I grew up in Indiana as the oldest of 6 children. The k-6 school I attended was the poorest academic-achieving public school in Indianapolis. We struggled with poverty just like everyone in my neighborhood did. I have only attended public schools. I "accidentally" went to college because of an intervention and mentoring by a particular teacher in high school who stayed with me after school to complete college applications and encouraged me that I could succeed in that environment.
I attended Miami University in Ohio and graduated with degrees in Psychology and Women's Studies. I had another mentor in the college who encouraged me to attend graduate school and played a significant role in helping me achieve that pathway. I earned a Master's degree in Education focused on College Student Personnel as well as a graduate certificate in Gender Studies. I have worked with domestic violence shelters and rape crisis hotlines and my graduate work focused on conflict resolution and behavioral change with students. I worked as the Coordinator for Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution at Florida International University in Miami, FL for a few years before relocated to Sonora, CA in 2005. That position required mediating conflicts among groups, providing structure and boundaries around student conduct issues, and provided me with management experience as well.
When I moved to Sonora, I experienced a bit of a career shift and began working as a social worker in Child Protective Services for Tuolumne County. I proudly did that work for a little over 12 years. I was a social worker and later a supervisor of social workers, giving me experience working with our local families as well as with management, budgets, and teaching . When I left social work, I worked for two years as a crisis counselor at Tenaya Elementary School in Groveland. This allowed me to work with individual students, groups of students, teachers, administrators, and families who were experiencing the effects of poverty, grief and loss, or trauma with the goal of being able to provide supportive services and a space for people to carve out strategies they could use toward student success and learning.
I currently work several part-time jobs as a faculty member with Columbia College, an instructor with UC Davis Northern Training Academy, and am contracted as a Court investigator for Tuolumne County. I have 5th grade and 7th grade children attending Columbia, who have attended the school since kindergarten, and I believe now is the right time for me to commit energy and experience toward to the School Board to help shine the strengths of our district and make changes toward student success as we continue into the future.
Columbia Union Elementary School District - Board Member
Board Member — Columbia Union Elementary School District
Get the facts on the California candidates running for election to the Board Member — Columbia Union Elementary School District
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Candidates
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Molly Day
USFS Forest Fire Prevention Officer
Top 3 Priorities
- Mental Health & School Safety - Our Children, Parents...
- STEM, Arts & Music - Ensuring that opportunities and...
- Public Service / Trade & Industrial Education - Exposure...
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Rebekah Sandlin
Education
Top 3 Priorities
- represent the voices of families, children and teacher/staff...
- expand extracurricular activities while maintaining...
- ensure children and families receiving special education...
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Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties Central Labor Civil UnionColumbia Union Teacher's Association
Top 3 Priorities
Jo Rodefer's priorities are not yet available.
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Carol Jackson
Tuolumne County Assistant Recorder-Retired
Top 3 Priorities
- To provide communication and respect to the community,...
- To promote robust academics by providing support to...
- To maintain a fiscally sound budget through transparency...
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Columbia Union Teachers Association
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Mary Rose Axiak-Rutikang
City Administrator
Top 3 Priorities
- Safe and welcoming school environment that fosters...
- Ensure fiscally sound school budget and policies
- Engagement and encouragement of parent participation...
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Wildland Firefighter/Mother
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My Top 3 Priorities
- Mental Health & School Safety - Our Children, Parents & Staff need a level of safety for their own Mental & Physical Well-being
- STEM, Arts & Music - Ensuring that opportunities and funding is available to keep programs thriving
- Public Service / Trade & Industrial Education - Exposure to the greater good of public service opportunities in the community and options available to all in the future.
Candidate Contact Info
Educator/Instructor
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My Top 3 Priorities
- represent the voices of families, children and teacher/staff for the school
- expand extracurricular activities while maintaining a fiscally responsible budget
- ensure children and families receiving special education services are represented in policy decisions
Experience
Experience
Profession:Education
Part time faculty, Counselor, Columbia College (2017–current)
contracted Instructor, UC Davis Northern Training Academy (2015–current)
contractor Court Investigator, Tuolumne County Superior Court (2020–current)
Social Worker and Social Worker Supervisor, Tuolumne County Adult, Child and Family Services (2005–2017)
Education
Bowling Green State University — Master of Arts, Education/College Student Personnel (2003)
Bowling Green State University — Graduate Certificate, Gender Studies (2003)
Miami University — Bachelor of Arts, Psychology (2000)
Miami University — Bachelor of Arts, Women's Studies (2000)
Biography
Who supports this candidate?
Featured Endorsements
- Stanislaus and Tuolumne Counties Central Labor Civil Union
Elected Officials (1)
- Columbia Union Teacher's Association
Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
I am committed to listening to all the voices and perspectives in our school district and believe leadership is about listening and making choices the represent the voices and choices our our community. I am in support of social services and supports to help our families and am also fiscally responsible and will make choices to ensure the school district has the supplies needed to support student success.
Candidate Contact Info
Incumbent
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Candidate Contact Info
Powerhouse Operator
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Retired Assistant Recorder
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My Top 3 Priorities
- To provide communication and respect to the community, families, school administration and staff of our school district.
- To promote robust academics by providing support to the administration, staff and families in the Columbia School district.
- To maintain a fiscally sound budget through transparency and leadership.
Experience
Experience
Profession:Tuolumne County Assistant Recorder-Retired
Assistant Recorder, Tuolumne County (2012–2020)
Assistant to the Department Head, Tuolumne County Public Works (1993–2012)
Volunteer Teacher's Aide, Columbia Elementary (1989–1999)
Teacher's Aide, Jamestown Elementary School (1980–1984)
Teacher's Aide/Office Administration, Chinese Camp School (1980–1984)
Community Activities
Member, Special Events Organizer for employer (1993–2020)
Member, County Recorder's Association of California (2012–2020)
Team Member, Special Events-All school years (1980–2019)
Member, County Engineer's Association of California-Public Works Secretaries (1993–2009)
Team Member, DACUM-Developing a Curriculum (1995–1995)
Biography
My name is Carol Jackson. I am a mother of two children, grandmother to four and have six generations of family in the Columbia School District. I have had the honor of working for 19 years in the Tuolumne County school systems as a teacher aide, office staff, parent and volunteer.
I have worked for the Tuolumne County Assessor-Recorder’s Office and the Public Works Department for the past 28 years and believe this experience provides me with the clear understanding of effective leadership, the need for teamwork and the challenges associated with strict budgets. As a public servant and parent, I appreciate the concerns of all community members in our district and want to work with you toward success in our school.
Who supports this candidate?
Organizations (1)
- Columbia Union Teachers Association
Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
It is the responsibility of our school board to ensure the education, safety, and support of students for our future. This cultivates strong, educated adults that care for community, state, and country. I can help guide Columbia Union School District to create a modern and safe learning environment.
We want our children to be motivated to come to school, be ready to learn and become successful members of our society. I support the staff at Columbia School and applaud them for the wonderful talents they use every day educating children in our district. Their focus is on all student needs including an education that provides a healthy, safe, engaged, supportive and challenging environment to better prepare them for life. Our district can be proud of the success that our students and their families will achieve as in life by providing the proper tools and opportunities now. They are, after all, our successors and it is up to us to help them become those people.
Columbia currently employs a talented Superintendent who regularly pilots staff and the Board toward a successful education program for all students in the Columbia Union School District while maintaining a responsible budget. A strong collaboration between the Board and Superintendent will ensure the best navigation through the challenges ahead for staff, students and the community.
It is my hope to provide the Columbia community a candidate who will work with the Board members to provide the tools and support needed for our families, students and school staff to create a thriving and wholesome educational experience at Columbia School. Let’s make a difference together!
I respectfully request your vote on November 3, 2020 - Carol Jackson
Candidate Contact Info
HR Analyst
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Candidate Contact Info
Appointed Incumbent
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My Top 3 Priorities
- Safe and welcoming school environment that fosters high academics and is equitable among all students
- Ensure fiscally sound school budget and policies
- Engagement and encouragement of parent participation and feedback
Experience
Biography
I was appointed to the Columbia Union School District Board of Trustees in August of 2019 and spent two years on the Columbia Union School Site Council from 2017-2019. I grew up in Copperopolis and am a graduate of Bret Harte High School. I hold a Master’s of Public Administration in International Management from the Monterey Institute of International Studies, where I served as a Peace Corps Master’s International Student in the country of Rwanda from 2009-2011. I also hold a Bachelor’s degree in Government from California State University, Sacramento.
Currently I am the City Adminstrator for the City of Sonora and have spent my professional career in civil, government service. For the last 9 years, the main focus of my career has been developing and implementing governmental budgets, along with implementing adopted policies.
I am active in the community, serving as a coach to both of children's soccer teams, participating in my son's Cub Scouts Pack, and serve as the District Commissioner for my daughter's Liberty Oaks Pony Club.
Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
Now more than ever we need a voice that cares deeply about our parents’ concerns and feedback. I am passionate about public education and believe that public education ensures educational equity among all children. I currently have two children attending Columbia Elementary School - a 1st grader and a 3rd grader. I strongly believe that our children deserve the best and I will continue to push for excellence, ask tough questions and demand thorough and transparent answers. I believe the best place for our children to learn is in the classroom and will continue to advocate for the opening of our school in a safest manner possible for our children and staff. I am proud of our School and our District and believe we have the greatest teachers and staff in the county.
