Hugo Enciso

District: ABC Unified School District Trustee Area 5
Position Seeking: Governing Board Member

Question 1: Please share a meaningful experience you had with art (visual, dance, drama, music, media arts) while growing up.

The arts have always been important to me. Growing up in Chicago my parents exposed me to the arts at a very young age. My father was a singer as a young boy so he loved music, and I remember he would take us to outdoor concerts in the summer at the Grant Park Bandshell. These were some of my favorite outings that were often combined with a visit to the different museums on Lake Michigan. Another fascinating experience was visiting the Pyramids of Teotihuacan in Mexico when I was 9 years old.

Question 2: What kind of creative solutions would you suggest to support student outcomes such as English language development, closing the achievement gap, and preparation for college and/or meaningful careers?

Children need to be motivated to learn. We need to expose them to the different opportunities that exist in the real world. In order to prepare them for college and career, they need to see what opportunities are out there at an early age. Field trips complemented with virtual tours using emerging technologies such as virtual reality in the classroom can enhance the educational experience for children. This along with mentors and leaders who can visit the classroom, share their experiences and answer questions can help them visualize opportunities and get them excited to learn.

Question 3: What do you think should be the role of the School Board in ensuring that students have access to a broad range of study?

First and foremost Board members need to provide sound fiscal management to ensure that limited resources are managed effectively to provide the best educational experiences for our children. These include safe and secure facilities, technology in the classroom, continuous development of teachers, challenging curriculum, arts, athletics and other activities to develop well-rounded students. They should also lead by example and inspire our children by having a diverse set of skills that demonstrates to students and the community the importance of a good education. Finally they need to engage with parents to have a pulse of the community needs.

Question 4: In light of the Local Control Funding Formula and development of district Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs), what are your creative solutions for achieving goals in the eight priority areas?

Parent engagement is one of the eight priority areas that needs to be at the front and center. Education should be a shared experience where parents collaborate with teachers and administrators. District leadership should guide the process engaging all stakeholders and working collaboratively to provide guidance and information in terms of the emerging careers and opportunities as we prepare our children for careers. As a community we will have more information and we can focus on the most critical areas to ensure successful educational outcomes.