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Jeanne DavisAge: 60Occupation: 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."