East Side Union High School District

Pattie Cortese

https://pattiecortese.com

“It takes a village to raise a child.” My goal, as a person and as a school board trustee, is to be a part of that village, not only as a positive role model for students but also as someone committed to providing the adults who work with students on a daily basis tools and resources to help students thrive in spite of their circumstances.

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?

   1. Affordable housing –The district doesn’t create housing, but we do provide extra support for the nearly 1000 students dealing with homelessness in ESUHSD. We also partner with the City of San Jose to provide free WiFi to our students in an effort to close the digital divide for students dealing with economic hardship.
   
   2. Mental health – Following the pandemic, we have added wellness centers, social workers and inclusion specialists in order to meet students’ wellbeing needs.
   
   3. Safety – I am committed to providing training to our staff to de-escalate situations before they erupt and to work closely with our public safety partners in a way that is not threatening to our students.
   

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?

   Several of our school sites have childcare facilities, which we contract out to high-quality providers to offer affordable childcare close to home.

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 ESUHSD is a high-school-only district. One of the most incredible opportunities our students have is the Spartan East Side Promise which means that any ESUHSD student who completes the required classes with a C or better is guaranteed admission to SJSU. And yet perhaps the biggest gap our students face is the belief gap—when adults and even students themselves don’t see our students as capable. I’m committed to educating all the adults (parents, teachers, staff) and students in our system about the Spartan East Side Promise and letting them know that college is within their reach. I’m also committed to providing the academic resources, such as tutoring, to help them get there.

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

   I helped champion the building of a new campus for the students in our adult transition program. Built just one block from a light-rail station, students are able to learn how to independently get to jobs or school, and to cook and clean and manage other activities of daily living in state-of-the-art facilities that simulate apartment living. We also hired inclusion specialists to support students in moving from sheltered classes to classrooms with their peers in the general population.

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?

   I am committed to supporting our district’s declaration on equity:
   1. ALL students are welcomed as they are
   2. Strengths and areas of growth for all students are known and supported
   3. Adults positively respond to the social-emotional, wellness, and academic needs of every student
   4. All learners engage with tasks that develop the strategic thinking skills for FULL participation in their local communities and the global society.