Emily Bloomfield
Length of time in community (and which community/city): 9.5 years in Santa Monica.
Education level: Bachelor’s degree from University of Chicago, master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University and master’s degree in economics from Oxford University
Number of children (ages) currently/formerly in SMMUSD?
Three children: a 9-year-old in 4th grade and a 7-year-old in 3rd grade in SMMUSD elementary school, and a 3-year-old in preschool
Past/current involvement with SMMUSD: I have volunteered in my children’s classrooms, as an elected member of the Site Governance Council and the PTA Executive Board, a key member of the Strategic Planning Design Team, a member of the committees on Differentiated Instruction, Educational Equity, and Universal Pre-School.
What made you decide to run for school board? As a key member of the Strategic Planning Design Team that developed the new SMMUSD strategic plan, I am committed to remaining actively involved in ensuring the implementation of these goals.
Do you feel that the schools/school board has sufficient oversight administratively? What if anything would you change? Yes, I do believe they have sufficient oversight. I believe it is up to the board members to spend the time understanding what is happening at the school sites, to raise questions that need to be raised, to ensure that the funds are efficiently and equitably spent.
With a budget crisis looming, where could SMMUSD make cuts other than school programs? There is little that can be cut from “other” areas without affecting school programs. Hiring of some administrative positions might be deferred or positions may be eliminated.
What would you change about the schools? The way the SMMUSD is run? I would incorporate the use of ongoing student portfolios as one of the most important ways of measuring student learning styles and progress. I would ensure that every school across the district would have consistent expectations about what students can and should accomplish at each grade level and in each subject.
Julia Brownley
Length of time in community (and which community/city):
I have lived in Santa Monica since 1983.
Education level: Bachelor’s degree political science, master’s in business administration
Number of children (ages) currently/formerly in SMMUSD?
Two children, ages 17 and 14.
Past/current involvement with SMMUSD: I have served on the school board for eight years, twice as president and twice as vice president. Prior to that, I was a PTA president, board member of the Santa Monica Malibu Education Foundation and a board-appointed member of the Prop ES Oversight Committee.
What made you decide to run for school board?
I am deeply committed to making our district a model school district in the state of California and achievement gap, of beating the educational odds in California where privilege and poverty stand side by side, and of our belief that all children can and will achieve at extraordinarily high levels.
Do you feel that the schools/school board has sufficient oversight administratively? What if anything would you change? Yes, but we must strive for efficiency and maximization of our resources at all times. We must be consistently researching “best practices” and changing in order to continually improve the conditions for student success.
With a budget crisis looming, where could SMMUSD make cuts other than school programs? If Measure EE does not pass, we would not have any other choice but to make very deep cuts in school programs.
What would you change about the schools? The way the SMMUSD is run? I think this change has been demonstrated very clearly since the board hired our new Superintendent, John Deasy.
Ann Cochran
Length of time in community (and which community/city): I’ve lived in Santa Monica all my life-lived in Pico Neighborhood for approximately 57 years.
Education level: Two years of college. No degree.
Number of children (ages) currently/formerly in SMMUSD: One son, 31, formerly in SMMUSD
Past/current involvement with SMMUSD: Past student at SMMUSD. Graduated from Samohi in 1960. I have been a volunteer at Samohi for the past seven years.
What made you decide to run for school board? Because of my deep passion for all children and my unique experiences. Also, I feel that the board has not always met the needs of the community’s youth.
Do you feel that the schools/school board have sufficient oversight administratively? What, if anything, would you change? Yes, the schools/school board has sufficient oversight. There is a business structure being put in place and parents from the broader community are being involved.
With a budget crisis looming, where could SMMUSD make cuts other than school programs? The only thing I can think of, and perhaps not just cut totally, is to take a look at our transportation differently. Perhaps, look into outside contractors and compare to how we hire drivers now.
What would you change about the schools? The way the SMMUSD is run? There is not too much I would change. But I would like to see more African-American teachers in our schools.
Oscar de la Torre
Length of time in community (and which community/city):
Raised in Santa Monica, graduated from Santa Monica High in 1990. Returned to work at Santa Monica High in 1998.
Education level: Bachelor’s degree political science, master’s degree in public administration.
Number of children currently/formerly in SMMUSD:
Four nephews and two nieces attend schools in Santa Monica.
Past/current involvement with SMMUSD:
Co-chair of the SMMUSD Task Force on Race and Discipline; Co-chair of the SMMUSD Committee on Equity and Equality in Education.
What made you decide to run for school board?
I want to provide for the students of this district the same opportunities I had to attain a professional degree. We must work to ensure that every student reaches his/her highest potential.
Do you feel that the schools/school board has sufficient oversight administratively? What if anything would you change? The intent of administrative oversight should be to connect families and communities to the workings of the education process. Our policies, programs and practices should reflect the needs of the community.
With a budget crisis looming, where could SMMUSD make cuts other than school programs? Cuts should first begin at the top. We need to keep budget cuts away from the classroom.
What would you change about the schools? The way the SMMUSD is run? I would focus on ways to empower students to give them a voice in the governance of schools.
Brenda Gottfried
Length of time in community (and which community/city): Resident of Santa Monica since 1978.
Education level: Bachelor’s degree in sociology from CSU, Dominguez Hills; master’s degree in urban education from Pepperdine University; J.D. from University of West L.A. School of Law
Number of children (ages) currently/formerly in SMMUSD: Two adult daughters who graduated from Santa Monica High School.
Past/current involvement with SMMUSD:
I have been a Santa Monica-Malibu School Board member for 12 years.
What made you decide to run for school board? I am passionate about public education and want to carry on my commitment to the children and families of Santa Monica and Malibu.
Do you feel the schools/school board has sufficient oversight administratively? what, if anything, would you change?
It is the superintendent’s job to have administrative oversight of the schools. The Board should not be involved in the day-to-day oversight of the schools.
With a budget crisis looming, where could SMMUSD make cuts other than school programs? I urge all voters to support Measure EE. Its passage will help to avert a major budget crisis.
What would you change about the schools? The way the SMMUSD is run? Santa Monica High School has a very large student body. A plan is being developed to reorganize the school in order to create smaller learning communities.
Shane McLoud
Length of time in community (and which community/city): I have lived in Santa Monica’s mid-city area for eight years.
Education level: Bachelor’s degree in sociology from Loyola Marymount University, master’s degree in public administration from California State University, Long Beach
Number of children (ages) currently/formerly in SMMUSD: No Children
Past/current involvement with SMMUSD? Member of the District Advisory Committee for Instructional Technology, Equity and Equality of Education Action Group, Variety of Curriculum Action Group
What made you decide to run for school board?
I have been teaching third grade at Figueroa St. Elementary in South Central LA for the past six years. I am passionate about working on policy issues that will help improve the education of thousands of students in Santa Monica and Malibu schools. I believe that a strong education is the best way to improve our quality of life.
Do you feel that the schools/school board has sufficient oversight administratively? What if anything would you change? Generally, yes. John Deasy has done a tremendous job since taking over as superintendent of SMMUSD.
I feel that our district’s administrative oversight can only be enhanced by the inclusion of the views and experience of an active K-12 teacher on the School Board.
With a budget crisis looming, where could SMMUSD make cuts other than school programs?
We will need to perform an audit of our services to ensure that we are providing services in a cost effective way, and we will need to utilize volunteers to perform some services such as student supervision and some maintenance.
What would you change about the schools? The way the SMMUSD is run? I would like to focus on four things:
A) Reducing class size.
B) Encourage stronger parent participation.
C) Increase the academic resources and attention given to those students who are not performing at grade level, while at the same time, providing a challenging education to all students.
D) Ensure that all teachers and support staff receive professional development in order to improve their effectiveness in the classroom.