Trustee, Trustee Area 1 — Tehachapi Unified School District

When my husband and I moved to Tehachapi from Ventura County in 2006, we began hearing complaints about the Tehachapi schools.  Due to our concerns, we planned to move away before our only child began kindergarten.  However, as our family grew, and we became more involved in this tight knit community, we soon developed a love and appreciation for Tehachapi.  When we became acquainted with the schools as parents, we discovered that the teachers and staff were hard-working and passionate professionals.  We could tell that they truly cared about each and every student.

However, the more I invested in my children's education, the more I encountered distrcit and school management practices that were creating obstacles to student achievement.  Volunteering in several different classrooms over the past 8 years has given me a unique perspective about what our teachers and students truly need.  As a member of Tompkins' School Site Council for 6 years, I worked hard with teachers and administrators to meet those needs and improve our school climate.

As a School Board Trustee, one of my top priorities will be to establish a more effective and transparents chool board.  We need to rebuild the public's trust and conidence in the district.  I will be a true advocate for the families of Tehachapi.  I know that a quality education will positively impact our entire community.  Tehachapi is privileged to have some of the best schools in Kern County.  I intend to work hard to make them even better!

I earned a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from Northern Arizona University and a Paralegal Certificate from the University of Arizona.  Prior to being a stay-at-home mom, I worked as a litigation paralegal --- researching, writing, and assisting with the settlements and mediation of hundreds of cases.  I recently returned to part-time work, to manage the small aerospace design business that I run with my husband.  Nevertheless, my main focus in life is, and continues to be, my children, and what I can do to improve education in Tehachapi.  I am committed to the success of this community.  

Most importantly, students succeed when a school district places its emphasis on recruiting and retaining excellent teachers.  I will support policies that increase teacher compensation, as well as improving professional support and working conditions.  High turnover of staff is hurting our district. When teachers feel valued, the students win!

I also support the development of magnets and other specialized programs at our local schools to individualize the approach to education.  I believe that parents have a right to choose the particular education that's right for their children, whether public, charter, private, or home school.  One size does not fit all!  I want to provide students more flexibility to enroll in classes at school, while completing others at home, allowing these same students to participate in extracurriculars  such as sports, music and clubs.  TUSD needs to be more responsive to the needs of the community.

Next, as Tehachapi grows, we can no longer afford to wait to update our existing facilities. We need to dispose of property the district does not use and properly maintain what we do have. I will work to keep our facilities from disrepair and to make the completion of the high school a priority.  I support efforts by local community members to beautify our current facilities and to construct a new stadium.  I support any and all community efforts that will enable us to host sporting and other academic events in our communities, and as a result, bring in more revenue for the city.

Further, I support the involvement of teachers, parents and students in curriculum development through a transparent process.   I support common core education and parent workshops to instruct parents on the best way to help their students academically.  I will continue to support the accessibility of Cerro Coso Community College classes to our high school students. I would like to research offering second language instruction into our elementary schools, as well.  As a theater minor in college, a pianist, and a parent of a band student, I understand the importance of the arts to a well rounded education and academic achievement.  I will support efforts to support and increase arts education in our district.

Finally, I oppose reckless spending at the expense of taxpayers.  I am not comfortable with borrowing from future years without a solid understanding of the details of the financial strategy.  I have lived my own life with as little debt as possible, and I intend to carry these conservative financial practices over to my work as a member of the School Board.  TUSD needs to do a better job of being fiscally accountable to the community.

Learn more at electcristinlassen.com