Cathy Larson
  • Home
  • Resume
  • Writing Portfolio
  • Educational Blog

Issues not mutually exclusive

7/11/2016

0 Comments

 
In the wake of all that transpired this past week, culminating in the Dallas standoff, I found myself thinking about the division in our country. This idea that permeates society, suggesting someone is either pro-one side or pro-the other, but not both. An idea perpetuated by news outlets and social media. An idea that makes it feel as if we have to choose a side -- when we know that neither side, exclusively, feels quite right. Isn’t it okay to care about it all? All at the same time?

This notion of “having to pick sides” left me thinking about education, about the challenges facing our local district and schools that systematically rush us to judgement, forcing us to “pick a side.” Is it possible that maybe, just maybe, the issues of this past week can serve to remind us that challenges don’t have to be mutually exclusive?

Let’s take the issue of inter-district transfer students as an example. I hear arguments on both sides of this issue. Arguments suggesting we need to eliminate them. Arguments suggesting we need to keep them. Isn’t it just possible we currently have too many, but still need a small number of these kids throughout all our schools? Too few may result in unintended consequences, and too many has resulted in the challenges we face today. The support from both sides is compelling; however, what if the answer lies somewhere in between?

Let’s take the issue of traffic. We can’t eliminate it all. Our communities’ residents drive. They drive to work. They drive their kids to school. The drive to the grocery store. They own multiple cars and their kids drive, too. And much of our driving time happens when schools are beginning and ending. This causes traffic nightmares. Unfortunately, we are a busy lot with people to see and things to do, so eliminating traffic completely isn’t realistically possible. But do we have to endure a traffic situation that perpetually gets worse year-over-year? Again, I’m suggesting the answer lies somewhere in between “like it was in the 1960’s” and “I’m forced to leave my home an additional thirty minutes earlier in order to get to work on time.”

Let’s look at one more issue -- fundraising. We live in the Los Alamitos Unified School District, a public school system the last time I checked, but time-and-time again we are caught up in the belief that in order for our schools to run and our kids to participate in sports, we need to shell out thousands of dollars. Correct me if I’m wrong, but doesn’t the fact the we send them to a public school, in-and-of-itself, mean that the education our kids receive is “publically” funded -- in another word, free? That our kids can’t be held from an activity or program because of either an inability or an unwillingness of a family to pay? Again, I’m not suggesting that fundraising be cut completely, but I am suggesting that our district’s fundraising practices be closely re-evaluated. My guess is the fundraising answer lies somewhere between “nothing” and “I’m going to need to take out a second mortgage.”

An answer to our concerns as parents isn’t going to always be black and white. The answers are going to take a willingness on our part to stand on principles and have our voices heard. And our voices aren’t going to argue, offend, degrade, demean, or attack; rather, they will question, discuss and debate.

And somewhere in the middle, with a little give-and-take -- and without having to pick a side -- we’ll find our mutually “inclusive” solutions.
0 Comments

Question Everything

10/30/2014

0 Comments

 
Time and time again, all I see from the incumbents in this School Board race are press releases, responses submitted as a team, and rhetoric about what has been done in the past. I am not sure exactly how each feels about any one issue, haven’t been able to discern how one is any different from the other, and have a sense that they do only what the other endorses. Is that really what we want for the next four years in Los Alamitos Unified? A School Board that views the issues through exactly the same lens? A School Board so lock-step and ingrained that the status quo rules, whether working or not. A School Board where nothing new or innovative is introduced, brought to the cabinet, or used to challenge the accepted practices?

I appreciate all the current School Board has accomplished, as my own children have been the recipients of the progress. However I still see gaps, because my own children, unfortunately, have been the recipients of the status quo, as well. Regardless the rhetoric of success, don’t let the statistics blind the reality. We have work to do, and it makes me wonder: What have you done for me lately?

In the eighth grade, I had Mr. Howard for science. One of his bulletin boards was decorated with a turtle and this line: “Always wonder why.” I don’t know exactly why he chose a turtle to impart these impactful words, but the turtle did just that and continues to impact my life on a daily basis. 

What does this turtle from 30+ years ago mean for Los Alamitos Unified School District and my race for a School Board seat? It means I don’t claim to have all the answers or be the expert. What it means is I have lots of questions that need to be asked and deserve a discussion:

  • Of the 10,000 students in our district, why are almost 35% of them inter-district transfers?
  • What is the district doing to increase the rigor in the classroom?
  • What is the plan for Common Core implementation in ELA, mathematics, and technical subjects?
  • How is LAEF spending our money, and what percentage of our donations is spent on administrative salaries and fees?
  • How is the Board involving the community in its decisions?
  • Why do we continue to hire from within for cabinet-level positions, perpetuating the status quo without regard for innovation and fresh eyes?
  • Are we ready for an on-campus shooting? Who is responsible for my children in an emergency? What is the district’s communication plan? 
  • Even though “recruiting” in sports in not allowed, why do I keep hearing stories about how this is happening with our district sports’ teams?
  • Are school uniforms something our district families want to discuss?
  • Why are most of the emails I receive from the district and our district schools about fundraising and asking for money?
  • Where does all the money go?
  • How are our classrooms differentiating instruction for children of all academic achievement levels?
  • What can be done about the traffic in Rossmoor immediately?
  • Why did we hire 80 new employees for this school year when salaries are our district’s biggest expense?
  • Why are we not doing more writing in the classroom?
  • Why are we still graduating 44% of our students without having taken an AP course and 28% of our students not having completed A-G requirements?
  • What are we doing about the challenges with maintaining the grass at Oak's field? How much money is spent with each fix?
  • How are we supporting our local, community sports programs with field space and facilities?

I could go on and on ... but I won't. 

My platform since day one has been based on three key issues: Curriculum. Safety. Equity. I am immersed in these issues on a daily basis as a classroom teacher, and I see my role on the Board of Education in Los Alamitos as one of challenging what has been business as usual - questioning the status quo. Our district has had lots of success; however, it’s important to recognize and embrace its challenges and gaps so we can continue to build a great district that remembers we do it all for our kids.

Elect the same – expect the same.

Elect the new – and let the questions uncover our potential. 

0 Comments

Vote Informed

10/18/2014

0 Comments

 
This week our neighborhood newspaper, The News Enterprise, will be publishing responses from each of the school board candidates to the same three questions. In case you don't receive the paper, I want to make sure everyone has the opportunity to see where I stand. All I ask this year is that votes are cast and based in facts. Ask the tough questions, hear each candidates' answers, and make a decision based on the direction in which you'd like to see our board move. We haven't had an election for a school board seat since 2006, as no one has challenged the incumbents in the last three elections. 

With our district facing unprecedented changes the next four years - new funding formulas, new curriculum and new technology - we need a leader on the board who can take us into the future, rather than continuing to live in the past.

Listed below are The News Enterprise questions and my answers.

How would you describe an effective school board member?

An effective school board member must act responsibly within the law and in the best interest of all stake holders to ensure fiscal stability, academic fidelity, effective policy, and community involvement. Trustees must be available to all members of the community – those with and without children – to build a school that graduates responsible young adults who have learned to teach, give back, and contribute. Our board needs to reflect the needs of the community, while maintaining a balance between those needs and those of the student. School board members are called "Trustees" for a reason: they are being "trusted" with the future of the community – our most precious commodity – the children.  

What are you top priorities for the next four years?

Curriculum.
The academic growth of the district has been stagnant for the past five years, Common Core is not commonplace in all classrooms across all grade levels, writing has been forgotten, and almost 50% of our children are not participating in AP courses, because the achievement gap is insurmountable. Curriculum needs to be a top priority – and a teacher needs to lead the charge.

Safety. 
Alleviating traffic congestion in our neighborhoods needs to be a top priority of the next school board. Alongside easing the traffic woes, the next safety steps need to include training students in Bully Prevention and online e-reputation responsibility, reducing drug and alcohol abuse, and ensuring all students are safe in all dark corners of every campus. Additionally, research shows uniforms to be a great safety measure; therefore, an initiative in dress code reform K-12 needs to be discussed. 

Equity.   
I want to see inter-district transfer students, 35% of our district's current enrollment, dramatically decreased immediately, so our own in-district kids are given first, top priority for academics, arts, athletics and activities. I also want reform and transparency in all fundraising. I will also argue it's time all students – disenfranchised, EL, GATE – in LAUSD receive the same opportunities, regardless the school, leadership or classroom teacher. 


Do you have any specific changes you¹d like to make in the District?

I am a teacher, so my specialty is culture and curriculum. I will focus on what matters most for our kids: academics. Our district likes to celebrate the successes, but neglects to publicize its failures. My first academic change will be to increase the writing, depth and complexity in all courses, because there is no excuse for having only increased ELA proficiency 5% in the last six years. Additionally, our district needs to train all teachers and departments in the power of vertical alignment to ensure access to and success in AP courses, rather than accepting the fact that we are still graduating 44% of our students without an AP experience – one of the most significant measures of college success. Finally, we need to update our signature practices to embrace Common Core and 21st century education, especially since 28% of our students have not completed A-G college entrance requirements upon graduation, leaving them under-prepared for college and career opportunities. 

I have many more ideas for supporting kids, teachers and administrators, all while embracing what makes Los Al great. It's time to shake things up. 

In the words of Mark Twain, "Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason."

Vote informed!

0 Comments

    Archives

    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014

    Categories

    All
    21st Century Classroom
    21st Century Curriculum
    College And Career
    Common Core
    Communication
    Culture
    Curriculum
    Equity
    Funding
    Fundraising
    Homework
    Instructional Minutes
    Inter District Transfers
    Inter-District Transfers
    Intervention
    Literacy
    Rigor
    Safety
    School Board
    School Calendar
    Stress
    Student Engagement
    Summer
    Summer Loss
    Teachers
    Technology In The Classroom
    Traffic
    Transparency
    Writing

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.