As your Trustee, I've worked on a myriad of issues, programs, and initiatives. Here's a brief highlight:
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Added a Nurse at each school site, hired additional Speech Pathologists, Social Workers and Counselors, ensuring the health and safety of our students.
Vice Principals – Added Vice-Principal positions to schools that did not have one – helping Principals better manage administration, staff, and assist student's educational attainment.
Psychologists – Added 17 Psychologist positions at schools, securing a Psychologist available for every student that needs services. Continually advocating for funding additional positions to ensure psychologist/student ratio meets professional recommendations.
Special Education - Directed administration to re-organize SPED Department to better align staff assignments to student progression. Added $11M to the SPED budget, with plans to add another $2M in the next fiscal year, and additional funds every year moving forward, as needs persist.
Vocational Trades – Approved funding for the modernization and improved curriculum of a Construction Trades Program at Hoover High School. Approved construction of a new heavy truck maintenance repair and construction trades facility and accompanying curriculum at Duncan Polytechnical High School, one of the first in the nation.
College Readiness – Approved new on-site facilities for the District’s Design Science Middle College at Fresno City College, supporting student success and safety in their dual college and high school courses. Approved funding and advocated for additional high school to college pathways including dual enrollment, partnerships with Fresno State, and increased opportunities at UC Merced. Directed Administration to ensure a balance of enrollment between Fresno Unified and Clovis Unified at our joint use educational program at CART.
Class Sizes - Advocated for and approved reduced class sizes, to make it easier for our teachers to teach, and our children to learn in a functional class. Approved and completed construction of a new Elementary School to reduce overcrowding.
What else have I been a part of?
BULLDOG BOUND: I was instrumental in partnering with Fresno State to ensure our students are accepted at the University as long as they meet requirements.
SUMMER CAMPS: I secured non-profits and area partners to provide summer camp experiences to all students, so that their mind continue to develop during the summer months.
New Facilities: pools, baseball fields, track fields, class rooms, restrooms, safe paths to schools, CNG buses, new classes at Addicott Elementary, libraries, and tearing DOWN the old Juvenile Hall to make way for a SCHOOL!
Programs: college signing days for ALL high school seniors, increased music programs, push for better elementary sports facilities, encourage school student leaders to involve EVERY student on campus in school activities, mentoring Hoover High School students to dream big and apply to Ivy League Schools, directed the District in laptop and tablet distribution for all students.
People/Staff/Budget: reduced class sizes, pushing for a better partnership with our staff including the Fresno Teacher’s association, directing staff to oversee cultural bias training and ongoing review, approving and encouraging success of the African American Academic Acceleration program, added staffing for Native American student services, securing a reduction in future liability for pension fund, added custodial and admin staff at schools, added social workers and counselors to deal with children's social emotional issues...
there have been so many success in our district these past 8 years... BUT there is still so much that can be improved - I LOOK FORWARD TO MY CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH YOU!