Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/348932
AEA Advocate x Fall 2014 23 AT THE CAPITOL Arizona students need a leader who supports our public schools and will stand up with our teachers and education support professionals. "We are at a tipping point in Arizona," stated Andrew Morrill, President of the AEA. "If we do not end the dismantling of our public schools, we will effectively relinquish our constitutional duty to maintain and protect them." This past May, AEA endorsed Dr. David Garcia, an Associate Professor in the Mary Lou Fulton Teachers College at Arizona State University, for the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction in the upcoming election. Dr. Garcia is an Arizona native and product of Mesa Public Schools. The former Associate Superintendent of Public Instruction for Standards and Accountability, Garcia is widely regarded as a national expert on education policy and research. "We are endorsing David Garcia because four more years of doubling down on policies that have not and will not move the needle is four more years of missed opportunities for our students," said Morrill. "David is uniquely qualified to lead our schools and turn around Arizona's public education system into one that truly supports our public school teachers, students, administration, and staff." Voicing his appreciation for the endorsement, Dr. Garcia stated, "Arizona's teachers deserve a voice at the table. For too long their concerns have been ignored by politicians who craft education policies with no real understanding of how their policies play out in the classroom. The result has been a loss of good teachers, overcrowded classrooms, cuts to music and arts programs, and stagnant test scores. It's time to work collaboratively with our educators, implementing real-world accountability and giving schools the flexibility needed to create the type of innovative classrooms needed for a competitive workforce." If elected, Dr. Garcia has identified the following top three priorities while in office: • Measure What Matters: Success in life doesn't come from passing a multiple-choice test, and yet, 96% of a school's letter grade is based on standardized test score results. We need an accountability system that measures real-world indicators of success such as a rigorous high school curriculum, career and technical education certifications and foreign language proficiency. Currently none of these indicators are part of our accountability system even though they matter to students and parents. • One Size Does Not Fit All: Instead of trying to create cookie-cutter schools with the same type of learning environment and curriculum, we should be encouraging our schools to experiment. Be innovative. Be different. Community schools should be designed to benefit the students they serve with a focus on what students can do. Write a business plan, publish a book, speak three languages. Match a tool to a student's talents. This is the next breakthrough in public education, and this is how we create the types of exceptional schools that keep students in school and engaged in their success. • Fund for Success: If we wish to pull Arizona up from the bottom of the rankings, then we must make specific dollar investments in programs targeted to the needs of each community's students. For instance, in lower-income neighborhoods, access to early childhood education is essential and funding for all-day Kindergarten makes sense. Putting an emphasis on what we're funding instead of indiscriminately sending money to one account or the other ensures we are adequately supporting the areas most likely to affect positive outcomes and produce tangible results. 2 AEA Supports Dr. David Garcia Elect an Educator for AZ School Superintendent How You Can Support Dr. David Garcia • Volunteer or donate money on his website at dg4az.com. • Like him on Facebook at facebook.com/dg4az. • Follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/dg4az. • Vote for David Garcia! Read more about Dr. David Garcia's positions on education issues on the back cover.