The new "three R's"...

In my responses to Rockingham County News' request for a debate, they had 6 questions for each candidate to respond to before the debate.  In my responses below, you will see where I introduced the new "three R's" for public schools.  I will expand on them further in a future post. 

Paula E. Lam
Candidate for Rockingham County District 5 School Board
 
1. What inspired you to run for this position?
            Over the past 20 years, I have been engaged in the learning process as my children have all attended RCPS schools.  I have volunteered in various roles, including PTA, PTSA, SHS Athletic Boosters, and Rockingham Educational Foundation, Inc.  Now that we have one child left in school, it is time to take the next step in the educational process. My goal is to represent the current and future parents, teachers, and students of Rockingham County by being a voice of reason on the school board in 2024.
I have seen first-hand how things have changed since the oldest child graduated in 2010. As an involved parent, I noticed that my access to what my children were learning became less and less. I’d have to email the teachers to obtain information about assignments instead of being able to open a book and review assignments. There needs to be transparency in what our children are being taught. I have presented to the board several times how that can be achieved quickly and easily using the current software programs that the county already uses.  Now is the time for solid leadership that can protect and preserve the conservative family values of Rockingham County.

2. What are your three top agenda items?
            The safety of our children is my top priority.  We must ensure each facility has the appropriate physical security mechanisms and support for mental well-being.
            The physical safety of our children requires quality relationships with area first responders, and we need their presence in all our schools. We also need to ensure the safety and security of the physical buildings by having card swipe access on all doors at every facility. Keys can easily be misplaced and/or in the wrong hands; the card swipe access will ensure our students are in a secure facility, and access can be granted and denied quickly.
Each child has a unique family situation that requires the teachers to amend how they instruct the class so that they can best meet the needs of each student.  There are times when additional resources are needed to ensure the entire class can succeed. Qualified guidance counselors and behavior specialists who provide a caring environment for struggling children are essential for the learning environment to succeed. 
My next priority would be solidifying the partnership between parents, teachers, and students.  I would introduce the new “three R’s” of education: relationship, responsibility, and rights. 

• Relationship – Creating an environment where our students can thrive requires positive relationships between parents, teachers, and students. We can build this environment in our community by treating each other with respect and genuine understanding that not everyone has the same experiences or support networks.  Scheduling an in-person meeting with a teacher before posting on socials when a concern arises would help reduce misunderstandings and foster a healthy learning environment. First, use the appropriate tools and resources to connect with teachers, and if the situation is not resolved, move to the next level of authority. As parents and teachers engage in healthy communication, our students will learn from our example and develop healthy relationships with their peers.
• Responsibility – Within the parent, teacher, and student trio, each member is responsible for treating the other with respect and seeking to understand each other before the situation escalates to one where the relationship becomes fractured.  Parents are responsible for providing for their children's basic needs so they are prepared for the school day; however, we also must understand that not every child has their basic needs met and look for ways to support others in our community to meet those needs. Teachers are responsible for providing a learning environment that focuses on the subjects that will enable our children to lead productive lives once they graduate.  Adherence to the approved curriculum and ensuring other shared content complies with current policies enables our parents, teachers, and students to work together to create a healthy learning environment. Students are responsible for engaging in learning by positively contributing to the classroom environment and completing assignments as instructed.
• Rights – Once the parent, teacher, and student trio understand the importance of relationships and responsibilities, we can create a win-win situation for discussions where everyone’s rights come into the conversation. The parent's right to access their child's records has been assigned to them by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). As parents, by law, we are to have access to the curriculum and assignments to assess our children's progress and growth.  This will allow parents to share in their children's lives through quality discussions about what is being taught at school. Some of my favorite memories while raising our kids have been sitting down at the dinner table and discussing what they learned during the day and then helping them complete their homework.  RCPS uses Schoology and Google Classroom; these programs allow parents to access their children’s work if the teacher has switched the toggle switch to allow parents to access it.

The teacher has the right to a working environment conducive to learning, which means parents must ensure children are prepared and ready for the school day.  The student has the right to a quality education free of biases.
 
My final agenda item is to create a culture of community service.  Many times, we are unaware of the needs of our community.  Providing opportunities for our children to give back to their community will help them look for opportunities to engage in their civic responsibilities as citizens of this country.

3. What makes you the best candidate for this position?
            I have the skills and experience necessary to protect and preserve the values of our community.  These skills include membership in/on professional boards, experience in facility maintenance and oversight, effective policy and procedure implementation, fiscal management in an educational environment, and professional leadership skills. My experience volunteering in the school system has allowed me to build quality relationships with teachers and administration. I’ve enjoyed being a part of my children’s educational journey by supporting our teachers, coaches, and administration by being an involved parent who has led many different parent-led school organizations.
 
4. Are you willing to participate in a debate or public forum?
Here is a list of the dates and times that I have accepted:

• Email received from SHS student on August 22nd to debate at SHS.  Accepted within minutes of receiving email. 
• Email received from ERHS person on September 6th to participate in a town hall.  Accepted the invite on September 8th.
• Email received from JMU Civic Engagement on August 28th. After rescheduling our meeting several times, we finally met on September 13th, and I accepted the invitation.
  

I have not been notified that my opponent has accepted these dates.

• Email received from Rockingham County News on September 8th to participate in a debate. I accepted the invitation on September 10th.
  

This is the only debate I have accepted that my opponent has also accepted.
 
5. What is a personality trait that you would like people to know about you?
 
            I have a solid work ethic, and I’m not daunted, and when the odds seem to be against me, I work harder.  For instance, I sought the endorsement of the Republican Party.  I even helped them craft a few of the requirements.  One recommendation I made was not incorporated; I thought the process was happening too early in the election cycle. In June 2022, there wasn’t an exemplary process for finding a candidate pool representing various factions within our community. After not being selected for the Republican endorsement in October 2022, I informed the committee that I would prayerfully consider continuing to seek the school board seat. I told them I’d also like to know more about their selected candidate.  I did what I told them I would do. I prayed about it and met their candidate.  The fact that I would choose to run when the odds are stacked against me, personal attacks are being thrown like darts at my back, and I’m running against the political party that I have consistently voted for almost 30 years shows that I am willing to stand up for what I believe in and work hard towards protecting the future of our educational system.
 
6. What is your favorite thing about the Shenandoah Valley?
 
The people are my favorite part of this community.  When I think of this area, I think of a quilt handmade by my grandmother.  That quilt was made from various dresses, shirts, and blankets used by the family members.  They are joined together into a beautiful design that holds countless memories of days long gone.  The quilt resembles the fabric of this county - one of hard-working farmers, factory workers, churchgoers, and many others who have strived for generations to protect our families and uphold conservative family values.  Today, that quilt provides warmth and comfort to those who choose to take a stand; we respect those who have gone before us by honoring the values of our heritage.