Santee School Board Election THOMAS DID NOT RESPOND — October 6, 2020 East County Magazine
Board Member, Seat 2 — Santee School District
Get the facts on the California candidates running for election to the Board Member, Seat 2 — Santee School District
Find out their top 3 priorities, their experience, and who supports them.
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Dianne El-Hajj
Businessperson, Retired Teacher
Top 3 Priorities
- Guide our schools through the pandemic and work toward...
- Maintain a budget that meets the needs of children,...
- Establish reasonable, rigorous expectations for student...
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Endorsed by
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Santee Chamber of CommerceSan Diego County Democratic Party
Sarah J. Kirk
Professor of Psychology
Top 3 Priorities
- Open and transparent communication is a priority in...
- Listening and responding to the concerns of staff...
- Making improvements in morale among staff and local...
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Endorsed by
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Janet Wohlgemuth, President California County Boards of EducationTamera Otero, School Board Member, Cajon Valley Union School District Carol Woodhams Skiljan, Retired School Board Member, Encinitas Union School District
Top 3 Priorities
Jeremy Wiley Thomas's priorities are not yet available.
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Endorsed by
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Member, Santee Board of Education
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My Top 3 Priorities
- Guide our schools through the pandemic and work toward full return to normal classroom instruction
- Maintain a budget that meets the needs of children, teachers and staff as the state imposes budget cuts
- Establish reasonable, rigorous expectations for student academic growth
Experience
Experience
Profession:Businessperson, Retired Teacher
Owner, Payton True Value Hardware, Lakeside (1982–current)
Santee School Board Of Trustees, Seat 2, Santee School Board — Elected position (1992–current)
Retired Teacher, La Mesa/Spring Valley School District (1997–2017)
Education
National University, San Diego State — Masters Degree in Education, Bachelor's Degree in English, Curriculum, Education (2008)
Community Activities
Volunteer, Lakeview Elementary (2017–2020)
Delivery, Stay Home San Diego (2020–2020)
Who supports this candidate?
Organizations (2)
- Santee Chamber of Commerce
- San Diego County Democratic Party
Questions & Answers
Questions from League of Women Voters San Diego and League of Women Voters North County San Diego (1)
What are the three biggest challenges facing this region in the decade of the 2020s, and how would you use this office to help our community prepare for (and meet) those challenges?
Answer from Dianne El-Hajj:
1) Economic Uncertainties: The full economic effects of this current pandemic are yet to be realized, especially with regards to our educational budget. While the Legislature has sidestepped some cuts through deferrals, they will surely come. I will use my experience to minimize the impacts of those cuts on the classroom.
2) Growth: The Santee City Council recently approved the Fanita Ranch project. This will be a difficult project to plan and accomodate as it is intended to be developed over many years and is not immediately adjacent to a neighborhood school. It will be challenging to educate the children that arrive from that project and will require that we strategically plan for this. Having worked on this for many years, I am familiar with all of the pitfalls and can hopefully help our school district avoid them.
3) Challenges of Diversity and Acceptance: Our community has long endured a reputation for unacceptance. Some of this is misguided, some of it is justified. All of it is wrong. All of our citizens deserve respect, fair treatment and a quality education. I sincerely believe that education can and should provide the solutions for prejudice and bias, and it is our responsibility to make sure that the education we offer addresses these problems honestly and openly.
Questions from League of Women Voters of San Diego and League of Women Voters of North County San Diego (1)
What action (personal or professional) that you have taken most exemplifies how you will execute the duties of this office in the coming term, if you are elected?
Answer from Dianne El-Hajj:
As a current member of the Santee School Board of Trustees, I have worked alongside my colleagues during the coronavirus pandemic to provide a balanced, safe reopening plan for the students in our District. Some parents and guardians do not want their children to return to school, and we have created a yearlong Distance Learing plan for them. For the families who wish their children to return, I helped create a temporary hybrid plan to phase in the return to school. This has been extremely difficult as the rules and guidance change almost daily! I am proud that I have remained calm and steadfast in the face of all of these challenges.
Candidate Contact Info
Professor
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My Top 3 Priorities
- Open and transparent communication is a priority in our district.Listening and responding to the concerns of staff and families in the district. I want to focus on making sure parents can access important information in a clear and easily acces
- Listening and responding to the concerns of staff and families in the district.
- Making improvements in morale among staff and local families to increase the sense of community within the district.
Experience
Education
California State University, San Marcos — M.A., Psychology with a concentration in Developmental and Sports Psycjology (2009)
Biography
I have been employed as a Professor of Psychology for the past 12 years. I teach Developmental Psychology, Introductory Psychology, and Social Psychology most often, among other courses, at five San Diego County community colleges. I earned my B.A. in Psychology and M.A. in Experimental Psychology from California State University, San Marcos.
Who supports this candidate?
Featured Endorsements
- Janet Wohlgemuth, President California County Boards of Education
Elected Officials (1)
- Tamera Otero, School Board Member, Cajon Valley Union School District
Individuals (1)
- Carol Woodhams Skiljan, Retired School Board Member, Encinitas Union School District
Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
- I believe that this seat on the Santee School Board of Education should be held by someone who is open, honest, and can listen to both sides of issues to remain objective in making decisions that impact our district. I will be approachable at all times to listen to the concerns of local families and staff members. My whole goal in running for this position is to help our children come to school and have it feel like they are part of a community and a network of people who are their to help them succeed and thrive.
Candidate Contact Info
College Athlete/Student
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