Voces de Resistencia interviews Springfield school board candidates

Presenter: Voces de Resistencia interviewed Springfield school board candidates running in the May 20 election.

Voces de Resistencia: Each candidate will begin with a two-minute introduction.

[00:00:10] Presenter: Bob Brew:

[00:00:11] Bob Brew: My name is Bob Brew, and I am a graduate of Springfield High School. I am a retired finance and education executive with 35 years of finance experience. What I’m bringing to the Springfield school board is financial expertise, innovation, and the ability to get things done. I think it’s a valuable set of skills that the board could definitely use.

[00:00:43] My primary areas of focus are school safety, making sure that each student has the appropriate education, whether they want to go to work right out of high school, go to trade schools, go to the military, or go to four-year college. And I thank you for your time.

[00:01:06] Presenter: Robert Morgan:

[00:01:07] Robert Morgan: Hi, I’m Robert Morgan. I’m running for Position 5 of the school board. I also am a graduate of Springfield High School and I’ve raised four children in this district, all graduates. I have eight grandchildren. Two of them have already graduated, three are in school, and I’ve got three headed that way.

[00:01:30] I am very passionate about making this district better. It’s a district that seems to be, it’s dropping. I’m going to be honest with you. We’re losing students, we’re losing teachers. And we need to do something about that. We need to focus on ways to keep kids involved in school, whether it be through apprentice programs, you know, earning credits, not just trying to funnel everybody to college, but to actually help people figure out who they are and what they want to do.

[00:02:14] So if I’m elected, that will be a priority. I mean, I know finance is going to be tricky over the next couple of years. We don’t know exactly what’s going to happen, especially with federal funding. And so we’re going to have to, there’s going to have to be creative. So, if elected, you know, I will do my best to accomplish my goals, but I appreciate you all being here.

[00:02:42] Presenter: Jonathan Light:

[00:02:44] Jonathan Light: Hello, I’m Jonathan Light and I’m running for reelection to Position 3. First of all, I want to thank SAfER and everybody who helped organize this event. I think it’s great to have this dialogue and I also want to thank people who took the time out of their day to attend today.

I want to start by saying that we’ve got amazing students in our district, and they accomplished wonderful things, but while we’re successful with many students, there are still too many who fall short. And either they don’t graduate or they leave the district. We really need to figure out why.

[00:03:20] So I’ve got oodles of experience in education and in business. I served on the Chamber of Commerce education committee, I served on the district budget committee, I was an early member of the Springfield Education Foundation, and I was also a teacher for 15 years, the last four in the Springfield School District.

[00:03:41] All of these experiences have taught me that we can do better and we must do better. As a long-time school board member, I’m convinced that more than ever, we really have got to double down on doing better.

[00:03:53] So what does it look like? First of all, I think we need to listen. I think we need to listen to our students. We need to listen to our families, community members, all the stakeholders to go into creating really a dynamic school system. So I pledge that that’s going to be a very important thing for me.

[00:04:18] The other thing is that we have to be safe and respectful. And we have to create a learning environment where kids can learn. So we need to address the disruptive behaviors that are occurring in the schools. And we need to give teachers and staff the support they need to really help everyone have a safe learning environment.

[00:04:36] And then finally create the kind of a system where every student, and I do mean every student, can succeed. So a curriculum that’s engaging and on develop a passion for learning. And I think if we start there, we’re going to do pretty well. So I’d be honored to have your vote. Thank you.

[00:04:53] Presenter: Heather Quaas-Annsa:

[00:04:55] Heather Quaas-Annsa: Hi everyone, my name is Heather Quaas-Annsa and I am running for Springfield school board, Position 2. I’m currently appointed to that seat and I’m running to keep that seat for the next four years.

[00:05:06] I am a parent of three teenagers in three different Springfield schools and so I see firsthand how critical it is that we are meeting students where they’re at and meeting with families where they’re at.

[00:05:16] There’s a lot of diverse needs in this community and so we need to make sure that we’re really working with each student in each family individually.

In my professional life, I’m the director at Community Supported Shelters. We build the Conestoga Hut communities in Eugene and so as a director there I work with people every day to connect them to the resources in the community that they need to help them create pathways to employment and self-sufficiency and really just try to strengthen the community as a whole.

[00:05:43] That work has shown me the importance of meeting people where they’re at and investing in the systems that foster dignity, belonging, and opportunity, and those are values that I bring with me to the school board.

[00:05:52] I’m proud to be endorsed by the Oregon Education Association, the Springfield Education Association, the Democratic Party of Lane County, the NextUp Action Fund, the Latino Action Network Fund, the Apano Action Fund, and a whole bunch of other really cool groups and individuals that support what I’m doing and the things that I’m passionate about.

[00:06:13] As a board member, I advocate for policies that support our educators and expand access to critical student resources and create schools where all students feel safe, seen, and supported. I bring transparency, accountability, and a deep commitment to equity.

Equity is not a dirty word in my book, and it’s something that we really should be embracing. This election’s about building the future that our students deserve, and as a parent and a community leader, I’m ready to do the work, and I’m asking for your support and your commitment to help me do that.

So thank you all for being here. I’m really excited to chat with you and figure out what questions you have.

[00:06:49] Presenter: Amber Langworthy:

[00:06:50] Amber Langworthy: Hi, my name is Amber Langworthy and thank you SAfER for hosting. I’m a mother of a child in Springfield Public School District. I’m also a former substitute educational aid, volunteer supporting trauma victims and I’ve seen firsthand the challenges our children and educators face. I’ve reached out to many stakeholders, families, staff, students, board members, to meet the discussions of our district challenges.

[00:07:21] These outreach has increased my understanding of our issues. My personality and disposition bring active listening, empathy, collaboration. I will spend maximum effort to be a team player, ask questions, pursue answers, and diligently seek solutions.

[00:07:39] My core values have inspired me to be here. One is my, and you can find it on my web page. One is my mission of public schools. I’m committed to the purpose of public education, which is to educate every student to the fullest potential.

[00:07:57] Different kids may need different kinds of support. I was, I am a neurodivergent kid and a lot of support early up and I’m really thankful for that it helped. This means for our students that in special education receive the specialized support they require to learn and grow. English language learners get what they need to learn English and stay up on their content area subjects and I believe in equity and what our diverse student population to thrive.

[00:08:25] I support policies that level the playing field and enhance educational outcomes for student of color from lower-income families. And I pledge to protect students of undocumented families.

[00:08:40] Number two, I have support for educators. I believe there’s nothing more important than the work our educators do. And as a board member, I will do my part to make sure teachers, classified support staff, principals, and district leadership are all involved in school improvement.

I also know that great teaching requires that our educators get ongoing access to professional development opportunities to meet their specific needs and interests. And we also need a comprehensive K through 12 education.

[00:09:12] Right now we are narrowing what we’re teaching our kids. I believe that the following subjects must be part of the curriculum, language, arts, math, science, social studies. This includes history. And I believe in the power of our school district and I would be honored if you would show it for me.

[00:09:33] Presenter: Here are the questions:

[00:09:35] Voces de Resistencia:

• What is your vision for education in the community?
• What is your plans to ensure students and teachers of minority groups, LGBTQ and other identities continue to be heard, represented and supported?
• How will you help put more staff into our school who represents more people of color and BIPOC?
• What disciplinary actions do you have against racist students and what is the rate of the student receiving the disciplinary action repeating?
• What will you do to improve the students’ motivation, especially coming from teachers and staff?
• What does your future for BIPOC students look like?

[00:10:16] Presenter: Voces de Resistencia (Voices of Resistance) participates in the Springfield school board candidate forum, and reminds voters to return your ballots by Election Day, Tuesday, May 20.

[00:10:28] To hear the entire program, see our website at archive.KEPW.org. And listen live at 6 a.m. Mondays through Fridays right here on KEPW 97.3, Eugene’s PeaceWorks community radio.