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: Susan J. Smith
Current job title: Moreno Valley school board member
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: None
City where you reside: Moreno Valley
Campaign website or social media: None, None
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?
We can meet the needs of all students by providing specialized programs. I believe our dual language immersion program that offers instruction in both English and Spanish helps students develop academic proficiency as they become fully bilingual. I think it is also important to support students not in DLI classes through mainstream classroom support via bilingual aides in the classroom.I think the mental health needs of students can be addressed by having counselors available at every school to meet students’ ongoing needs and provide both school support and family support. We also provide social skills groups and referrals to individual and group therapy as well as substance abuse programs.The equitable education of all students is a primary focus of our district. This includes special education students. It is important to identify and assess students as soon as possible so that we can provide appropriate programs and services to prepare these students for the future.Meeting the needs of low-income students is a priority of MVUSD. We offer free breakfast and lunch to all students. I have seen the growth of our wellness center, which offers food, clothes, emergency short-term housing and much more.
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?
Moreno Valley Unified does not have a transgender notification policy. I would not support such a policy. Ideally, students would have a supporting relationship with their parents and family that would allow them to discuss their personal feelings and sexual identity with those closest to them. If they do not have this type of relationship and instead turn to a trusted counselor or teacher at school that they feel they can confide in; that person should not be required to violate that trust by notifying the parents. If the parents are not accepting of this news it could put the student in an unsafe situation. Students need a safe space. Sometimes that safe space is at school.
What is the biggest issue the school district faces, and how would you address it?
One of the biggest issues facing MVUSD is student achievement. We can increase student achievement by working on consistent, effective instructional and assessment practices. One of the instructional practices we have implemented in the last few years is our P-3 Reading Program, of which I am a huge supporter. This allows students to work in small groups with high-interest reading material. We continue to facilitate staff working together in professional learning communities so that instruction for students is coordinated across classes and grade levels. An important component of student achievement is attendance. We are targeting attendance and chronic absenteeism. Students cannot learn when they are not in school every day. As we address the needs of all students, we need to focus especially on those students who are traditionally low achieving such as the homeless, foster youth, English learners and African American students.
Why would you make a good leader, and how would you represent the diverse communities within the school district?
I currently serve on the school board for Moreno Valley Unified School District. As a trustee, the education and well-being of all students has always been my No. 1 priority. I have been an educator for more than 30 years. I have a master’s degree in education and have taught both in elementary school and at Riverside Community College. I have lived in Moreno Valley since 1983 and my children and grandchildren attended Moreno Valley schools. Over that time, I have seen our community grow and change. As a long-time resident, I think I am well qualified to represent the diverse communities that now make up our school district.For the last eight years, I have worked hard to improve the quality of education and safety for students in Moreno Valley Unified School District. Working together, we can help our students to be stronger. Through parent groups such as DELAC and AAAC, we can help parents and students feel accepted in our school community.I am focused on helping all of the students of Moreno Valley excel academically by providing equal educational opportunities.
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