Brian Wheatley

What would be your top three priorities, if elected?

Safe Spaces For Our Youth; Welcoming Schools for Families Students thrive when they are not worried about their safety in and out of the classroom. I will focus on ensuring every campus is safe, and our students and educators have counseling and support services. Families feel safe when they welcomed into their neighborhood schools. I will work with principals to encourage teachers to go out into community and meet families in their homes and talk about their hopes and dreams for their children Housing In Crisis, Real Solutions For All Our youth, our educators and too many families are impacted by the affordability crisis occurring in Silicon Valley. We have a unique opportunity to actualize employee housing as a way to continue to attract and retain the best in SJUSD. At the same time, if we don't fight for more affordable housing for the families we serve, there will be fewer and fewer able to remain here. Having worked on this issue for several years now, I will continue to advocate for better housing solutions and leverage regional relationships and fight for you. Educating Every Child, Expanding Services SJUSD is at the crossroads of change and we still have an achievement gap to address. I am a teacher by trade having taught in the classroom for 25 years. Students are at the center of everything I do. Our youth are individuals, not numbers or data points to be crunched. I am dedicated to ensuring every student has the services and attention they deserve.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I firmly believe early childhood education is the key to closing the achievement gap here in CA. Studies have we lag behind the rest of the nation in pre-K readiness. To quote Carla Bryant who was the keynote speaker at the ECE Legislative Forum, "We must get better at connecting the dots!" Funding for P-12 education continues to lag behind the rest of the nation. Despite being the 6th largest economy in the world, we are either 46th or 41st in per pupil spending depending on which metric is used to measure. We can and must do so much better. One possible method for improvement is the Schools & Communities First Initiative which will be on the 2020 ballot.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Diane Ravitch for her fierce defense of public education against the forces of corporate privatization and "school reformers". Lily Eskelsen GarcÃa for her strength as the leader of the National Education Association. Claudia Rossi for her commitment to every child in her role as SCCOE Trustee.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The Death and Life of the Great American School System: How Testing and Choice Are Undermining Education. East of Salinas Backpack Full of Cash

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Integrity, an open mind, and a willingness to embrace another point of view.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

The above along with a healthy dose of humility and humor!

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

As a teacher for 25 years and an association president for the last 10, students are at the center of everything I do. It should always be about the children!

What legacy would you like to leave?

A school system more responsive to the needs of all the families we serve.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

When I was hiding under the kitchen table at grandma's apartment with my older sister, Brenda. My father, who struggled with alcoholism his whole life, wanted his son. Grandma Helen stood her ground and made him leave. 4 years old.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

Working in the office of Gary Safe Company which was owned by my Big Brother Al. Two summers when I 16 & 17 years old.

What happened on your most awkward date?

It was actually leading up to the date. Danielle, who is my wife of 33 years, cornered me and asked when I was going to get up the nerve to take her out. She found us free tickets to a comedy club so I couldn't plead poverty as an excuse :-)

What is your favorite holiday? Why?

Christmas - time with my extended family

What is your favorite book? Why?

Too hard to pick one, but a Wrinkle in Time was very important to me growing up.

If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?

Tigger from Winnie the Pooh

What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?

Pictures in the hallway of our family growing up.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

"Enough" from Lin-Manuel Miranda's In the Heights

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Mobility due my disability. I have cerebral palsy which affects the right side of my body.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

Represent the community, families and children who live within the boundaries of SJUSD.

Who are your constituents?

See above.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

San JoseÌ Unified serves more than 30,000 students in grades PreK-12. Hispanic/Latino students make up the largest ethnic group at 53%; 24% of students are White; and 15% are Asian. 44% of San JoseÌ Unified students qualify for free and/or reduced price meals. 22% of San JoseÌ Unified students are English Learners. Our students, our teachers and our families need a voice familiar with education and our community. My decades of experience as a classroom teacher provides me with a student-centered approach when dealing with district-wide issues. In addition, my 10 years as ETA President has given me the opportunity to advocate for my colleagues and interact with the variety of community groups focused on the needs of working people. I believe this perspective is vital to have on the SJUSD School board. I have been invested in education from my first day in a classroom in 1983.

How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?

Our increasingly diverse student population will achieve as long as everyone works together to empower their dreams. I am committed to working for you, and will make myself available to each and every one of you. Thank you for everything you've done for our community's children. Let's continue to work together to ensure their future is bright and filled with opportunities!

What will you do to build a better relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?

Families who feel safe and welcomed on campuses will become more involved – a key element of the state's LCAP goals. I have been involved in and will advocate for programs such as the Parent Teacher Home Visit Project which facilitated teachers going out in the community and meeting families where they live. http://www.pthvp.org/

Do you believe it is important to intentionally recruit with the aim of diversifying the district’s faculty, staff, and administration? If so, what would be your policy to achieve this?

Absolutely! Students need to see themselves reflected throughout the school system. I will bring my experience to bear in collaborating with the HR and recruitment departments to work towards developing a more diverse teaching workforce that better reflects the student population.

What issues get in the way of quality education? How would you address these obstacles?

As mentioned earlier, pre-K readiness is the key indicator the opportunity gap. I have and will continue to advocate for early childhood education as an SJUSD Trustee.

What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?

As a teacher for 25 years I know a good teacher is responsive to the needs of his or her students. Continuous professional development is an important way to ensure educators are always improving their skills and preparing students for the future.

What type of skills should students be learning for success in the 21st century?

Critical thinking and problem-solving skills are crucial as the 21st-century continues. Students must also have opportunities to improve their ability to collaborate and work in teams to achieve success.

How might you improve the value of a high school diploma? What should a 21st century diploma reflect?

One key is making sure that college is not the only path forward to success. Opportunities for hands on experience learning a skill are also important. The Silicon Valley Career and Technical Education is a marvelous example of this model.

In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?

One example is fully incorporating Ethnic Studies into the curriculum to meet the needs of the changing demographics of the SJUSD student population.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

I've will continue my work to ensure schools are properly funded at the County and state level by using my position at a school board trustee to advocate for additional monies and demand accountability as to how those funds are allocated.

What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?

Students thrive when they are not worried about their safety in and out of the classroom. I will focus on ensuring every campus is safe. Families feel safe when they welcomed into their neighborhood schools. I will work with principals to encourage teachers to go out into community and meet families in their homes and talk about their hopes and dreams for their children

How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?

Our students and educators must have adequate counseling and support services located at the schools. The ultimate goal is to use the community school model to make each campus the central heartbeat of the neighborhood.

What role do you imagine technology playing in (and outside) the classroom in the future? How would you prepare the district for this?

Technology will continue to plan important role in and outside of education, but it must be viewed as a tool to be integrated into the regular curriculum and not as an end in itself. The ability for students to think critically about internet sources, for example, is crucial.