Issues and Positions
Academics:
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Fresno Unified has serious problems with the implementation of Common Core.
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7 in 10 students are not scoring on grade level in Language Arts and are deficient in crucial basic reading skills.
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Students curently behind in grades 5-10 did not learn important content in previous grades. They will stay behind unless this is fixed.
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Most students have huge gaps in mathematics because they only were taught procedures, not concepts.
Solution(s):
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Systematic review must be undertaken to identify the Common Core content students may have missed.
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Unless teachers in every grade level go back and teach needed standards from previous grades, student scores will not improve.
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Remedial instruction should be immediately undertaken, especially in math. (See technology section below.)
My recent experiences in the classroom and working with teachers as coach and principal would be useful in helping the district take the right steps to address this huge problem.
These topics reflect my top priorities as a Board Candidate. This page will be updated to reflect other issues. More detailed information will be posted in my blog.
Student Discipline:
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School principals are being presured to avoid suspending students, even for severe profanity directed at teachers and oher students, including racial slurs.
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Too many students are disrupting class in grades 7-12 and bringing teaching and learning to a standstill.
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While suspensions are down significantly, academic performance is very low in almost every middle school, with less than 2 out of 10 students meeting standards.
Solution(s):
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School principals need to be restored to a position of authority at their sites where they are free to make decisions that are necessary to keep order in classrooms.
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School "transition" classrooms, that are well intended and staffed by hard working teachers, need to be re-examined for efficacy and legality.
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More coherent instruction integrated with more access to technology would decrease disruptive behaviors.
During my 13 years as a site administrator, we were able to lower suspensions significantly at every school I was assigned to. As a board member, I would pursue a review of all the district discipline policies and programs and work to modify the current ones.
Technology in FUSD:
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The district maintains a world class Wide Area Network (WAN) but many teachers still do not utilize available online instructional resources.
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Some schools expend site funds on technology, while others do not. This an equity issue.
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Teachers are seldom trained in technology integration unless they seek it themselves.
Solution(s):
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Tech Training should be given priority equivalent with other initiatives for teacher development.
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Site Administrators should be trained to lead their schools in this area
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All sites should be directed to supplement district expenditures to establish a 2-1 student-to-computer ratio.
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FUSD needs to have at least as many Instructional Technology trainers as it does public relations staff.
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Effective online resources should be identified and used to remediate areas of student need in Common Core.
Having been a trainer in technology integration for more than 20 years, I would provide expertise in overseeing district technology budgets and expenditures during budget hearings. Read more about that here.