EL SEGUNDO HERALD September 24, 2020 Page 3
Election 2020
Three Candidates Vying for Two El Segundo School Board Seats
Candidate
Amy Grant
Candidate
Michael Wagner
Candidate
Dieema Wheaton
In these historic times, what were you
thinking when you decided to run for
election?
Michael Wagner: I have been contemplating
running for several years, discussing
the position with community members and
my family. All agreed, this was the perfect
time, considering my background, education,
and professional experience. As a former administrator,
current special education teacher,
coach, and parent I can see issues from a wide
perspective of stakeholders. I can provide a
unique perspective from the other candidates
and professionals on the board. It is going to
be needed at these unprecedented times to stay
focused on our kids educational process. Being
able to serve the students, teachers, and parents
in this community in a tangible way is why I
made the decision. This position is going to
need experience and after 25-years of living
in El Segundo, and as a professional educator,
I do not think I could be better suited for this
role than right now.
Dieema Wheaton: I was keenly aware that
we had tough times ahead of us, and I knew I
had the professional and personal skills, as well
as the passion needed to help move our school
district through and beyond these tough times.
We moved our family to El Segundo specifically
for the school district and the surrounding
community, and I am committed to working
toward the continued success of ESUSD. For
nearly 10 years, my children have enjoyed the
benefits of a free quality education right here
in our hometown, so quite naturally, in this
time of need, I willingly stepped up to serve.
Amy Grant: I decided to run for election
because I feel a deep responsibility to serve
our Community of El Segundo. I possess
a deep desire to ensure every El Segundo
student a premiere free education that matriculates
students who are critical thinkers,
empathic humans, and global citizens. In this
unprecedented Historical time, I strive to be a
thoughtful, compassionate, and unifying source
of leadership. It would have been easy to pass
on putting myself out there this election cycle,
but now, more than ever, we need leaders in our
Community who are excellent communicators
that not only listen, but who possess the skill
to objectively HEAR what ALL stakeholders
have to say and to act on that accordingly. I
am that candidate. It is my absolute civic duty
to serve our Community in this way, and it
would be doing a disservice to myself and El
Segundo had I decided otherwise.
Where were you born, raised, and
educated?
Dieema Wheaton: I was born and raised
in Los Angeles, California. I attended public
schools in the Los Angeles Unified School
District and graduated from Crenshaw High
School. After high school, I attended Tougaloo
College in Mississippi, where I obtained my
Bachelor of Arts in Economics/Accounting.
In my senior year of college, I was recruited
to work for KPMG, and immediately after
graduation, I returned home to California to
begin my professional career working as a
Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the Assurance
practice of KPMG in the downtown
Los Angeles office.
Michael Wagner: I was born in Los
Angeles. I was raised in South Los Angeles
and the South Bay of Los Angeles County. I
attended both public and private schools during
my formative years and attended St. Monica
High School and college at Western Washington
University on an athletic scholarship. I attended
Loyola Law School and completed my Juris
Doctor, focusing on civil rights legislation. As
I moved away from practicing law, I began
coaching and teaching, earning my Bachelor of
Science in Education and secondary credential
from Mount St. Mary’s College. I continued
my education and earned my Administrative
Credential from Loyola Marymount University
and my Special Education credential from
Azusa Pacific University. I am currently using
my experience and education as a professional
educator, direct service provider for special
education students for the Palos Verdes Unified
School District.
Amy Grant: I was born in Rockville Centre,
NY and grew up in West Hempstead, NY. West
Hempstead could easily be considered the East
Coast counterpart to El Segundo. I grew up in
the same house that my Father grew up in. I
graduated from the same high school that my
Dad graduated from. My education started at
Rockville Centre Montessori School, and I
moved into the West Hempstead Public School
system in the 2ndgrade. I graduated from
WHHS in 1994 in the top 10 of my class of
300. I went on to double major in Political
Science and Performing Arts at Union College
in Schenectady, NY. I spent one term working
on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. and
another studying language and art in Florence,
Italy. Post college, I studied Shakespeare at
Oxford University in England, and graduated
from the prestigious American Academy of
Dramatic Arts in NYC.
What has been your El Segundo
community involvement, including
support of the ESUSD?
Amy Grant: 2020 ESUSD Fall Planning
Oversight Committee. Member of the Instruction,
Social and Emotional System and Parent
Engagement Subcommittee. RSS PTA 1stVP
2019-2020. ESPTA Council 4thVP 2019-2020.
Room Mom 2018-2019, 2019-2020. Speaker
at ESHS Career Day 2019, 2020. RSS Fall
Festival Volunteer 2018, 2019. RSS Book Fair
Volunteer 2019, Captain 2020. CSS/RSS Gals
& Pals Volunteer 2020. RSS Multicultural
Day Volunteer 2019. ES Run For Education
Volunteer 2019-2020. Ed! Foundation
Superintendent’s Roundtable Donor 2018-2020.
Ed! Gala Contributor 2018, 2019. 2018 School
Board Nominee. Active Member of ES Little
League. Active Member of ES AYSO. Active
Member of ES Cub Scouts. Active Member at
Toyota Sports Center Youth Hockey. Graduate
of ESPD Community Police Academy. El
Segundo Police Officer’s Association Donor
2020. Supporter of ES4BL. PTA Member at
all 4 schools.
Dieema Wheaton: I have remained actively
involved within the ESUSD schools since
arriving in 2011. I have served on campus
in various roles, including in-class academic
support, Art Docent, Room Parent, Frozen
Friday Chair, and most notably, three terms
as Treasurer at Center Street Elementary and
El Segundo Middle School. I have also been
actively involved in the community. Together
with my children, I have proudly volunteered
at events held in town, including the Fair on
Richmond Street (2 years), Ed! Gala teardown/
clean-up, Run for Education (3 years), El Segundo
Beach clean-up, and more. Currently,
I sit on the Health & Safety and Operations
Committee working toward the safe transition
of our students back to school.
Michael Wagner: Our family has been involved
in school and community volunteerism
for 20- plus years, since our children Miguel,
23, (M.I.T c/o 19) and Elena, 22, (Santa
Clara c/o 20), Joaquin,12 (ESMS) and Cruz,8
(RSS) started attending school and playing
youth sports. I am a long-standing member
of the RSSPTA and worked with my wife on
membership for several years. I have coached
and continue to coach teams at the high school
and in Little League, Pop Warner, and Youth
Lacrosse. Through our local business we annually
contribute to the Ed Foundation, Run
for Education, and athletic programming at the
High School. In most recent years, I continue
to volunteer at RSS as the 5th-grade basketball
coach and as a member of the school site
committee. As an educator, supporting youth
and school programs is an essential part of
creating well-rounded programming for the
students in our district. •
By Duane Plank
Culminating on Nov. 3, local voters will
decide who will fill the two available seats on
the five-member El Segundo School Board.
Three candidates have entered the fray: Amy
Grant, Michael Wagner, and Dieema Wheaton.
Current board members Dr. Jeanie Nishime
and Nancy Cobb opted not to seek re-election.
As election day nears, the candidates were
asked by the Herald, over the next month, to
share their thoughts and provide their qualifications
on the most important issues facing the
El Segundo Unified School District (ESUSD).
Please note: We do not edit Candidate’s
answers and answers are limited to 150
maximum word count.
Vote nov. 3
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