In an interview with channel 12’s Shannon Ogden, Mrs. Smith-Juarez was asked her background. She said she worked at a local independent school for five years. Well friends the independent school she worked at was the Bolles School. I question why she wouldn’t just say she worked at the Bolles School? Does she not think anybody has heard of it? Is she embarrassed by the fact she worked at a prestigious and affluent private school? Or does she think saying so would reinforce the notion, helped created by her tremendous fund raising haul, that she is an elite disconnected from the issues in education? Friends her list of donors is on-line, check it out and then think to yourself how many of them sent their children to public school. Then think how many people you know who can afford to give 500 dollars to a campaign, or even 50.
I don’t know Mrs. Smith-Juarez, though after watching her interview, filled with canned rhetoric and devoid of solutions I am not optimistic about her. This is compounded by the fact her mentor and undoubtedly the man responsible for the lion’s share of her fund-raising is Gary Chartrand.
Mr. Chartrand is a charismatic individual who despite the fact he has never been in a classroom has thrown his hat into the education arena. His ideas to improve education aren’t based on facts or evidence, apparently just his gut and I believe will ultimately prove detrimental to education and are already experiencing pushback from throughout the nation.
Friends despite what Mr. Chartrand thinks, teaching experience does matter, smaller classes are better than larger ones, standardized tests are dumbing down education, and the privatization of education will not lead to better outcomes.
It is hard to believe that his protégé Mrs. Smith-Juarez doesn’t hold similar positions.
It is also not hard for me to believe Mrs. Smith-Juarez is sincere with her concern for our education system. We are in trouble and our current board has done us no favors, I just wonder if having taught in a local “independent school” having rich friends and a mentor with decidedly anti-public education beliefs prepares her adequately for the position of school board member.
To watch the interview paste below into your browser: http://www.firstcoastnews.com/video/1574550913001/1/On-Point-Part-2-42212
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