October 18, 2010 -- The Lookout Staff submitted questionnaires to the 23 candidates running for seats on the City Council and Board of Education. The candidates were given the same timeframe to answer the questions and were limited to 150 words per answer.

During the next several days, the Lookout News will publish the candidates’ answers verbatim. The profiles for the four-year City Council race will be published first, followed by the two-year City Council race and lastly the Board of Education race. They will appear in alphabetical order based on the candidates’ first names.

Name: Patrick Cady
Running for: Board of Education
Status: Challenger

Why are you running for office and why should residents vote for you?
As a school board member, I bring the combined perspective of community member, parent and teacher/coach. As a parent and community member, I have high expectations for the schools. As a teacher and coach of 36 years, I understand the dynamics of how students can achieve those expectations. I believe that our schools must provide a comprehensive and challenging curriculum where students can learn in a safe environment and are supported by a partnership of caring and demanding teachers, committed administrators, capable staff, and loving parents. Realizing that the role of the central office is to provide adequate resources, I intend to maintain fiscal integrity and equitable allocation of resources. Fully understanding the role of board member as one who sets policy, I am committed to ensuring a culture of inclusiveness where everyone is a part of a caring, supportive, and family-friendly community.

Do you have any children attending SMMUSD schools or who graduated from SMMUSD schools? What has your specific involvement been with the school district?
My daughter attended Cabrillo, Will Rogers, JAMS, Samohi (Class of 1998)and SMC before graduating from Oregon State University. As noted above, I taught and coached in the district for 36 years.

How would you rate the current Board of Education? What particular decisions stand out for you that made you form that opinion?
I think we could have done a better job of choosing superintendents. I think we can be more efficient by giving teachers responsibility for curriculum and holding them accountable.

What would you as a member of the Board of Education do to get the District through these tough economic times?
Distribution of resources to schools which is equitable but takes into consideration the needs of each school community.

Budget items must always support items in the strategic plan. Each published budget item should have a line item which indicates which part of the strategic plan it supports. Each budget manager should also assign a priority to each item. The arrival of a new superintendent is always a good time to review/revise the strategic plan, as well as the district mission and vision. This could also be a good time to review the budget process to make sure items are aligned with the plan.

As a board member, I can suggest policies that support my priorities, but I would first gain consensus in order to make them board policy. At that time the superintendent and staff would have to create the implementation plan and calculate the cost over time.

How would you rate the current status of the District’s special education department? Are there still improvements that must be made?
I rate the delivery of our special education very high. There may be problems in terms of paperwork compliance but the teacher-student relationship seems excellent. My child benefited from the diagnosis of her learning disability and support of the special educations staffs at Will Rogers, JAMS and Samohi. I’m a satisfied customer.

The Board of Education will be selecting a person to replace Superintendent Tim Cuneo, who is retiring in June. What are the qualities you want for a new superintendent?
We need a superintendent who is an instructional leader as well as an excellent people-oriented manager. I’d prefer someone who is local and has had experience in our district. I would expect the superintendent to have had experience at all levels - teacher, administrator and central office administrator. I want a superintendent who is well-read and had kept up with the literature on school reform. I would want a person who easily bridges the divided between academics and application. I want someone who intends to stay with the district for many years. I would look for someone who can be a force in the community and will be known and respected.

I don’t think a nationwide search is necessary. There are many excellent administrators currently within the district or who have worked here that I would contact first.

If elected, what are your ideas for closing the achievement gap in the SMMUSD?
When all is said and done the achievement gap reflects institutional and systemic racism in the country.

The literature on school reform suggests that school systems that have had some success in closing the achievement gap have implemented sustained systemic reforms, which include a standards based K-12 curriculum that includes accurate assessment instruments for students and professional development for teachers on how to teach to those standards.

These systems have made investments in ensuring that their teachers are highly qualified and have the resources they need to teach the curriculum. Students say they want teachers that care, but who also are strict and hold students accountable. They also want like teachers who teach them something. Students know and appreciate the difference between demanding teachers who care and those that are just strict and perceived as mean. The critical element in success is meaningful teacher-student relationship.

What is the greatest book ever written?
“Man’s Search for Meaning” by Viktor Frankl. He notes that we all have the power to choose our attitude in any given set of circumstances. He confirmed this lesson in the concentration camps and has influenced psychotherapy in many positive ways.