Debra Mason
(Words 394)
Tell us a little bit
about yourself?
I am 57
years old and was born and raised in Bay Point. I have been married for 32
years and have two daughters and two granddaughters. I consider myself to be a
community advocate. When my children were in school I worked part time and served
on PTA’s and Site Councils, I am currently on the Riverview Site Council even though
I no longer have children in school. I worked as an instructional assistant
for 22 years
and then took a full time position as a Recreation Coordinator at the local
park and recreation district. I serve on the Bay Point Municipal Advisory Council
and the Community Advisory Panel. Since the community I live in is unincorporated
and depends upon the county for services, over the years I have become quite
successful at working collaboratively with multiple agencies to bring
much needed
services into our community such as a health clinic, afterschool programs and a
family service center.
What is your purpose
for running for the Board of Education for MDUSD?
I am running
for the board because I feel that the experience and knowledge I gained working
in the classroom, developing recreational youth programs, and service on public
boards makes me a uniquely qualified candidate. I attended most of the school
board meetings last year and there seemed to be a lot of parents and teachers
that felt their concerns were not being addressed. I know that there
are
sometimes hard decisions that need to be made but feel they can be done in a
respectful way that acknowledges people’s concerns. I think the district needs to
adopt a strategic plan and then set about implementing it thoughtfully and intentionally.
What is your
background in education and what could it bring to the Board?
While
working in recreation I developed programs that used a youth development approach.
Some of the programs I started went on to be recognized as demonstrations
programs and I became a trainer, going around the state training staffs that
work with youth on how to provide exemplary programs. I also have a certificate
in Conflict Resolution which is useful when working on a board that has
to struggle
with difficult issues.
What knowledge do you
have about special education and how do you plan on using that knowledge to
support students with special needs?
As a
classroom assistant and a provider of programs that were inclusive I have interacted
with many special education students. One of the key components of quality
youth development is that all children feel physically and emotionally safe, I think
this is even more important for children who have special needs.
Barbara Oaks
(Words 399)
Tell us a little bit
about yourself?
My name is Barbara
Oaks, and I am a candidate for MDUSD Governing Board. I have lived within
this district for 36 years. My two children went to school in this
district and I am now the grandparent of an
MDUSD student. I
have been a teacher of students with special needs for 13 years, a vice
principal for five years, and retired after six years as a high school
principal all within MDUSD.
What is your purpose
for running for the Board of Education for MDUSD?
I am running for the
MDUSD Governing Board because I want to do what I can to assist in what I see
as goals for our students and our community, including high achievement, along
with social and emotional support, for our students, respectful, trusting and collaborative
relationships with teachers and staff, open communication and positive
relationships with parents and community, honest and thoughtful decision-making
with integrity, and being fiscally conservative.
What is your
background in education and what could it bring to the Board?
I have worked in
education for the 25 years, having retired in June, 2011. I taught
students with special needs for 13 years within MDUSD, including high school
students with learning disabilities, and adults with severe handicapping
conditions. I also taught business skills within the MDUSD adult
education program. My eleven years as an administrator were also within
MDUSD. Having worked within the district for 24 years, I am well familiar
with programs and practices which have been instituted over the years, some of
which have been very successful for the benefit of our children. I want
to continue to work to support the academic and social programs for the
children and families of this district.
What knowledge do you
have about special education and how do you plan on using that knowledge to
support students with special needs?
My knowledge of
special education is both as one who has received formal education and training
in working with students with special needs, and, more importantly, as a
practitioner of this knowledge. Having taught students with special needs
for 13 years, as well as adults, I have gained knowledge about the
individuality of people, their strengths, and how to best use the strengths of
students with special needs. I have also worked with dozens of families,
gaining insight into the family dynamics in a home with a student with special
needs. As a board member, I would use this knowledge whenever making
decisions about providing education for students with special needs in all
arenas of the educational process, always keeping in mind the needs of the
student first and how the decision could affect the student and his/her family.
Tell us a little bit
about yourself?
Prior to serving on the board, I was on the district’s
Parent Advisory Committee and Budget Advisory Committee. I served on the PFC,
PTA and site councils at Bancroft Elementary, Oak Grove Middle, and Ygnacio Valley
High School. My husband and I have two daughters, one is a freshman at Baylor
University and one is a sophomore at Ygnacio Valley High School.
What is your purpose
for running for the Board of Education for MDUSD?
I work full time for an energy company and I have a Bachelor
of Science in Computer Science with a minor in Business Administration for
California State University, Hayward. I believe every child should receive the
best education possible. I believe that MDUSD should be attracting and
retaining highly qualified staff. This is very difficult during these budget
reductions. We need to be creative and develop solutions that will meet our
students’ needs and motivate our employees to stay with the district. I still
support career-integrated academics. Our high schools need to have a variety of
programs in order to make our students career ready or college ready. Programs
like the academy model, ROP, and job shadowing help our students prepare for
their future. I feel that Response to Intervention (RTI) is important for our
students. We need to early identify students who are having learning
difficulties and work with them. RTI for some students may be what is needed to
get them to grade level.
What is your
background in education and what could it bring to the Board?
I do not have a degree in education, but I have experience
because I volunteer at schools and have served on education committees. My work
experience allows me to understand budgets and what it takes to make teams
work. The Board should have a common purpose of wanting the best for its
students and staff. It should work cooperatively to find ways to serve.
What knowledge do you
have about special education and how do you plan on using that knowledge to
support students with special needs?
My knowledge is based on meetings with parents of special
education students and discussions with my sister who has a masters degree in
special education. She has helped me understand the nuances of special
education and the battles that parents fight for their children. It is important
that the Board understand that reductions in general education also affect
special education. It is also important as a Board to avoid putting special
education and general education at opponents. I will continue to be available
to special education parents and listen to their request.
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