SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE PROFILES
Here's a look at the 10 Simi Valley citizens vying for two open seats on the Simi Valley Unified School District's Board of Trustees 

    

Steven Lee Bloore Age: 52 Occupation: Certified hypnotherapist Number of years in Simi: Five Qualifications: Some college education through Pierce College and Red Rock Community Collage in Colorado but no college degree. Served four years in the United States Air Force as law enforcement specialist. Worked with youth ministry groups and urban outreach programs in Denver and was a fifth-grade math tutor for at-risk students in Hawaii. What made you decide to run for office? "Talking to the teachers, I sensed a frustration with what they had to deal with in the California school system. When I found out what had happened with the bond money issue and how much of that just seemed to be sat on for so long that it became devalued, I began to question 'Why was that?' Why is it that the teachers are frustrated? Why is it that they are struggling with finances? Is it just a state issue or is it a local issue that could be addressed in a way that would help them more effectively do their job . . ." What are your primary goals/objectives if elected? "To be sensitive to the needs of the community, the needs of the teachers and classified employees of the district, essentially to bring 'serve' back into the good name of 'public service' . . . More than anything else I'd like to see two-way communication between the board and the parents-a proactive, two-way communication that I haven't seen." In your opinion, what is the most significant issue impacting California's public education system today? "Approaching the students on their level and treating them as individuals instead of treating them like a No Child Left Behind program. We need to have the resources to approach those children on an individual basis."

 

Tim Camarillo Age: 41 Occupation: Head Start teacher in Ventura County; spent many years in the entertainment business as an actor/ performer Number of years in Simi: Eight Qualifications: Education background and child development experience. Has been in social service field since 1994 working with families and children. Was in the first class of AmeriCorps, where he served in innercity programs and developed after-school programs. Head Start is a program that focuses on helping 3 and 4-year-old children from low-income families get ready for school. What made you decide to run for school board? "I thought it was a great opportunity to run because two incumbents were leaving, and with no incumbents running you have a fresh start, an opportunity to bring more new ideas out." What are your goals/objectives if elected? "I would like to expand early childhood education in Simi Valley-it's much needed. I work for Head Start, and we work with the poorest of the poor. A lot of times we'll have families that make barely above the poverty level, and they don't have enough money to send their kids to preschool. I also want to expand more vocational and business programs. I want to expand service learning opportunities so that students can learn in the classroom and then extend it to the real world." In your opinion, what is the most significant issue facing California's public education system today? "Early childhood education. I think it's much needed in this state. There are many families that don't qualify for Head Start but don't have enough money for preschool. The need for universal preschool is there, we just need to discover how to fund it."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Raymond Cruz Age: 52 Occupation: Operates his own consulting firm Number of years in Simi: 20 Qualifications: Thirty-plus years of business management experience including work in financial services, banking, aerospace, education and nonprofit management. His business provides business solutions to nonprofit and for-profit organizations. Also a former educator who taught in the inner city in New York and currently teaches Bible classes. What made you decide to run for school board? "I wanted to support the outstanding education system in Simi and make it better for the students. As a former teacher, I know the pain of not having the proper tools in the classroom, not getting paid what we deserve and the pain of the classified workers not always getting what they deserve." What are your goals/objectives if elected? "I want to help classified personnel and teachers reach the highest earning potential. I want to have better tools in the classroom, especially the elementary schools. I want to get their playgrounds and gyms updated. I want to help the immigrant students to stay in school and get a better education. I want to help in the areas of human relations, such as reducing gangs and negative impacts such as gangs." In your opinion, what is the most significant issue facing California's public education system today? "The idea of the unity of family, the sanctity of the family and having a mom and dad. We are seeing curriculum that does not support that. We should teach creationism and give that an equal balance with evolution. Right now we are shoving evolution down students' throats. We have to make the students more aware of saying no to drugs and reduce crimes in schools."

 

Jeanne Davis Age: 60 Occupation: Retired teacher and principal Number of Years in Simi: 19 Qualifications: 35 years of experience in Simi Valley schools; teacher of regular and special education; five years administrative experience, Valley View Middle School (assistant principal) and Katherine Elementary School (principal); developed the first safety plan for Valley View and Katherine; on-site Spanish interpreter; adult education teacher at Simi Valley Adult School; representative on School Site Council; member Parent Teachers Association. What made you decide to run for office? "Education is my passion. I can't stay away from it and I think I have a lot to offer. I had a good relationship with parents and kids during all my teaching years. I've taught GATE, special ed, deaf and hard of hearing for 13 years and worked with all kinds of populations. Now I feel I have a chance to be influential in some of the policy making that goes on in Simi and I understand better than anybody because I've been in the inside for so long." What are your primary goals/objectives if elected? "Maintaining a strong relationship with parents, intervention programs for at-risk students so they can meet the standards and get promoted, freeing up counselors from administrative tasks to have more time with students and looking into the school nurse situation." Most significant issue dealing with California's education system today? "We are constantly challenged by our English-as-a-second-language learners. Whatever our political views are-whether they are legal or illegal-the kids are here and so they have got to be taught. They can't speak the language, let alone do class work. We've got to have better job of emerging them in the language than what we have now."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steven Gould Age: 53 Occupation : School teacher at Alta Vista Middle School in Fillmore Number of Years in Simi: 21 Qualifications: Master's degree from California State University Northridge in educational psychology and school administration, graduate of the California State Board Governments program, former member of the Tree Advisory Board for the city of Simi Valley, the Gang Task Force and school board trustee 2000-04. What made you decide to run for office? "I feel that there needs to be improvement in the facilities. The 'curbside appeal,' as I call it, needs a lot of work." What are your primary goals/objectives if elected? "Completion of the bond projects is important, as is improving school accountability. We should build a community relationship to improve the schools. The citizens of this city should take an interest. We can work together to improve student achievement." In your opinion, what is the most significant issue dealing with California's public education system today? "Budget seems to always be an issue, specifically lack of funding. The money never seems to get filtered down to the teacher, so they can supply the classrooms. Teachers should have a say in planning the budget, and we should also use some of the budget to provide for special education students."

 

Larry Kwiatkowski Age: 57 Occupation: Special education teacher at Lowman Special Education Center in Hollywood Number of years in Simi: 25 Qualifications: Degrees from the University of New York at Buffalo and California Lutheran University, helicopter pilot and Army officer in Vietnam, 20 years in education and a family man. What made you decide to run for office? "I got tired of complaining, and I wanted to see if I could change things and make a contribution." What are your primary goals/objectives if elected? "I'd like to bring some continuity and stability to the educational process. We put so many kids through this cookiecutter system, but every kid is different. They should be treated as such." In your opinion, what is the most significant issue dealing with California's public education system today? "There's not enough financial backing towards education. People pay a lot of lip service to the issues at hand, and don't put the money forward to solve them."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Eric Lundstrom Age: 38 Occupation: Financial analyst for Northrop-Grumman Number of years in Simi: Six Qualifications: Accounting degree and work in the business community handling financial budgets and contract management. Worked on construction projects handling master schedules and has experience with large development programs. What made you decide to run for school board? "My kids are going to be in the district for a number of years and I want to be involved in their education process as much as possible. My wife is a teacher in the district and I want to make sure her classroom environment is eased of any inconveniences." What are your goals/objectives if elected? "I want to increase classroom spending. I want teachers to have more money to put towards visual aids and teaching tools and I want to get more parent involvement in the classrooms." In your opinion, what is the most significant issue facing California's public education system today? "Trying to meet the No Child Left Behind Act passed down by the federal government."

 

 

Thurlow Partridge Age: 63 Occupation: Retired teacher Number of years in Simi: 43 Qualifications: Familiar with the Simi Valley educational system. Has operated his own tax-preparation business for 26 years and worked as a realtor for 24. Worked for six years at Viewpoint School in Calabasas teaching science, for 30 years at Valley View Middle School teaching science and health and 10 years at Simi Valley High School teaching chemistry and biology. Presently works in tax preparation and real estate. What made you decide to run for school board? "I was a teacher and I enjoyed teaching. It was time for me to retire from the classroom with all my other activities, but I really miss being involved in education and this is a way for me to still contribute to education. I was encouraged by several people and I hope that I can make a difference. I'm looking forward to working together with the other board members to make Simi the best school district it can be." What are your goals/objectives if elected? "The general goal is to try and make the schools so that the kids get the best education they can. You have to look out for the students first, but also look out for the teachers because they're the ones in there working with the kids. We have to get as good salaries for the teachers as we can." In your opinion, what is the most significant issue facing California's public education system today? "Last year we lost about 20 young teachers because they felt it's too expensive to live in this area. I knew one of them personally and he was a very good science teacher. We need to figure a way, especially with my real estate background, to try and help teachers to be able to afford to buy property to live in, a condo at least in the beginning, so that we can attract the best young people into our school district."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Randy Sundeen Age: 50 Occupation: Attorney Number of years in Simi: 32 Qualifications: California teaching credential from California Lutheran University; taught social studies at Simi Valley High School for five years; Simi Valley Education Foundation, board member; school-site member, Township and Valley View; Junior Olympics coach; PTA member at Township and Valley View. Involved in Simi Valley Kiwanis Club, Police Foundation, Simi Valley Youth Soccer League, Freedom Tree and Optimist Club. What made you decide to run for office?: "I've always liked to be involved with school activities. . . . Being a board member I felt (I) would have a bigger say on how things were done, more influence and more impact. I have a son in school here and I want him and his friends to have a good experience and education. I think the school district is good but it can be improved just like any other organization and I have some ideas how it can be improved." What are your primary goals/objectives if elected?: "To increase the test scores and make sure every student passes the exit exam. In the last testing there were 12 schools in the Simi Valley school district that didn't meet their target. Simi Valley API (scores) are below Moorpark, below Conejo Valley. We need to get test scores up." Most significant issue dealing with California's education system today?: "One thing I would like to see in the elementary level is the addition of health and physical education, more of an emphasis on that. Nowadays kids are more overweight and have diabetes and they don't have any knowledge about health. If we could start that at the elementary school where kids enjoy sports and are given some training in health and the importance of different eating habits that's what I'd like to see."

 

 

NO PHOTO PROVIDED Bob La Belle      Age: 62      Occupation: Retired teacher and administrator      Nmber of years in Simi: Nine      Qalifications: Experience of being on campuses and being involved in education. Worked as a teacher at Agoura High for 20 years, an assistant principal in Simi Valley Unified School District, a principal and director of human resources at Yosemite High School, and principal at Royal High School in Simi Valley.   La Belle told the Simi Valley Acorn he doesn't want to be elected and therefore didn't want to answer any of the newspaper's election questions.