Sallie E. Dashiell: Trust needs to be rebuilt

RACE FOR HUNTINGTON BEACH UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT

Name: Sallie E. Dashiell

Age: 50

Occupation: Speech pathologist consultant

Family: Sarah, 15, and Lillie, 12.

Community activities: Currently serving on the Governing Board of

Trustees

for the Huntington Beach Union High School District.

Education: Bachelor’s from Georgetown University; master’s from

George Washington University.

Favorite leader: Jesus of Nazareth.

Contact information: (714) 266-8750; sallie1227@earthlink.net.

DASHIELL ON:

* STUDENT SAFETY:

Start with a sensible policy that bans weapons and hard drugs on

school grounds. Support procedures designed to deal with emergencies

and natural disasters. Send clear messages to students that threats,

intimidation and intent to use weapons or drugs at school will not be

tolerated. Exercise common sense when students make mistakes. Ensure

that staff is well connected to the students. Students should feel

that they matter to their teachers, administrators and support staff.

Students that feel valued will take pride in themselves and their

school and help each other maintain behaviors that contribute to

their safety.

* RAISING STUDENT TEST SCORES:

We are a data-driven school district, which means that we use data

to help us make decisions that lead to improvement in all aspects of

our operations. Test scores give us information about how students

are doing with respect to overall achievement as well as

instructional course content. If scores are low, we evaluate the

curriculum and instruction to insure their alignment with the

expected student learning outcomes and the state content standards.

We ask ourselves, “Does this test accurately reflect what we teach?

Are we teaching what students need to know? Is the instructional

methodology effective?” Ongoing training for both new and experienced

teachers and support staff is essential. We also look at student

factors and ask, “Does this student need remedial help? Does he need

to develop test taking skills?” Analyzing the data and designing a

plan of action based on the information obtained is a good way to

improve test scores and ensure that students are getting the best

possible education.

* FISCAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE DISTRICT:

Our business services division produces a “user-friendly” budget

that attempts to clarify where our money comes from and how it is

spent. I want to make sure that it gets in the hands of interested

employees and community members. I am committed to keeping the

resources as close to the students as possible (i.e., keeping the

cuts far away from the classroom). I want to balance the rankings of

teachers, administrators and classified staff so that all groups are

at the upper quartile for comparable districts in the county. And

finally, I will be looking critically at monies spent on consultants

who don’t deliver the expected results.

* BIGGEST ISSUE FACING THE DISTRICT:

Aside from the successful completion of the various modernization

projects requiring careful monitoring and coordination of resources,

I believe that the biggest issue facing the district is that of

building trust -- both within the schools and within the community.

Trust starts with mutual respect and sensitivity toward others. Clear

communication is critical to the process. Periodic review of this

climate of trust and customer satisfaction enables us to make changes

that will strengthen relationships. This district is the second

largest employer in the city of Huntington Beach. We value our

employees. We are committed to serving the community. If staff morale

is low or the residents feel we’re not listening to their concerns,

trust begins to erode. Balanced leadership that empowers all

constituents to contribute to the task of educating our young people

must be a priority.