Neighborhood Schools - The Heart of Our Communities

By Jennifer Berube

I am the Library Media Teacher at Arcata High School and have over ten years experience in education as both English teacher and a school librarian. As a parent, I realize that an early focus on community and character is crucial to social well-being. As an educator, I understand a strong foundation in academics is essential to later success. As a librarian, I recognize that information literacy is the foundation to academic success. And finally as an experienced educator, I appreciate that none of this is possible without parent and community support. I have experience working within the educational laws and guidelines that can be difficult to navigate. I also understand that in this time of increasingly limited school funding, the choices of our policy makers directly affect our childrens quality of education.

We are all stakeholders in our children's education. Parents, teachers and staff, administrators, and above all, the students are the heart of a school. The education and support that our children receive at this time in their life will help shape them as learners and community members for the rest of their lives. I believe in diverse neighborhood schools.

My family returned to Arcata so that we could raise our daughter in a small, supportive multicultural community. I question why out of six children in a two block radius, my daughter is the only child going to the public school just a few blocks away - especially when it is a public school like Arcata Elementary that offers experienced staff and teachers, strong programs like reading buddies and after-school care, as well as a focus on art education and our global community.

I would like to support my daughter's school as much as possible and the opportunity to be on the school board is one that I could not pass up. I would appreciate your support.