Miembre de Junta — Lakeside Union Elementary School District

My name is Rhonda Taylor;
I am running for a seat on the Lakeside Union School Board. I would like to say first and foremost, thank you to the members of the current school board who have served for so many years! The guidance has been appreciated. In the past few years, there has been a growing feeling of disconnect between the employees, and the school board. It's time to bring the feeling of "family" back to the Lakeside Union School District!

In addition, the educational landscape is changing at a rapid rate, I have studied the changes, and I am poised to help Lakeside make the most of these changes. I am qualified and passionate about running for a seat on this board, as I have spent 21 years helping to cultivate the dream of LUSD. I began as a student teacher at Lakeview Elementary School. After teaching 12 years at Lakeside Farms Elementary, I became Vice-Principal at Lakeside Middle School and assisted the amazing Mr. Mull in the early stages of creating the Lakeside Middle School of Performing Arts. I then became the principal of Lakeview Elementary School. My talented staff and I began a comprehensive music education program, a 50% bilingual program, and watched our students soar to success! I eventually moved to the LUSD District Office where I helped to transition our staff to the Common Core State Standards and led two curriculum pilots, adopting the curriculum now used in Math and Language Arts. Ultimately, I moved to the Poway Unified School District to see how a different district operates. I am planning to bring the insight gained right back to Lakeside! 

I am grateful for your support!

I believe it is the responsibility of all politicians to promote healthy practices and good for the collective group. Ego should not be a driving motivation in serving the best interest of the public. 

As a member of the Lakeside School board, I have completed the California School Board's Master of Boardsmanship and Masters of Governance programs.  I currently serve as an elected member of the CSBA Delegate Assembly representing region 17 (San Diego County) and am Vice President of the San Diego County School Board's Association.  I was chosen SDCSBA School Board Member of the Year in 2015.  I have attended the annual CSBA conference, ASCD (Association of Curriculum and Supervision) conferences as well as many workshops to stay informed about current education trends, laws, and programs.  As a member of the Delegate Assembly, I meet regularly with other school board members from all over California to share current educational issues and concerns with CSBA.  I have served in PTA as a local president for Lakeview Elementary, El Capitan High School, and Foothills Council.  I was financial secretary, treasurer and Unit Council Chair for 9th District PTA (San Diego and Imperial Counties) as well as on the Leadership and Finance Commission of the California State PTA.  I am currently treasurer for Rady Children's Hospital Auxiliary.  I have a life long committment to the welfare of children.

School boards are non partisan offices made up of 5 community members working together for all students.  Individually, we have no power, only when we make decisions as a board in open meetings.  We work well together when we understand that we may not always agree, but have respect for diverse opinions and support decisions when made.  We are accountable to the whole community and parents to provide well maintained, safe schools, quality teachers and support staff, and excellent leadership by principals and superintendents.  I believe in open communication and collaboration.  Many of our excellent programs are the result of ideas first generated by parents and/or staff such as our multi lingual immersion program, the many visual and performing arts opportunities, before and after school care program, and  River Valley Charter School to name a few.