The Reason I'm Running for School Board

By: Ayana Kirkland Young- WCCUSD School Board Candidate

I grew up in this district, I started 1st grade at Montalvin Manor while living in San Pablo. In the 4th grade I was transferred to Margaret Collins in Pinole where there was a Gifted and Talented Program. When I was in the seventh grade my family moved to Pinole where my parents still reside. When my husband and I married nearly twelve years ago, we moved to Hercules. I love my town, which in my mind consist of both Pinole and Hercules, where on any day I might run into one of my teachers or friends from school.

I’m running for the WCCUSD School Board because I have a vision of how we can improve our district. It seems like this whole election has been about Charter Schools and the Bond Program, but we must remember that a school district should first and foremost be in the business of educating students. Everything else should be secondary.

What you must know about me is that I have a true love for children and a strong desire to see them succeed. Children are such a gift and their all so innocent until that innnocence is violated. The consequence of those violations can be disastrous, resulting in serious bad behavior, but I believe the innocence is still there, we just have to tap into it. We accomplish this through good ole’, old fashion, love and kindness. To some that may seem naïve, but children do have a positive reaction to kindness, they pay more attention which results in learning. This is how I remember school. If someone asked me to name five teachers who made me feel loved, I could do it, and not because I was always easy to love, but because those teachers chose to see something in me. Thanks Mrs. Fruzza, Senora Cardenas-Diaz, Mr. Weaver, Ms. Butcher and Ms. Love. “These kids are different,” yes they are, but love and kindness hasn’t changed. This is a big district where truthfully some students are given more resources and benefits than others.

It’s as if this district which includes parents, teachers and communities, have given up on a particular group of students, and feel entitled to the resources because in their minds, nothing can be done to help “those” students. That’s a very selfish attitude which will only perpetuate the problems we have in this district. A serious assessment has to be done to determine what each area in the district needs to be successful, and the school board needs to work harder in order to ensure that they have exactly what they need.

When I say I want to see children succeed I mean I want to see every student reach the point in their lives when they are doing what they love and loving the life they’re living. The key to achieving this success is an education. An education teaches you more than 1 plus 1 equals 2, it also teaches you how to communicate so that you are able to express your thoughts and feelings. An education gives you the confidence to have goals because you understand that anything is possible.

I feel compelled to inform you about my stance on Charter Schools even though I feel it’s an issue that has been used in an effort to take the focus off what this district should be doing for its students. Here it is; Charter Schools have become a necessity for many parents in this district who would be forced to send their children to seriously underperforming schools. Additionally, these parents would also have to try and work while worrying about the safety of their children. I’m sorry, but how dare anyone have the audacity to fight so hard against something that gives another parent the opportunity to send their child to a safe place where their child is advancing academically. It’s sad because this fight is really about ensuring the district can keep all the money for the children in the district. That way the district can continue to supply certain schools with all the resources, great teachers and beautiful buildings. These parents get the added bonus of feeling comfortable at work because they know their child is safe. It’s great that these parents are so proud of their schools. I just want all parents to feel this way. I really do believe that once this district changes its priorities and starts educating students, this Charter School Fight will fade away.

Finally, my platform; I want the district to focus on educating children, but through academics, not just by giving them a pretty building to sit in. I also want us to hire quality teachers, but we have so many wonderful teachers, we have to support them all with resources, professional development and continuing education on cultural differences and generational differences so that they can be successful in the classroom and we can retain them. I also want to ensure more community involvement with this Bond Program. I know the importance of having high standards for our facilities, but we must remember to be good stewards of the money we receive thanks to our community taxpayers, and anticipate the potential hardship to our community if we keep expanding this program. But the job of a School Board Member is so much more than a platform and whether they are for, against or even neutral on Charter Schools. It’s about a passion and love for students coupled with a desire for their success that will make them fight and not take no for an answer when it comes to getting these students what they need. It’s also about integrity and honesty. These are not naïve notions; these are qualities that voters should be looking for in the people they elect. These types of people do exist and I am one of them. Let me serve you and your family, it would be my honor.