Candidate Interviews Done by THE JOURNAL, a publication of the Kansas Leadership Center.

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Article from The Journal, a publication of the Kansas Leadership Center.  The Journal did not receive responses to its survey from Kansas City, Kansas, USD 500 Board of Education candidates Yolanda S. Clark, Brenda C. Jones, Karen French and Valdenia C. Winn. 
 
 
Kansas City, Kansas, USD 500 Board of Education
Monica Crowe, candidate for Kansas City, Kansas, USD 500 Board of Education
Please provide a brief introduction and a description of why you are running for office.
I am a mom of two girls who went to USD 500 schools. I have been involved with KCK schools for 25 years as a PTA parent and I want to make sure all children in KCK have the tools needed to succeed.
Should you be elected, what is the single most important issue that you would like to see improvement on during your term in office? Please write a few sentences explaining your choice.
Student success. Our district faces lots of challenges, as do all schools, but as a community we approved a bond to help make our school better and safer places for our students. I was part of the bond team and want to see us continue moving forward with more programs and tools for all our students.
As an office holder, how would you try to mobilize efforts to address the important issue you identified above? If you have a sense of specific steps you might take, please share those.
We have more time to plan out the next phases of continuing the bond as well as making sure money is well spent on things that will benefit all students.
Are Kansas City, Kansas public schools headed in the right direction?
Yes
Please explain your answer.
We have much more to do but the bond we passed is helping us touch every school in some way. We need our parents and community help to move forward.
Gary E. Bradley-Lopez, candidate for Kansas City, Kansas, USD 500 Board of Education
Please provide a brief introduction and a description of why you are running for office.
As a USD 500 alum, I recognize the help and opportunities that I received when I was a student. I was a student who was classified Special Ed, I had an IEP (Individualized Education Program). I lost a year of my education when my mother was deported to Mexico, received poor scores in any standardized test, and had trouble retaining any information, Nevertheless I was fortunate to have parents, teachers, and a support group that helped me graduate and do well.
As I now have cousins, nieces, and nephews who attend the school district, I recognized that everyone isn’t as fortunate to have a support group like me. Therefore, I made it my mission to help and give back to the same community that helped shape me into the person that I am today. I believe every student deserves to have a support group that is behind each student, helping push them to the finish line of success. I am running because students deserve a school board member that is always a voice for them. I want to ensure: students have a voice, we hire more teachers of color, raise the pay for our teachers, have proper training so that our teachers can be culturally conscious and sensitive to our students, as well as ending the school-to-prison pipeline. While we have such a fantastic school district that has all the equipment to succeed, it is time to have someone uses the equipment and show the finished product.
Should you be elected, what is the single most important issue that you would like to see improvement on during your term in office? Please write a few sentences explaining your choice.
The single most important issue that I would like to see improvement on during my term in office is ending the school-to-prison pipeline. Schools nationally must end traditional methods of education that prepare our students to end up in the prison system. It is important that as a candidate for an urban school district, we encourage our district to take the lead of ending practices that prepare our students for the prison system.
As an office holder, how would you try to mobilize efforts to address the important issue you identified above? If you have a sense of specific steps you might take, please share those.
As an office holder, I would try to speak to community members, activists, and the school community to mobilize efforts to address the important issue of ending the school-to-prison pipeline. I would then look at other school districts nationally who have taken the approach to fight the school-to-prison pipeline, and follow the steps that work, and try to implement those policies.
Are Kansas City, Kansas public schools headed in the right direction?
Prefer not to answer
Please explain your answer.
I think that USD 500 is working to move forward, but I am not sure if we have a board that is allowing that movement to move forward. There are many changes in USD 500; we still need time to digest if they are positive changes or failed changes.
Hattie L. Smith, candidate for Kansas City, Kansas, USD 500 Board of Education
Please provide a brief introduction and a description of why you are running for office.
My passion for education and for our children of our community would not allow me to sit any longer on the sidelines and not get involved. Knowing when we know better we’ll do better; for me knowing better begins with educating ourselves on what it takes to get ahead, what it takes to be successful, and how we can change our current way of thinking. We must teach our youth to look at the big picture which may be, and more than likely is, beyond their current situation.
Should you be elected, what is the single most important issue that you would like to see improvement on during your term in office? Please write a few sentences explaining your choice.
I would like for the teachers to have a restored passion in teaching our urban youth and our youth to have a restored passion in the education process! I am interested in a review board made up of students, teachers, parents and a representative of the school board to review ideas and recommendations so that renewed interest might be ignited in the education process of the district.
As an office holder, how would you try to mobilize efforts to address the important issue you identified above? If you have a sense of specific steps you might take, please share those.
My efforts would be refocused on the parent’s involvement in the learning process. Parents must realize how critical it is for them to re-involve themselves in the discipline of the youth of our district, gaining the knowledge they need in our competitive society to be as successful as possible. I want to see our “Parents as Teachers” programs strengthened with incentives for the parents to be taught and to learn. Parental incentives can promote and reinforce what is being taught to our students, which will help the parents understand and assist their children with school assignments.
Are Kansas City, Kansas public schools headed in the right direction?
Yes
Please explain your answer.
There have been programs put in place to emphasize education and offer college courses in high school. So, yes, progress is being made.
Joseph A. Straws III, candidate for Kansas City, Kansas, USD 500 Board of Education
Please provide a brief introduction and a description of why you are running for office.
I am running for school board to help bring the connection of the board, families, teachers and community back together, to improve the results of our district through collaboration and connections! As a father of seven and lifelong resident of Wyandotte County, I am invested deeply into the success of our schools!
Should you be elected, what is the single most important issue that you would like to see improvement on during your term in office? Please write a few sentences explaining your choice.
I want to see our performance improved, in standardized testing, in increased graduation percentages and in a focus on college and career readiness for our students.
As an office holder, how would you try to mobilize efforts to address the important issue you identified above? If you have a sense of specific steps you might take, please share those.
The first thing I would begin doing is making sure that we start to focus on educating the entire family. We need to hold workshops both online and in person. The key to the success of our students are making sure they are supported at school and at home. Also making sure that we restore order and pride into our high schools, and that all starts with the administrative staff.
Are Kansas City, Kansas public schools headed in the right direction?
Yes
Please explain your answer.
I say yes, but the track is a long hard one as we have seen a decline over the years. With brand new superintendent and staff we will all have to work hard and diligently to get us down this road.
Frieda Tresvan, candidate for Kansas City, Kansas, USD 500 Board of Education
Please provide a brief introduction and a description of why you are running for office.
I am seeking election to be on the KCK Board of Education because I care about children, their parents, and the future of Kansas City Kansas Public Schools. As a mother of children with disabilities, I have first-hand experience of the struggles some KCK families face in seeking appropriate services within the District. I am committed to seeking out the opinions of the marginalized and unheard members of our community and working towards common ground. I believe in servant leadership and promise to lead thoughtfully and respectfully, and to build strong partnerships to find the best solutions for our children and community. I want to help mend the fences that have been broken in our community, to restore trust and integrity where it’s needed. I firmly believe the school system is a bedrock of our community. I am passionate about bringing people together to create solutions that will strengthen our school system and increase opportunities for ALL of our children.
Please follow me on Facebook, fb.me/FriedaforKCK, or Twitter, @forKCK.
Should you be elected, what is the single most important issue that you would like to see improvement on during your term in office? Please write a few sentences explaining your choice.
Improving academic achievement, in particular increasing reading proficiency scores for all students in the District.
As an office holder, how would you try to mobilize efforts to address the important issue you identified above? If you have a sense of specific steps you might take, please share those.
I would request a review of the evidence of effectiveness for the current curriculum and interventions being used to ensure they meet the highest standards. I would prioritize professional development for both general education and special education teachers that follow the “science of reading,” are evidence based, and provides strategies that can be individualized for both school and home. I would require that quality assurance measures are in place for progress monitoring.
Are Kansas City, Kansas public schools headed in the right direction?
Yes
Please explain your answer.
I am in agreeance with the current decision to allocate funds towards creation of a district-wide strategic plan and purchasing new systems and/or implementation of new programming that will help streamline processes for both administration and enrolled families.
Randy Lopez, candidate for Kansas City, Kansas, USD 500 Board of Education
Please provide a brief introduction and a description of why you are running for office.
My name is Randy Lopez. I am a lifelong resident of Wyandotte County and I love my community. As I reflect on the story of my family, my parents, the values learned, I am reminded of the great sacrifices my parents made for our family. They made sure that we were loved, cared for, our needs were met. And just as importantly, they taught us the value of education. It was not easy, by any means. My family had their challenges and struggles. I had my challenges and struggles. But perseverance, dedication, commitment, and family helped to ensure success. 
My story is not unique. Many students, families, in our community can relate. Many have more difficult journeys than I. But one constant shared value that we have is that of education for our community. This is why I’m running for school board. I believe in our district. I believe in our community. And most importantly, I believe in our kids and families.
There are so many positive things happening right in our community that I want to build on. I believe that my education, experience, and commitment to our community are valuable assets to bring to the board. I believe together we can achieve: 

• student and family centered engagement
• academic excellence for all students; physical and emotional wellness for staff, students, and families
• Equity and intercultural sensitivity among board and staff
• Latino board representation in a district with over 50% Latino students
• Advocating for equitable funding and maximizing the use of resources in schools

Should you be elected, what is the single most important issue that you would like to see improvement on during your term in office? Please write a few sentences explaining your choice.
One of the most important issues that families talk about is academic excellence for all students. We have a district that can do better when we look at our standing in test scores. However, we can’t get caught up in test scores alone and teach to the test. We must continue to find ways to provide adequate resources to our teachers and building staff to provide the care and education for our students. We also need to continue to engage our families in our student’s education, knowing that together we can make that difference. Additionally, we should focus on the social/emotional wellness of our students. These things combined with other resources, can have a positive impact on our students’ success.
As an office holder, how would you try to mobilize efforts to address the important issue you identified above? If you have a sense of specific steps you might take, please share those.
I believe we need to continue to engage and build new partnerships with community partners who can offer resources that the schools are not equipped to handle or provide. There are several partners in our community that we can work with whether it’s social service agencies, mental health services, or others. We need to listen to our school staff to understand the direct needs of our students and teachers, and as a board take them into consideration when making decisions. We also need to be present, authentically present in community with our families of all cultures, and ensure that they continue to be actively engaged in our schools. Also, we need continued training, education, and resources on becoming a trauma informed school district, and a culturally sensitive school district.
Are Kansas City, Kansas public schools headed in the right direction?
Yes
Please explain your answer.
I understand that our district is not perfect and there are areas that we need improvement in. But for me, what I see is energy and movement towards improvement when I see 11 candidates who have an interest in running for the board. I see teachers and staff with passion and dedication for our community. And I see a community, students, and families who know what the challenges they face and have strategies on how to address them. So, yes, I believe that when we work together as a board, as staff, and as a community, building on our strengths and working on our challenges, then we are headed in the right direction.
Janey Humphries, candidate for Kansas City, Kansas, USD 500 Board of Education
Please provide a brief introduction and a description of why you are running for office.
My name is Janey Humphries and my husband Richard and I have lived here in Kansas City, Kansas for over 42 years. We have four grown children who attended Emerson Elementary, Argentine Middle and graduated from Harmon High School.
I believe ALL CHILDREN deserve the opportunity to receive a quality education regardless of where they live or which school they attend. They need the academic skills and experiences necessary to compete for the job of their choice in the world economy. OUR children of today will be the leaders of our city and country in the future. I emphasize OUR because they are not just “my children” or “your children” but OUR children. They will be making decisions that will affect all of us. We, the community, have a collective responsibility to ensure Each and Every Child has access to quality facilities, curriculum and that our buildings are staffed with quality personnel.
I have been a PTA member and a volunteer in our schools since 1981, serving as PTA President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Kansas State PTA Region 7 Vice-President, Booster Club Treasurer and School Site Council President. During this time I have served on many school and district wide committees working with students, parents, staff and community members.
I was a regular attendee of school board meetings throughout the 1990’s and began attending again about 10 years ago. I wanted to see and understand the changes that had been made in educating OUR children.
One way was to attend board meetings to listen to how the members made the decisions that would affect OUR children. Another way was to visit classrooms and see the connection between the policies enacted by the BOE and how they were being put in place. A third way was to be out in the community listening to parents and other community members. Helping them find answers to the questions they had and being an advocate for our children, our schools and our community. I was involved in these activities long before I even considered becoming a School Board Member.
Should you be elected, what is the single most important issue that you would like to see improvement on during your term in office? Please write a few sentences explaining your choice.
Providing a Quality Education for all of OUR children is a priority. Providing a Quality Education for all of OUR children shows them that their family and community values them. That we care about their success in life.
When children feel loved and valued they are better equipped to reach out and push their limits, to try new experiences and not be afraid of failure. To learn from it and become a more informed individual.
When parents know the community values their child, they in turn take pride in the community where they live.
A Quality Education provides a variety of experiences and resources for OUR children to access making them a more knowledgeable citizen of our community, state, nation and the world. Providing the opportunity for OUR children to be successful and compete on a level playing field with their peers in our global economy.
Our Graduates must be productive, employable individuals. We need our future voters to be literate and well educated so they make good, informed choices when they vote.
As an office holder, how would you try to mobilize efforts to address the important issue you identified above? If you have a sense of specific steps you might take, please share those.
All 7 Board Members must work collaboratively with each other, the Superintendent, Staff, Students and Community. Over the past 30 years, our district has seen improvement in our 4-year Graduation Rate, Attendance, test scores and more while raising expectations for ALL students. We must continue moving forward. It will take ALL of us, working TOGETHER, to provide a high quality education for ALL OUR children. Below are only 3 of many areas we must consider.
Invest in the Diploma+ Program
I support the current direction the school district has been moving in to make sure students graduate ready for the career or future education of their choice. OUR children must be literate and have the skills to continue learning beyond the classroom.
Offer more elective courses in our middle and high schools to expose our students to more experiences. This is an important part of the Diploma+ Program we have promised to OUR students and community.
Expand the existing Pre-K program to ALL OUR children. We must make Pre-K Education available to ALL OUR Children, regardless of the language spoken in the home, socio-economic or educational levels of family members. This will enable more of OUR children to enter kindergarten ready to learn and be on track for a successful school experience!
Are Kansas City, Kansas public schools headed in the right direction?
Yes
Please explain your answer.
Over the past 30 years, our district has seen improvement in our 4-year Graduation Rate, Attendance, test scores and more while raising expectations for ALL students. We must continue moving forward. It will take ALL of us, working TOGETHER, to provide a high quality education for ALL OUR children.