Governing Board Member

SEATS AVAILABLE: 3

Lupe Valerio

District: Duarte USD
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.

One of the most meaningful and memorable experiences with art occurred when I was in grade school. I recall being taught how to country line dance. Keep in mind that I attended LA Unified and the only other form of dance instruction I received in school was in preparation for the 5 de mayo celebration. Learning about a different culture through dance was an experience that opened my eyes to the world around me.

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?

I am a firm believer in reading as a young child I recall spending hours in the library. I would walk to the library every Saturday morning with a friend, watch their free short movie, explore the new books and check books out for at-home reading. I’d like to see more of our kids visiting our libraries. I believe a simple thing like reading develops language and prepares students for college and career because it allows for exploration of the world around us through books. I would like to see greater partnerships between schools and libraries.

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?

School Board members must be adaptable and must know their students, parents and community. The governing board must be able to change with technology, environment and culture. Having a broad range of study available for students of all abilities is imperative for the future success of the child.

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?

1. High quality teachers, passionate teachers equipped with necessary materials including well established safety and emergency plans. 2. Administrator accountability; ensuring that all academic standards are met. 3. Various avenues available for parent input and volunteerism. 4. Early college introduction at grade school level and parent encouragement. 5. Student attendance is addressed in positive manners, whether frequently absent or always present. 6. Assuring that arts and physical education are enjoyable to all students.

Lillian Cabral

District: Duarte USD
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.

I grow up in Pasadena Unified school district we had so many school activites when I was a child we had Art Fairs and everyone submitted a drawing,painting clay sculpture and displayed them in beautiful display cases we had tap dancing and folk dancing plays and musicals if you didn’t have a natural nack for the Arts the teachers would find your talent in something and let you bring it out Everyone participated and you really felt good about yourself and others Now days there seems to be no money in the school budgets for the Arts

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?

College prep classes not as an elective but as a general school course bring back auto shop and home mechanics and typing and other skills that helped us achieve our career goals. Sometimes college is not for everyone.

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?

The school board must collaborate and build a partnership with the City and its council to come to the tables and plan out the future of our youth and invest in them for a life time of returns

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?

We must go through all the plans with a fine tooth comb and figure out a why that the plans can work for our benefit to perform better and creative ways to deliver top level education and put those who govern the polices and governs the money.