Lindsey McCaleb will Collaboratively work for Children and the Community as a Member of the Creighton School Board

Lindsey McCaleb is one of several candidates campaigning for one of four seats on the Creighton School Board in November 2020.

Running on a promise to work collaboratively with other board members for the welfare of children and the community, Ms. McCaleb wants to work to reduce educational inequities (especially in technology,) increase school funding and ensure resources for the students social and mental well-being are enhanced.

An educator with 11 years of instructor experience along with opportunities serving on school and district capital planning committees, Ms. McCaleb feels an instructor’s perspective is essential to the decision-making process on the board.

She graciously took the time to discuss her position on the issues and candidacy for the Creighton School Board.

The questions and her responses are below.

 

• What are your qualifications to serve on the board?

 * “11 years as an educator

* Masters Degree in Ed Admin in ASU: Principal internship at Gateway at Creighton.

* Balsz Technology Mentor

* Taught at the Larry C. Kennedy School for five years

* Capital Planning Committee as well as other school culture, technology, and math committees

* I am bilingual with my families.

* Received recognition for teaching work.

* My priority is always students and the community and what is best for them. I have experience of training as a flipped teacher (flipped learning where students use technology for introductory instruction and use time with the teacher to apply their learning.) I am very data-driven and I like doing my research and basing decisions based on that information.”

• Please tell us three reasons you are running for the school board?

 * “Because of my connection with my former families and students.”

* “Participating on the Capital committee.”

* “Having a respectful partnership with the superintendent and being part of a unified board working for the students.”

* “I value the views and perspective of others and want to work in a collaborative way as I bring my experience of having worked with those families I taught.”

* “I am aware that the letter grades for the Creighton are not satisfactory and I want to be part of the solution in bringing needed improvements. I am looking at what other districts in similar situations have done and to help build solutions for Creighton. “

• How would you rate the current school board you are running to be part of and please explain why?

 “I have seen board members work in the best interests of the kids and schools but there are some that have not been collaborative or respectful or wanted to act unified when final decisions have been made. It is important to know that when principals have initiated programs to improve learning and solicited grants, the board has been supportive of that.”

• In your opinion, what are the three most important education issues schools and all stakeholders in the district face?

• “Equity and access to technology. This needs to be addressed before reopening during the fall especially due to coronavirus as well as training the students and families to interact with that technology.”
• “Lack of funding is an issue all districts face.”
• “Declining enrollment which is adding to the financial strain for Creighton.”
• “Continuation of capital overrides will be important and used for priority needs.”
• “Lack of social and emotional health resources which need to be addressed especially in the coming year.”

• What are your views on the implementation of the district reopening in the fall? Or for summer?

 “There is so much unknown and there is no long term data. Testing and contact tracing are needed as well as added resources like in other countries. Having 30 kids especially in the early grades is going to be difficult. There will probably be split attendance and blended learning. They should spend the summer figuring out different scenarios and best practices for blended learning and proactively providing professional development to staff.”

• To what extent should your school district ensure all students have access to high broadband and a laptop/tablet for virtual learning should the fall opening be delayed?

 “This has to absolutely a great priority. I hope for the best and plan for the worst. There should be partnerships to ensure that families and schools have the tools needed to start the school year on an equal footing.”

• In your opinion, please advise at least one way your school district should make up for any of the lost learning time of this last academic quarter?

* “Social-emotional needs will have to be met before learning new material.”

• “You could see a doubling of loss of retention of skills due to an extended summer slide but most standards were addressed prior to the closure due to state testing in April. Those foundational skills that may need re-teaching will need to be addressed gradually upon return or re-teaching at the beginning of each unit before going into new concepts. “

 

• Is there anything not covered in the first seven questions that you would like the reader to know?

“My passion is serving children in public schools. This year has highlighted how important educators are and highlights the need to put educators on school boards where those perspectives have meshed with non-educators.”

For more information on Lindsey McCaleb and her candidacy for the Creighton School Board, please click on her Webpage here, and her Facebook page here.

Please also click on her interview with Maricopa County School Superintendent Candidate Jeanne Casteen here. 

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