California Superintendent for Public Instruction Candidates Forum at UC Davis
March 15, 2010
Candidates for the California State Superintendent for Public Instruction answered questions from local elementary and high school students and addressed the public at UC Davis on Monday, March 15.
Missed it? Watch the Web cast of the forum in one of three formats:
Moderated by Capital Public Radio’s Jeffrey Callison and hosted by the UC Davis School of Education and Yolo County School Boards Association, the public forum was held in Freeborn Hall from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. Comments and questions from five students who attend public schools in Davis, Woodland, West Sacramento and Esparto were the highlight of the event. A UC Davis student studying to be a public school teacher also participated.
“The job of California’s superintendent is to serve students,” said Harold Levine, dean of the UC Davis School of Education. “We wanted to be sure that real students’ concerns and hopes were front and center in this discussion.”
Declared candidates Larry Aceves, Diane Lenning and the Honorable Tom Torlakson made opening statements and responded to questions and comments from the event organizers and students. Some of the issues students raised include the need to support and encourage diversity, provide challenging courses to all students, retain new teachers, and ensure access to healthy food in schools.
Major sponsors were School Services of California, Inc. and WestEd. Other sponsors included the California Association of School Business Officials; California School Employees Association, Local 572; Davis and Woodland Leagues of Women Voters; Davis Teachers Association; School Innovations & Advocacy; Parent Organizations of the Davis Joint Unified School District; and the UC Davis School of Education Alumni Council.
