When recently asked for Cañon City School Board candidate recommendations, I answered without hesitation, Meuli, Reeser, and Valladares.
I accessed candidate interviews/forums as job interviews. Looking through a prospective employer lens, I searched for the most qualified person/team for the job; someone with first-hand knowledge of Cañon City Schools programs; leadership and management skills, as well as integrity, honesty, responsibility and vision.
I heard Meuli, Reeser, Valladares say:
I see what happens in my child's classroom.
I testify at the capitol for the district.
I review the budget.
I'm a recently retired teacher and understand teacher/student needs.
Yearly instructional reviews inform/guide change.
Districts around the state notice our programs. We are parents, too!
These informed candidates noted current, specific programs; the CCHS Capstone, internship, P-tech, concurrent enrollment and TOP programs. They support school choice, the arts, extracurricular experiences, gifted education and special needs students. They understand school funding and realize district policies align with state/federal laws. They have actually spent time in CCS classrooms to gain first-hand knowledge and are familiar with day-to-day operations.
As a business owner, would I hire someone who :
*is personally invested/responsible?
*has walked in my shoes?
*understands/abides by current best industry practices and regulations?
*has in-depth job-related knowledge?
*understands quality review processes inform vision/change?
Answer: Yes, come to work for me!
"We The Parents" statements:
A community member/parent/teacher told me...
I read a book that said...
The curriculum isn't available.
In the 90's, we...
If we need to break some rules, we'll do it.
These candidates haven't spent one day, Not One Hour, observing a CCS classroom. They rely on second-hand, outdated misinformation. Much like the "telephone game," the final message is far from the truth.
How does one make informed change with "telephone" knowledge? The team wants Back to Basics implementation but has no clear curricular vision or specific plan. Their answers indicate minimal to no understanding of curriculum, school funding, educational regulations and/or district processes.
As a business owner, would I hire someone who:
*relies solely on secondhand misinformation?
*calls for operational change without spending one day in my company?
*references outdated programs as industry examples?
*has no regard for industry regulations/laws/rules?
*has no process or informed vision for change?
Answer: No, thank you!
Vote for involved, informed parents: Meuli, Reeser, and Valladares have earned the job!
Beth Gaffney,
Cañon City
Job well done Mayor Ashley Smith
As we approach our next election, I find myself reflecting on the last four years.
Ashley Smith has been our mayor during this time, and she will be leaving office. I am honored to have known and worked with Mayor Smith. She has done a magnificent job leading our city. Mayor Smith guided our town through COVID-19, remember, that in itself is an amazing accomplishment.
I was fortunate enough to work with Ashley and other citizens to pass 2A, the Fix Our Streets ballot measure. This measure had failed three times previously, but with her leadership we got it passed and we all have seen, and cursed at times, the construction of streets in our city. She ran an open and transparent government, and her heart was always with the city. She worked hard for what was right for all of the city, not just a few.
Thank you, Mayor Ashley Smith, for a job well done.
Bob Weir,
Cañon City
No comments:
Post a Comment