Election 2020: Four candidates vie for two seats on Carlsbad Unified board — October 22, 2020 The Coast News Group
Candidates vie for two seats on Carlsbad Unified School Board — October 14, 2020 San Diego Union Tribune
Trustee, Trustee Area 3 — Carlsbad Unified School District
Get the facts on the California candidates running for election to the Trustee, Trustee Area 3 — Carlsbad Unified School District
Find out their top 3 priorities, their experience, and who supports them.
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Candidates
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Ray Pearson
Vice President of Content Jewelry...
Top 3 Priorities
- Get students back into classrooms if their families...
- Make sure students to not have learning loss since...
- Help all students reach their full potential no matter...
Profile
Endorsed by
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County Supervisor Jim DesmondJulie Nygard, Tri City Hospital Trustee, past CUSD Board Trustee and Carlsbad CouncilmemberElisa Williamson, CUSD Board TrusteeCarlsbad Mayor Matt HallPhil Urbina, Carlsbad City Council Candidate District 4Mark Packard, past CUSD Board Trustee and Carlsbad City CouncilmanLisa Rodman, past CUSD Board Trustee and CEO of Aqua Hedionda Lagoon FoundationBrad and Beth Thorp
Rhonda Guaderrama
Youth Advocate
Top 3 Priorities
- Ensure that schools are safe and healthy learning...
- Ensure that all students receive an equitable education
- Create a climate that promotes educational excellence
Profile
Endorsed by
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Incumbent
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My Top 3 Priorities
- Get students back into classrooms if their families choose.
- Make sure students to not have learning loss since the pandemic started and if they do work with them to regain any learning.
- Help all students reach their full potential no matter their background or economic status.
Experience
Experience
Profession:Vice President of Content Jewelry Television
VP of Content, Jewelry Television (2003–current)
CUSD Board Trustee, CUSD Board of Trustees — Elected position (2014–current)
Education
California State University of Los Angeles — Bachelor of Science (1977)
Community Activities
Board, Carlsbad Charitable Foundation (2015–current)
Board, Carlsbad Fire Department Foundation (2017–current)
Board, North Coast Prevention Coalition (2010–current)
Board, Rotary Club Of Carlsbad Foundation (2012–current)
Biography
Bachelor of Science from California State University of Los Angeles, Growing up in the LA area, he graduated high school in the top 10% in the nation. The first in his family to graduate from college and was raised by a single Mom. He is a second generation American citizen. Selected by Westinghouse Broadcasting and Cable to attend the prestigious Sterling Institute of New York. Ray and his wife Karen have three grown married college educated children residing in LA and Carlsbad with three grandchildren and one on the way. Executive with Jewelry Television. Responsible for TV distribution and marketing in U.S. and Canada. Prior to Jewelry Television, managed all activities for Cable TV and retail distributors of Prime Star Satellite TV. VP of Home Entertainment for Interlink Electronics. Business Development for Walt Disney Company, Liberty Media, and the Weather Channel. General Manager for Westinghouse Broadcasting and Cable TV. Lobbyist experience in Sacramento for trade organization and parental rights. Public and community service. Serving 6 years as an elected member of the Carlsbad Unified School Board. Servesd on the Carlsbad Senior Commission and Mayor’s Education Advisory Committee. Past chair of the Carlsbad Charitable Foundation and current Board member. Board member of the Rotary Foundation,North Coastal Prevention Coalition,Carlsbad Fire Department Foundation, Advisor to Mitchell Thorp Foundation, and member of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Education Committee. Served on the Citizen's Oversight Committee for Proposition P $225M School Bond.
Who supports this candidate?
Elected Officials (8)
- County Supervisor Jim Desmond
- Julie Nygard, Tri City Hospital Trustee, past CUSD Board Trustee and Carlsbad Councilmember
- Elisa Williamson, CUSD Board Trustee
- Carlsbad Mayor Matt Hall
Individuals (4)
- Phil Urbina, Carlsbad City Council Candidate District 4
- Mark Packard, past CUSD Board Trustee and Carlsbad City Councilman
- Lisa Rodman, past CUSD Board Trustee and CEO of Aqua Hedionda Lagoon Foundation
- Brad and Beth Thorp
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 Ray Pearson:
Work force preparation - Continue to collaborate with bio tech, health care and small and large business who will need employees in the next 10 years to have our students aware of the career opportunities, expose them to real job experiences thru virtual technology and mentorships.
Housing affordability - Continue to collaborate with elected officials, city of Carlsbad and County of San Diego to consider initiatives to give affordible hosung for our students who get jobs out of high school and college in North County.
Employment - Collaborate with employers on entry level jobs for our high school students.
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 Ray Pearson:
The last 4 years I have been committed to school and their local community’s safety by passing Proposition HH, adding an additional Resource Officer from the Carlsbad Police Department and increasing security in and out of our schools, reducing the cost of college by giving students the opportunity to take courses from Mira Costa College, and improving student performance. A key priority is preparing our students for college and career with the curriculum, technology, teacher training life skills and facilities to be successful. Working with my colleagues on student’s digital literacy and having every student have access to a laptop at school and at home.
Class size reduction has afforded students an improved learning environment over the last four years. Computer science and career technical education courses have been increased to meet the core competencies needed for the work force of the future. I will continue to work for courses, community and business resources to support students.
I have been mindful of the taxpayers with my past Proposition Oversight Committee experience by supporting the refinancing of Proposition P bonds, saving taxpayers $19.2 million through 2034 and increasing the CUSD “rainy day” reserves with the State in a recession. Prop HH will provide solar energy to reduce reliance on the increasing cost of electricity and provide a living laboratory for students.
Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
Elected officials are public servants meeting the needs and wants of their constituents not special interest groups. Treat tax dollars as your own not to be spent unwisely. Plan for rainy days. Be a problem solver not a problem maker. Education issues need to be decided locally not from Sacramento or Washington DC. Smaller government is better, adhere to the US Constitution. Government needs to be transparent, easy for citizens to find information and voting records. School Board meeting's need to be streamed all the time or televised. Campaign spending has made it difficult for the common citizen to run for office. Reduce limits on how much campaigns can spend.
Candidate Contact Info
Youth Advocate/Parent
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My Top 3 Priorities
- Ensure that schools are safe and healthy learning environments for all students, teachers and classified personnel
- Ensure that all students receive an equitable education
- Create a climate that promotes educational excellence
Experience
Biography
Ms. Guaderrama believes that there has never been a more important time than now to advocate for quality education for all children. She is running for the governing board of the Carlsbad Unified School District because she is passionate about making a difference. Having worked in youth development for over 13 years, she has seen first-hand the effects the pandemic is having on our children and their education.
Ms. Guaderrama sees this period of upheaval as an opportunity to create new ways of thinking about education. She wants to ensure that we continue to put children first and the address educational inequity that has been exacerbated by the crisis. “English language learners, students receiving special services, foster youth and other vulnerable populations, that are already challenged on a normal day, are falling through the cracks even more and are being disproportionately affected by the current crisis,” says Ms. Guaderrama.
Ms. Guaderrama understands that teachers are facing incredible challenges as they work to teach in the “new normal.” She will work to support educators as they navigate these uncharted waters.
Ms. Guaderrama has served in leadership positions in Boys & Girls Club organizations in Riverside and San Diego Counties, and is currently the Development Director for Boys & Girls Clubs of Oceanside. In her current role, she has proven experience operating within a budget, being fiscally prudent and judicious with public funds.
She has dedicated her career to non-profit work and for the last 13 years has been an advocate for youth, especially those in underserved populations: foster youth, youth with disabilities, youth and those living in poverty.
Ms. Guaderrama was a founding member of the Temecula Foster Youth Task Force City/County/Schools Partnership to provide resources and wraparound services to foster youth. In addition, she is a member of the North County Philanthropy Council, the Oceanside Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Association of Fundraising Professionals. She has also served on the North County Prevention Coalition, the Oceanside Community Safety Partnership and the North County Gang Task Force.
Ms. Guaderrama is a native San Diegan and moved to Carlsbad in 2013 with her family. She is married and has three adult daughters; the youngest, a Carlsbad High graduate, is currently attending Tulane Law School. She has a B.A. from Mills College with a double major in Business and Ethnic Studies. Most importantly, she has the leadership, experience and creative problem solving skills that this position requires and will work tirelessly for the children in the Carlsbad Unified School District.
Endorsements:
San Diego Democratic Party
Dr. Priya Bhat-Patel - Carlsbad City Council Member, District 3
Website: rhonda2020.com
Facebook: ElectRhonda2020
