Editor’s Note: As the Aug. 26 primary election draws closer, the Plant City Times & Observer will be publishing profiles and Q&As from each of the candidates who will represent Plant City and its constituents.
In this final edition before the primary, we introduce the candidates for the hotly contested Hillsborough County School Board District 6: incumbent April Griffin and her challengers, Asher Edelson, Alison McGillivray Fernandez, Dr. Stacy Hahn, Paula Meckley, Dipa Shah, Lee Sierra and Randy Toler. We also present School Board District 2 candidate Michelle Popp Shimberg. That race also includes candidates Sally Harris and Michael Weston, but neither returned repeated inquires by phone and email seeking comment.
DR. STACY HAHN
Age: 47
Family: Husband, Jeff; children, Ethan and Jackson, 8-year-old-twins, and Aidan, 5
Hometown: Hollywood
Education: Doctoral degree in special education, University of Florida
Experience: Public school teacher, a mentor, grant facilitator, program coordinator, educational researcher; visiting assistant professor and coordinator of the Undergraduate Special Education Program at the University of South Florida in the College of Education in the Department of Special Education.
Favorite author and book: “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain
If you could meet anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Jesus
Website: votehahn.com
What’s the biggest challenge the School Board faces, and what are your solutions?
The state/school district budget is going to be a challenge over the next five years and will have implications on such areas as continuing the EET once the grant runs out, changes with high-stakes testing, continued professional development and mentoring, recruiting/retaining teachers, transportation, facilities, technology, and expansion of educational/vocational programs. The $18.8 billion in funding for K-12 education funding for this year includes $10.6 billion in state funds and is a significant improvement over years past. However, given inflation and the growth of our population the increase in our education budget is still less than it was before the recession.
The district will need to do long-term strategic planning and set budget priorities to track where money is currently allocated, assess which resources are available, align spending with goals, evaluate whether resources are targeted for academic performance improvement, and use results to modify current allocation strategies. In analyzing the budget, the School Board will need to identify the key cost-drivers, recognize how various organizational features, such as class sizes, teacher assignments, and the school schedule work to affect spending, and then make decisions deliberately about how best to use resources over the coming years.
If budget cuts become necessary, then the district should comb through the budget to make sure that funds are being used efficiently and effectively before making any cuts. Any cut that does not diminish student services and increases efficiency are those that should be entertained first.
Obviously, we’re not to the mark where we were when the recession first hit us, and it’s going to take us a couple of years to get back there, but we took a significant step forward this year. As the economy improves, we’ll keep increasing funding for the required programs, and the district should strategically plan for our financially stability so our students and teachers can be successful.
Are teachers paid adequately? Why or why not?
Teachers make less than professionals in other occupations that require similar levels of education. Based on the importance of education to the future of our nation as a whole, it is clear that teachers are not paid what they are worth. A majority of teachers have to work outside the classroom to make ends meet, and many of the best teachers leave the profession because of the long hours, low pay, the lack of support and respect. Improving our education system begins and ends with great teachers, and we will never attract the kind of talented young people we need to the teaching profession unless it pays far more than it does today.
What is your position on Common Core and the new Florida Standards curriculum?
I support rigorous standards in concept but have concerns regarding the Florida Standards and the implementation of the standards across the district as well as high stakes testing attached to the standards, which are jeopardizing the quality of education. Therefore, we need to rethink how we are implementing the standards in our district. I would suggest to do the following: Engage stakeholders in the process and allow them to provide their expertise and advice, rewrite some of the standards to reflect developmentally appropriate learning, revise the related tests, and provide teachers with training on how to align the standards with student needs/goals so they are operationalized in a way that supports student learning.
Additionally, there needs to be a moratorium on the testing tied to the new standards while implementation is being revamped. Most versions of the new assessments are not ready for widespread use. So many of the exams students have taken this spring did not reflect the new standards. One of the biggest concerns with the mismatch between the tests and standards are that the results can potentially have negative implications for such things as students’ success, teacher evaluations and school grades.
Therefore, suspending the use of high stakes testing needs to take place to ensure we are collecting valid and reliable data for all stakeholders. The future of all students is at stake, so it is imperative we reset the implementation button and get it right for the sake of our students and teachers.
What skills and experiences make you the best candidate for School Board?
With over two decades as a professional educator, I have experience in all phases of the educational process. It is essential, given the current state of the Hillsborough County School Board, that our board members have experience that includes classroom teaching, higher education, research, policy and educational leadership. I am the only candidate in the District 6 race with this experience. I work with public schools every day, and the results of my commitment to public education can be seen through the number of dedicated and highly effective teachers that I have trained through my work at USF.
I decided to run, because I am a lifelong professional educator dedicated to doing what is best for Hillsborough County students. Creating the best education system for children, teachers and our community is something I truly believe in and have dedicated my life to trying to create. I understand the task will be challenging, but feel I have the experience and work ethic to make a difference in Hillsborough County schools. I know, regardless of the politics involved in this race, we must elect someone with the experience and ability to affect positive outcomes.
What are some of the issues facing schools in Plant City, and what are your proposed solutions?
One of the biggest issues facing schools in Plant City is the mobile migrant student population, which is a highly underserved population with a large achievement gap. There are a number of schools in eastern Hillsborough County serving the migrant population and there has been a recent increase in the migrant population in this area.
There are several strategies, which can support the migrant student population and their families. First, the district should go to great lengths to establish collaborative partnerships between migrant families and their children’s teachers, counselors, administrators and staff to ensure that students attend school regularly and have access to programs and resources. Also, continued professional development at the district and school level in cultural competence will help to establish the respect of the cultures represented in our ELL populations.
Next, community partnerships with the USF Center for Migrant Education and the Redlands Christian Migrant Association can provide support to students via tuition scholarships, early childhood programs and community resources, which will facilitate migrant students’ academic success.
Last, educating migrant families on their school choice options for their child will allow them to choose an educational environment that provides their children with a school experience that meets their academic needs.
Any other thoughts/comments?
I’ve committed my life to improving public education for all children and my career spans two decades. I’ve traveled a path that as afforded me many opportunities to work in education at both local and state levels, all while building an in-depth understanding of school policy and understanding of the challenges our community and state face in their efforts to ensure all students receive a quality education. We are all witnessing sweeping reform in our education system and the issues are complex. Therefore, it is imperative that we have the most qualified leaders on our school board. I am the most qualified candidate in this race, and it is my hope that you will vote Hahn on Aug. 26.