My name is Viola Shackleford. I am a nutrition educator with the Edible Schoolyard Project, an in-home caregiver, and active local parent and grandparent. I’m running for Stockton Unified School Board because as a grandparent of two children who attend Stockton public schools, preparing our students for a brighter future is personal.
Our public schools are failing too many children in our community. Just 25% of our students are proficient in reading and only 30% graduate with the skills or knowledge needed to go to college. Put simply, our schools aren’t doing any better for our young people today than they were when I attended Alonzo Stagg High School. We can and must do better.
We didn’t have a name for what we now call the “school to prison” pipeline back then. But that’s what I experienced after I dropped out. Not getting a high school diploma set me on a challenging path in life. I struggled with substance abuse and encountered all the consequences that come with it. But thanks to the power of education, and the support of my church, family, and community, I am proud to work as a force for good in my community today. After earning a GED, two associates degrees and a bachelor’s degree, helping others has become the driving mission of my life.
While going back to school, I volunteered with my church teaching bible study, and worked as a tutor with Stocktonians Taking a Stand to Neutralize Drugs (S.T.A.N.D.). I also work as an in-home caregiver for the elderly in our community and am active in Trustee Area 1 as a nutrition educator with the Edible Schoolyard Project.
I want to serve on the Stockton Unified School Board because we need leaders who understand the unique needs of our historically underserved youth. If I have the honor of serving as your school board member, I will work my heart out to make sure our school district prepares all students for college and career, including students who may not currently be on track to graduate, like me at 16.
