EL SEGUNDO HERALD October 8, 2020 Page 3
Election 2020
El Segundo School Board Candidates Q&A, Week Three
Candidate
Michael Wagner
STRESSED?
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Candidate
Amy Grant
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Candidate
Dieema Wheaton
Vote nov. 3
By Duane Plank
Please note: Herald Publications does not
edit candidates answers.
1. What one agenda item would
you bring back to the Board, and if
elected, why?
Dieema Wheaton: If elected, I would
propose bringing a concentrated focus on
providing essential student support during
these challenging times. Specifically, assessing
and focusing in on academic levels
to quickly identify and address academic
losses (and gains) during this period in direct
conjunction with increased attention on
the expanded use and understanding of the
RULER program. The RULER program is
a systemic approach to social and emotional
learning developed at the Yale Center for
Emotional Intelligence and is used to build
skills supporting emotional intelligence
through the process of understanding the
value of emotions. The intended goal is to
enhance emotional awareness, increase student
engagement, attendance, and academic
performance for all students.
Amy Grant: The number one agenda item
that needs to be revisited is staffing levels
during distance learning. Should the elementary
schools open via the waiver process, we
will be facing enormous staffing challenges
that will require logistical acumen, financial
intelligence and human compassion. The recently
announced layoffs are something that
none of us want to see come to fruition…
so staffing will be the number one priority.
Michael Wagner: Student Achievement.
At any level, elementary, middle and high
school, student achievement is an essential
element in creating life long learners. Student
achievement isn’t just a district metric but
what individual students need to succeed in
their own process. Elementary students need
a strong foundational knowledge and skill
in basic subject matter. Middle school is a
critical time for learning and establishing
social dynamics that promote self-efficacy
in the importance of education. High school
is a crucial time in nurturing critical thought
and advanced reasoning principles in the
pursuit of higher education or a professional
vocation. By the CDE metrics we
are about70% in achievement. Our district
does a great job but we are still leaving too
many students behind and out of the process.
Student Achievement should always be the
paramount consideration in creating the policy
for our school district metrics and for each
individual student.
2. Why should voters elect you?
Michael Wagner: As a professional educator,
I am already a public servant and don’t
see this is as a political position or a title.
I see this as an extension of my role as a
teacher and parent in this community. I have
the only perspective of being a stakeholder
in the school district for 25 years and will
continue for at least another10 as our sons
Joaquin and Cruz graduate high school. My
administrative and teaching experience give
me an understanding of creating high quality
programming with limited resources for
our students. My experience is tangible to
the new issues we will be facing in ensuring
our students health and safety as we get back
to school. Being a teacher and coach keeps
me on the ground level, it provides me the
unique opportunity to hear from our first
stakeholders in our district, the students and
parents in our community.
Amy Grant: As a parent that is starting
her tenure in the district, I am eager to learn,
bring an open mind and fresh perspective.
I have participated in educational programs
in New York, D.C., California, England and
Italy; this global exposure gave me first-hand
experience with a broad range of educational
practices that will widen the lens through
which our district views education. I welcome
different viewpoints and I welcome
challenges. I don’t see things as black or
white; rather, many shades of grey that connect
us all. Above all else, I see that we are
all in the same boat and will inspire us to
begin rowing in the same direction. I believe
that when you send your child to ESUSD
you should feel confident that your child is
receiving the absolute best education; one
that will compel you to stay in the district
rather than look for alternatives.
See Election 2020, page 6