My information is primarily coming from the online-only voters guide, Spokesman.com, candidate websites and the League of Women Voters forum broadcast on City Cable 5 and available for online viewing here.
First up, is director position number 3:
- Jeff Bierman (incumbent): Bierman is big on science, which immediately appeals to me. He has a PhD in Nuclear Physics from the University of Washington (even more bonus points) and is currently a physics professor at Gonzaga. Bierman was appointed to the this position in September 2008. Bierman's primary stated focus is increasing the range of academic course offerings and programs. He is also wants to see all students being challenged academically at all levels. Bierman is in favor of assessment tests, but only those that can be turned around quickly enough to help the students taking them. He critiques the WASL for taking too long to administer and grade, so it was not something that could be accepted as feed back to help improve the education of the students who had taken it. He seems very much in favor of high academic standards and reviews of him on ratemyprofessor.com suggest that this is reflected in his own college courses.
- Deana Brower: Brower is a former educator who has more recently volunteered with Citizens for Spokane Schools and served as a member of the Spokane Schools Citizens Advisory Committee on Human Growth and Development. Her stated focus is increasing community involvement in local schools. She states that she wants to get all the stakeholders involved and spend time listening to what people want from public schools. Brower is also not a fan of the WASL and would like assessment testing that looks at a multitude of skill sets that a student may possess.
- Heidi Olsen: Olsen has a Masters in Education and has taught at the primary, secondary and college levels. Her stated focus is the drop out rate and the lack of female representation on the current school board. Olsen spent a lot of time talking about "cultural orientation" at the voters forum, referring to whether we wanted education that was collective or individualized. Should schools teach in a collective manner, expecting students to master a standardized set of skills? Or, should schools encourage students to pursue individual strengths and interests? At one point, she stated that this issue was at the root of education problems. She specifically cited Bierman's and Brower's answers with regard to standardized testing as examples of this split. Olsen also spent a lot of time talking about the need for female input on the school board and the importance of mothers in education.
- My leanings: I'm definitely leaning toward Bierman for the primary. I appreciate his desire to challenge students at all levels, which does not always happen for gifted students. I feel like his math and science background will be of great value to the board, as well. I don't think the Brower or Olsen would be wrong for the position (again, it's hard to tell without more information), but I like Bierman just a bit more at this point.
Secondly, we have director position number 4:
- Laura Carder: Wow. That's all I can say after watching her performance at the voters forum. Carder is a also a former educator who holds degrees in music and math. Her stated focus seems to be combating "ignorance" and getting the "mainstream media" out of schools. She is strongly in favor of more local control over schools. Unsurprisingly, she also advocates the teaching of creationism in public schools. Carder ended the forum by noting that students are not allowed to bring bibles to schools (news to me) and that students are not allowed to say "Merry Christmas" at schools (news to me) but that they are allowed to "cuss and swear" (again, news to me). Carder also called on any student who feels that they were treated or graded unfairly for not being "politically correct" to contact her whether she is on the school board or not. She then gave out her web address (www.lcarder.com). I could not visit her web site, however, because both Google and my anti-virus software warned me that it could potentially harm my computer. I don't, however, think I'm missing much except perhaps a good laugh.
- Austin DePaolo: DePaolo has been involved with local community organizations for years, including the Martin Luther King, Jr Family Outreach Center. His stated focus was on bringing change to the board. He cited Rocky Treppiedi's 13 year board tenure and pledged to run for no more than two terms. DePaolo wants to see high standards and high expectations set for students. He also wants to see that every budget dollar is spent wisely. He states that he would review programs and toss out those that are not effective. He also wants to increase community involvement in schools and build support from the community to make changes.
- Rocky Treppiedi (incumbent): Treppiedi has served on the school board for 13 years and is the current president of the board. He responded to DePaolo's critique of his longevity by noting that his experience was needed on the board, given that everyone else on the board was currently in their first term. Indeed, Garrett Daggett is second-longest serving board member and he has only been around since 2005. Treppiedi's stated focus is to make change, noting that the culture at the schools for years has allowed teachers to teach to the "lowest common denominator." Like most every other candidate, he also supports high academic standards. Treppiedi's hope is that now that legislature has passed a law requiring the state to fully fund basic education, the board finally has "critical mass" to enact change. Treppiedi plays up his experience and insight as his greatest strength and best reason to keep him on the board.
- My leanings: Well, obviously not Laura Carder. She's automatically disqualified from running for the school board based on the fact that she wants to teach kids the Earth is 6,000 years old. I think that Treppiedi's experience can be an asset for the board. I imagine it takes quite a bit of time to learn the inner and outer workings of a large organization like Spokane Public Schools. Still, I can also see some benefit to the new perspective, energy and community connections that DePaolo can bring to the board. So, I'm calling it a toss up between those two. Hopefully, both will make it through the primary and we will get a chance to see more contrast between them before November.
The lack of "contrast" or "mud slinging" or simple critiques in these races does make choosing between candidates a bit challenging (and boring). Is Treppiedi's longevity the only reason that DePaolo is running against him, or is there some other issue driving him? Likewise, I would love to hear Deana Brower and Heidi Olsen talk specifically about why they would be better than Jeff Bierman and each other on the school board.
If you have any insight or knowledge about the candidates or the issues, I'd love to hear from you either in the comments or by e-mail. The more information, the better, especially in these low-profile races.
Tomorrow, I'll be moving on to the City Council races, which I hope will be far more entertaining...
5 comments:
I co-chair Citizens for Spokane Schools, which is how I met Deana Brower. I can't speak to Jeff Bierman, as we haven't met, so my comments about Deana aren't meant to contrast with Jeff--they're just about her.
We recruited Deana as a volunteer because she had been an impressive school board candidate when she sought appointment to the spot Jeff now holds.
Deana willingly took on the role of "citizen speaker" to advocate for passage of the levy and bond. This meant she found out when the superintendent or another administrator would be making a public presentation, attended, and spoke up to encourage people to vote yes (something the school employees are not permitted to do-- that's why we have a citizen campaign committee).
This was no small job. I don't know how many dozens of meetings she went to, but it was a LOT, and Deana was absolutely great.
She's articulate, energetic, and always able to connect a story from her experience as a parent and educator to the needs of the kids in our schools and the interests of the group. She understood the funding details we often have to explain and was an outstanding advocate. She would make a great school board member.
@BarbChamberlain
Thank you for sharing your thoughts, Barb. It's always nice to have more information about the candidates.
Have you been to a school board meeting where there is anything about math or science on the agenda? A school board member should be willing to listen carefully to all perspectives on an issue, engage in thoughtful discussion, and collaborate with those involved to find a best solution. Beirman listens with a biased ear, and is quick to attack, with demeaning faces and put-downs, any ideas that don't agree with his. Beirman presents statistics that slant the facts toward his bias. Beirman comes across as rude and condescending to anyone who does not agree with his narrow views.
Beirman says he wants higher standards for all students. What he really wants is to return to the old-fashioned "stand and deliver" algorithm-based teaching style may have worked well for him, but does not work well for most students. To truly achieve higher standards for all students we must incorporate varied methods in order to reach those who have struggled in a traditional school setting. There is a wealth of research in support of other instructional methods. We need concerned school board members (as he is). However, we need concerned school board members who are willing to respect the views, research, education, knowledge, and passion of other school board members, employees, and parents who represent many sides of an issue. We need school board members who desire to work toward the best solution based on all of the facts available; not school board members with an unwavering biased agenda.
Thank you for providing some contrast, For all Kids. As you seem to have some school board meeting experience, do you have any thoughts on Treppiedi/DePaolo?
It looks as though Ms WOW! made it through the primary and will be taking on Rocky Treppiedi. Laura Carder is a member of the John Birch Society, seems vehemently biased against Mexican Americans, and wants to return our community to the days of Little House on the Prairie (even though it never was). Although she opposes "indoctrination," she wants to require government teachers to foist the Bircher philosophy of government on our students. Her creationist nonsense is part of a larger picture that courts disaster for our schools if she is elected.
I had no security issues with her website, and it is worth reading to see how far out there she drifts.
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