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Submitted by decorabilia on Mon, 03/03/2008 - 8:13pm.
Hi there, Olybloggers. I'm a long-time reader, first-time poster. Emmett O'Connell suggested that I cross-post my series on the four applicants for the Olympia School Board slot that opened when Rich Nafziger resigned, so here goes. Catch my other blogging at decorabilia, Washington Teachers, and 5/17. The series goes in reverse alphabetical order, and will wrap up before March 12, when the candidates will face questions in a "community forum environment." I've made care to accurately quote or represent the candidates, and any potential errors are my own.
Parent activist Theresa Tsou is ready to bring her scientific expertise and data-driven approach to the Olympia School Board. A Ph.D. holder and groundfish expert, Dr. Tsou is known in the community for volunteer and committee work, and for her role in the opposing the "Connected Math" curriculum that was adopted last year. "I don't think the data supports that CMP2 is a better curriculum than Glencoe," said Tsou, who has children in third, fifth and eighth grades. Tsou also is worried about several drops in math WASL scores this spring among sixth-graders. Of particular concern was a drop among low-income students as a whole, she said. "Those students are disadvantaged students and usually don't get as much support from their families," Tsou said. "That's a big alarm to me." Although Tsou was among parents who opposed the district's adoption of Connected Math, she said she wouldn't push district officials to reverse their decision at this point. But she said she thinks it's important that all teachers supplement the Connected Math curriculum with materials that allow students to hone basic math skills. Tsou's stated interests include providing "internationally compatible [math and science] education," diversifying the Board, and prioritizing budget cuts in a difficult time. She believes her experience managing Department of Fish and Wildlife budgets makes her particularly apt for the latter. At this time, Dr. Tsou has declined to clarify or expand upon any items in her introductory letter to the Board, which can be read here [pdf].
[cross-posted at 5/17]
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Welcome!
Submitted by Sarah on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 9:58am.Thanks man!
Submitted by emmettoconnell on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 3:34pm.I was wondering, if you were to take the same divisions that crept into the school board races last fall -- the Nafziger faction and the Lehman/Shirley faction -- which side Tsou would fall into?
Also, do you think those divisions will play into who the board chooses to replace Nafziger?
speculation
Submitted by decorabilia on Tue, 03/04/2008 - 6:05pm.I don't know how much it matters that Tsuo was on the same side as Shirley and Lehman regarding the new math curriculum, CMP2, since the District has moved on since then, and none of their questions (listed here) mentions that process.
Much of Shirley and Lehman's concern, as of late, has been focused on two major issues: the proper relationship between the Board and the District (i.e., how much of an active management role the Board should take), and how much of the Board's business should be done in public. I presume Tsuo's answers to those particular questions will matter a great deal to both. That's about as much as I can--and care to--speculate. If I hear anything different from either source, I'll let you know.