Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Hector Jimenez
Current job title: Software engineer
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Moreno Valley
Campaign website or social media: hectorforschoolboard.com, jimenezforschoolboard
How can the school district best meet the needs of all students, including those learning English, those who need mental health service, those in special education programs and those from low-income backgrounds?
As a school district, we need to make sure we have enough skilled staff to serve the needs of all students. We need to make sure students know that they have access to professionals at school that can provide mental health services. We need to constantly look at the academic performance of disadvantaged groups, make sure they are succeeding, and actively come up with new, tailored teaching approaches if they are not. I think that this all starts with talented teachers and staff. We need to make sure all district staff have the support they need to better support our students. As a community, we cannot afford to leave students behind.
Some school districts have adopted transgender notification policies to notify parents if a student says they are transgender. If your district has such a policy, do you support or oppose it? Why? If yours does not, would you support or oppose such rules? Why?
Val Verde Unified does not currently have such a policy in place. I strongly oppose any current or future policy like this that may lead to our community’s students feeling afraid or unsafe at school or at home. A school district should strive to create a safe and welcoming environment for all students, regardless of who they are.
What is the biggest issue the school district faces, and how would you address it?
The use of cellphones in classrooms has become a big problem that affects how teachers are able to teach and interact with students. I worry that this is affecting our student’s academic performance and social development. I plan to study the effects of cellphones in our district’s schools, and work on plans that can help reduce their impact in the classroom. I want to make sure we get our school district on track to seeing year-over-year improvements in academic performance.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities within the school district?
I grew up in Moreno Valley and Perris and I graduated from the Val Verde Unified School District. As someone from our community, I am aware of the issues affecting our local schools. Like many students from our school district, I started school as an English-language learner and am a first-generation college student. I understand the difficulties our students face now in K-12, and the difficulties they may face as college students. I believe a school board member should be a good role model for students, receptive to community input and diligent in their work to enact good policy. I plan to be someone who is accessible to the community, and prioritizes student well-being and education above all else. I care about this community and want to see it prosper. I want to ensure our students get the education they need to succeed and make that possible.
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