Candidate for
Member; Contra Costa County Board of Education; Area 2

A Nationally Board Certified Teacher, Christine Deane has been deeply involved with Contra Costa County public schools for the past 25 years. After a rigorous application process, she was selected from five candidates and appointed as the Trustee for Area Two by the Contra Costa County Board of Education in May 2014.

Christine is endorsed by both the California Teachers Association and the Contra Costa County Superintendent of Schools.

During her 28-year tenure as an elementary and middle school teacher, Christine experienced the joys, and also the challenges, of serving the Contra Costa County community as an educator. She was on the faculty of five different county schools and taught first grade through seventh grade. As a teacher, and now as a Trustee, her focus is always what's best for our kids.

Putting Students' Interests First:

Recognized the importance of teaching ESL (English as a second language) and passed the Language Development Specialist Credential for California before it was required for state educators
Created curriculum and programs to expose students to different contexts across the county, from the Downer School in Richmond, to the Martinez County hospital to local convalescent homes

Nationally and Locally Recognized Educator:

Received National Board Certification, highest national teaching credential
Won two San Ramon Education Foundation Grants
Selected as Library of Congress Fellow in Research and Technology

Passionate About Excellence in School Communities:

Co-chaired for the Gifted and Talented Education (GATE) program
Engaged as Principal Advisory Committees and Diversity Committees
Coached Beginning Teacher Support and Assessment (BTSA) program for new teachers
Led faculty training for student-led parent-teacher conferences, NY Writers' and Readers' Workshops, student portfolios, and using standards to guide instruction and assessment

Committed to the Leadership Development of Educators:

Designed The California Problem Project, used widely in San Ramon fourth grade classes
Worked as Master Teacher for students from St. Mary's and Chapman College
Participated as Member of District Literacy Committee, District Standards-Based Assessment Committee, District Language Arts Committee
Served as program Quality Reviewer for Contra Costa County schools

A 36-year Contra Costa County resident, Christine currently resides in Lafayette with her husband, Les. Active in the community as a youth mentor, she has three children, all graduates of Contra Costa County public schools.

Christine graduated from Syracuse University with a degree in Family Relations and Child Development and has a Masters of Science degree in Correctional Counseling from Chapman University. She also studied complex instruction at Stanford University, advanced writing at Columbia Teachers College, and gifted education at the University of Connecticut.