Santa Clara County Voter's Guide On Children's Issues

Mountain View Whisman School District

Christine Case-Lo

http://christinecaselo.com

I want to make our schools even better for EVERY student. My priorities are Inclusion - making the classroom work for every student, Mental Health - supporting students to become resilient learners who can self-advocate, Civility - re-establishing respectful relationships and finding Pragmatic Solutions - working with others to get things done

  1. Over 80% of voters polled say they want elected officials to prioritize children and families. What are the top three issues affecting our children and families and how will you make our region a place where all families can thrive?

    The top three issues are loss of community, mental health concerns, and cost of living challenges. I hope to help build up schools as important centers of community for our students and families - a place where they feel safe and connected. COVID and social media have had a profound influence on mental health, and it is incredibly difficult to find providers for youth given the immense demand. We need to make sure that children can receive these services at the school level. I am also thrilled that MVWSD is planning to develop a socio-emotional learning curriculum. For cost-of-living, I want to try and develop solid after-school care options that can help families with rising costs.

  2. High quality childcare improves school readiness and parents' workforce participation. What will you do to improve access to high quality childcare and preschool programs in our diverse communities?

    Our District has already been prioritizing having space and staff for our preschools and transitional kindergartens - especially at those schools in areas of our city with higher numbers of socio-economically disadvantaged families. I want to continue to ensure the health of those programs and to make sure we have room for as many students as possible in our preschool programs, including students with special needs. I also want the District to find ways to offer affordable after-school options to increase the extra-curricular options for at-risk students.

  3. Much of the student achievement gap has been linked to the opportunity gap that children in low-income families and children of color confront (e.g., lack of access to healthy food, preschool, tutors, and enrichment activities). If elected, what will you do to increase equity of opportunity?

    The pilot early literacy program that is ongoing in our District has seen amazing results using the science of reading and intensive intervention in early grades to get kids up to grade level. With funding from our parcel tax, I hope to be able to expand that program to every school, and to take this model of success to find similar math intervention programs. I want to make extra-curricular activities and after-school program options available to as many students as possible, building on some parent-driven afterschool programs and extending them to more schools - increasing community connection as well as offering enrichment activities.

  4. What steps will you take to improve inclusion and outcomes for children with disabilities and their families in our community?

    One of my top priorities! As an advocate for special education in my community for over 16 years, I’ve been preaching inclusion and seeing so many improvements over the years. I want to increase co-teaching options throughout the District, get teachers the instructional aides and supplies to help and most especially get the District and teacher unions to include training from the SCCOE’s Inclusion Collaborative as a standard part of professional development. I want there to be accountability measures, and a real change in mindset that starts with inclusion as a must-have rather than a nice-to-have. Universal Design for Learning helps students with disabilities and ALL students to thrive.

  5. If elected, how will you use the resources of your new role to improve children's well-being and access to mental and behavioral health services?

    Prioritizing mental health professionals at each school, and multiple councilors at each middle school is key. Having behaviorists on staff is also important for the development of behavior plans, and for helping to train teachers. Also - we will be working on developing a socio-emotional learning curriculum that will help children with vocabulary, self-awareness, emotional regulation and self-advocacy and I want to be an active participant on that committee. Mental health support is crucial for long-term success and to reduce the rate of chronic absenteeism.