Erika Lowery, 52, a parent and pastor, is running for South Bay Union School District trustee representing Area 1.
I am running for school board because I fully believe every student deserves an education that will allow them to succeed in school including those with special diagnosis or language barriers.
I have been advocating for special education the past few years due to my son, who is currently a high school senior with an IEP (individualized education program).
The three most important issues differ from parents and the district. The district believes it is chronic absenteeism, lack of parent involvement and declining enrollment.
After talking to many families, especially those with young children, I have found that their three man issues are declining test scores, fiscal accountability and lack of parent-teacher teamwork. Too often parents feel like they are purposefully being left out of the discussion in their child’s education. They also are hesitant to have their students attend a district that closed a school due to lack of enrollment yet gave the trustees a pay raise. They also see their students lacking the necessary skills in reading, writing, math and the sciences.
First, increase test scores. Going back to the basics of learning the skills that will help the students in the next year or even five years down the road. This includes basic phonics, math, writing and sciences. I would like to see an increase in STEM participation in the classroom.
Second, ensure the district is financially sound for the next 10 years minimum. Without showing the students what they learn means when applied to real world examples, like the district budget, I would not be doing my job as trustee.Third, I would like to increase implementation of accommodations and technological resources for those students with learning challenges.
The first step is to see where the underlying issue is and finding a way to address that.
Is it a disengagement of the students? If that is the case, find new and unique methods of teaching. There have been numerous creative and unique teaching methods across the country that can be implemented here within the California education guidelines.
If it is something less definitive, like an overabundance of students with learning difficulties, then the methodology would be slightly differed. Co-teaching, increased use of assistive technologies, etc. can be implemented to help those students now and in the future.
Speaking to parents, they are apathetic. They do not believe their child is getting an education that will help them in the future.
Issues like chronic doctor’s appointments and illness, which my son was subject to, also are a large part. I would look at the teacher’s schedules while in the classroom and see if the education day can be rearranged so that students that are absent due to these issues retain their learning.
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I would also encourage and publicize the use of individual contracts for extended absenteeism.
I have talked to parents, for years now, who have pulled their students out of the district for many reasons, but the primary ones are they do not think their child is safe on campus and they do not believe their child is getting the education that they need to progress. Many families here are military-based, and having a year where the state and national education goals are not achieved will delay the student at the next port.
We need to really tighten the ship when it comes to student achievement.
Safety, again, was the the next highest issue. I feel that resource officers deployed properly can build a lasting relationship with the students and law enforcement.
My background is in corporate finance, and budgets and forecasting are my specialization. Upon election, I am going to request copies of all the current and past five years’ budgets, the open contracts and the contracts with the two unions in the district. I believe that it is not fair to the teachers nor the students to have the teachers go without a solid, balanced contract.
Since the district has increased the salaries of the trustees significantly, I will use some of that money to go directly to teachers out of my own paycheck for the necessities for their students. I have already conceived a plan for each teacher to have access to a needs/wants/desires list for their classrooms. I am willing to work with the PTAs, the district and parents to make sure our students get what they need to succeed in the classroom.
This question is very important to me. My son has been on an IEP since he was 3 years old in this district. That IEP has changed over the years and in the different districts. I understand FAPE (free appropriate public education) and having these students in the least restrictive environment. That being said, I am not a special education attorney.
Parents usually push for a 1:1 aide, especially in the earlier years. I want to work with parents to see if a 1:1 aide is really necessary or if a pull-out (of the general education classroom) would be better. My son has had both situations. Most of the time he did better in the small group than with an aide.
It is working as a true team for the best of the student and realizing that every student is different with different needs, goals and strengths.
(Candidate did not respond to this question.)
I will be dating myself, but there were just basic computers in the classroom when I was in elementary school. I have seen technology skyrocket over the years, and exponentially with the introduction of laptops in the classroom. I have seen the help assistive technology can have for a student who genuinely needs it. For example, my son needs text-to-speech for timed exams.
I do feel that having the primary source of teaching materials be from a laptop is disadvantageous to students. I have personally dealt with blocked websites, or blocked terms, that are imperative for a student report. There needs to be a responsible balance and use of all digital technology.
AI is the best example. One instructor’s view is the one I would like to see across classrooms: Use AI when you are stuck or when you feel you need to improve, but only after you tried.
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No, I did not.
