Our mission is to address education as the single most important factor in a student's life beyond family and faith. A quality education can make the choices for a student's future endless or limited if they are forgotten. Here are some other thoughts on topics we have been asked.
We believe we need to ‘change perspectives’ in QCUSD. This means we should focus on quality education first and weigh anything we do for our students against a straightforward measure; “Does this benefit the quality of their education?”
We need a viable and research-based curriculum that is taught appropriately by trained staff[1] in each grade and class. Only then can we measure every student's success equally if we are teaching every student consistently against national norms.[2] Currently, QCUSD is considered an excelling district by the Arizona Department of Education; in reality, 50% of our students are not on par in mathematics when compared to other students/schools in the state. By changing the perspective of our district to one of not accepting the state level as a measure of success, we will challenge the status quo and reach greater heights.
Our district should have one mission: focus on their future! When we say ‘their’, we mean the students. If we allow students not to have the opportunity to meet their potential,[1] we are failing them and the community that funds our schools. Therefore, everything we do must be purposeful to assist each student on their path toward a successful future of their choosing.
Whether it includes college, vocational training or some other dream, each student should receive an education that exceeds national standards. Each student should feel confident in their ability to move on into life with the skills to succeed.
For too long we have all heard rumors of what happens in our district, but the rumors are truths. The community deserves a board that demands transparency, honesty and can be trusted. We are committed to engaging the community through having all public meetings broadcast and scheduled at times the community can easily attend.
Working sessions should be held on a different evening, where the public can engage with staff in the discussion. If we are to represent you then we must be willing to listen to you. We need the community to help guide us!
We are used to a board where incidents and struggles are not communicated or made public. We believe this leads to mistrust and a lack of accountability to the community we serve. We will make sure the community is aware of the challenges that arise and ensure they are addressed with transparency. We need this to protect our children and gain the community's trust.
That is a tough question. However, we believe that if we focus on reducing class size in K-3rd grade to perhaps less than 20, then teachers will better be able to focus on each student. It is important our teachers are not overwhelmed with too many students so they can ensure each student gets the attention needed so they can master reading, writing and arithmetic at or exceeding the expected level. Allowing our early elementary grade levels to remain small in size will increase the odds that students will have a solid foundation in which to grow and continue to learn.
Focusing on smaller class sizes will work to prevent the need for mass intervention and more students from falling behind in academic expectations as demands increase throughout the grade levels. It is essential students start early with a mastery of their education, so they grow a love for it and a desire to continue in school.
We believe that it is an honor that so many out-of-district students desire to attend QCUSD, but we must set limits to ensure no one school or student is robbed of the resources they are entitled to. Therefore, we believe that there are several things the board can do to help ensure all students get the education they are entitled to. Here are some of these ideas:
Just as we are committed to quality education for our in-district students, we owe the same to anyone outside the district. All students who attend QCUSD should have access to the resources deserving of any student.
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