T4PE Ratings Database

HISTORY San Benito CISD trustee. From website: "As a San Benito school board trustee, Janie works to ensure financial accountability in all aspects of the ISD?s budget and projects. In addition to fiscal responsibility for student activities, academics, and day-to-day expenditures of departments and campuses, Janie was pivotal in getting an increased police force in our schools to secure our classrooms. She also improved infrastructure, oversaw the completion of critical new sports facilities, ensured educator and staff pay raises, and provided checks and balances for incoming local, state, and federal funds. " From FB, 12/18: "We need to get the focus on giving our children the best possible education, not indoctrinating them. As a school board member, I have seen radical school administrators and associations throughout the country forcing far-left ideas into school curriculums while forcing teachers to pay for school supplies out of their own pockets. We must give our teachers and students in Texas the tools for success instead of wasting time promoting political ideologies." SURVEY RESPONSES: WHAT IS BROKEN? English Language Learners struggle to dominate the English language and continue to struggle in schools. A large percentage don?t complete high school and drop out. I would support legislation tackling this issue. PRIORITIES: Graduation rates. College/Career Preparation. All student achievement. FUNDING: Public Education school funding should increase in a targeted way. Teachers pay money out of their pocket to purchase supplies or educational materials for their students. If the schools had adequate funding, teachers wouldn?t have to spend out of personal funds. I would support legislation to assist teachers pay for supplies or educational materials. I would also encourage our federal partnership to income tax breaks for teachers who pay out of pocket for supplies and educational materials. FINDING THE MONEY: Tax payer funds would have to be reallocated from programs that are not successful or not a priority. Our students? future should always be a priority. Also, as I previously wrote, I would support legislation to assist teachers pay for supplies or educational materials. I would also encourage our federal partnership to income tax breaks for teachers who pay out of pocket for supplies and educational materials. VOUCHERS/CHARTERS: Texas is a competitive society. Just like we have restaurants that compete against each other, schools should also compete. As a school board member now, I do not have a problem competing with charter schools and the like because I believe we offer the best opportunity for our community?s next generation. It?s important that public schools remain competitive, but when schools are failing our students, it will be the parents? choice to send them to a charter or private school. We have several underperforming campuses that are being monitored by T.E.A. In such circumstances, accountability is necessary. EVALUATING PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Just like there is not one method to evaluate private businesses, there should not be one way to evaluate public schools. Public schools should be evaluated with student performance, teacher performance, community involvement, and parent engagement. I do not believe in teaching to the test and therefore DO NOT SUPPORT using standardized tests as the ONLY METHOD to grade student performance. IGCs: IGC committees are being utilized for students that could not pass their EOCs. These students are given the opportunity to graduate without passing the EOC. This is a benefit for those students that may have special needs or not good test takers, but they have received the remediation necessary and are workforce ready. I would support ending the sunset date so the IGC would become permanent. A-F CAMPUS EVALUATION: The components of the A-F accountability system are generally well-intentioned but it is evaluating many complex components of public education and attempting to boil it all down to a single letter grade. ATTRACTING/RETAINING TEACHERS: To attract teachers, we could have competitive wages, health insurance benefits, allow their children to attend district if not zoned, provide necessary teacher development for success, include teacher stipends or incentives for additional duties, promote higher education beyond a bachelor?s degree, give them funds to purchase educational material that they feel is beneficial to their classroom so they don?t spend out of pocket. Funds may come from state, local, or federal funds. Schools may also raise their own funds for teacher incentives such as festivities for moral boost. COLAs: Cost of living should be increased for retired teachers as cost of living increases significantly. I support working with colleagues in the legislature and stakeholders to come up with what defines significant increases. TRS CARE: Find a way to reduce the costs. TRS RETIREMENT: I would like to see teachers have options, what ever would benefit them most is what they would be able to choose. REPRESENTING ALL CONSTITUENTS: As a current school board member, I know the importance of representing both parties, democrats and republicans. The priority is the people, the community, they are the stakeholders, and they place us in office. RESOURCES FOR INFORMATION ABOUT PUBLIC EDUCATION: The Texas Education Agency is useful for obtaining information for staff. Texas Association of School Board is a resource for school board members and school leadership. For families, having an open door policy and welcoming educational environment will help them gain information about their public schools. OTHER COMMENTS: My first language was Spanish. With great teachers and public schools, I learned how to speak and write proficiently in English without losing my first language. I was able to graduate with Gifted and Talented and Honors courses. I was the first in my family to attend and graduate from college and am currently pursuing a doctorate degree in mental health. I worked as a teacher, school counselor, and director of counseling. I thank my teachers and school system for this success. Now, I am a small business owner and provide mental health services to children and adults with various disorder.

T4PE Public Ratings

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