Jean's Record 

COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION REFORM

When I decided to run for School Board eleven years ago, the School District was on the verge of bankruptcy.  Since then, I have worked 60-80 hours per week in what I believe to be one of the toughest jobs in the city.  Today, I believe that the district is in the strongest position we have seen in several decades. 

Working with parents, teacher, and community supporters, I believe we have accomplished much together:

• Moved Oakland from bankruptcy to A+ financial strength –– stopped teacher layoffs, added student services, cut $50 million in administration, increased funding

• Passed long needed bond measures with record support to fund first major renovations of dilapidated schools and playgrounds in Oakland in 30 years

• Expanded Oakland’s nationally recognized high school career academies

• Led the district’s first Technology Master Plan efforts to bring internet technology to all schools

• Led the Arts Master Plan effort and restored music and art to all Oakland schools

• Fought to save and build small schools and increased site based management

• Higher promotion/graduation standards led to 15,000 students taking summer school in 2001

• Instituted Advanced Placement and Honors courses in all Oakland high schools

• Instituted free PSAT tests and free SAT prep to help students in college admissions with a record number of Oakland students accepted to UC Berkeley this year!

• Better salaries for teachers and improved teacher training and support

• Crafted a ground breaking ballot measure passed overwhelmingly by voters that enabled Oakland to implement class size reduction more fully than most urban California school districts

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A RECORD OF PUBLIC SERVICE AND ACCOMPLISHMENT

My work in education has led to leadership in many citywide issues:

• As a Founder and Vice Chair of the new Chabot Space & Science Center, I worked with business and government leaders for over a decade to make the center a world class institution

• Worked to establish more after-school programs and facilities––parks and sports fields, swimming pools, recreation programs and teen centers

• Helped establish new parent patrol and bus monitor programs as part of community policing

• Worked to improve traffic safety: speed bumps, turn outs, stop signs & lights, and parking

• Participated in establishing city campaign finance reforms

  Promoted environmental efforts––neighborhood cleanups, public gardens & stream preservation Established services for homeless families and worked for affordable housing

• Led efforts to increase access to technology for all residents

• Worked with business to improve job training and high school academy-business partnerships as part of regional economic planning

• Expanded library, adult literary, and senior programs and coordination with the schools

• Improved and increased preschool and child care programs

• Worked on citywide/neighborhood planning for earthquakes, fires, and other disasters

• Fought for the arts and cultural programs, supporting the growth of the Zoo and Museum

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During the last 11 years, I have gained invaluable experience working with diverse, even contentious groups, to find solutions to difficult problems. In the coming months I will reach out to all district residents to develop a more complete program, but my initial interests can be found here:

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