuvering. If CA law or Ed Codes conflict with my personal values, I will focus my activism efforts at the appropriate place….the US Department of Education, or the California legislature.  

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What do you see as the greatest teacher training needs currently? 
We are learning a lot about early literacy and how we teach students to read, and SCOE has been instrumental in bringing those new best practices to our community. I believe this is a critical area of need for our teachers, since so many of our students struggle to meet grade level standards for reading. Without these foundational skills, success in any other subject is difficult or impossible. 

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Do you think prayer or religion has any place in public, state-financed schools? 
I think world religions can be appropriately woven into history or sociology curriculum. I do not believe it is appropriate to present any religion as right or wrong, shame people for their religion (or lack thereof), or allow any religion to influence school operations. Students should be permitted to voluntarily engage in personal prayer if that is part of their religious practice, but prayer should not be mandated in a public school setting.