|
The Strategic
Planning Teams
[The Design Team]
[The Action Teams]
The
Design Team
Design
and Conference Team Members
In early September of 2001, notices went
out to school and community sites inviting applications to the Strategic Planning Design
Team. A selection process followed and eighteen applicants were appointed by the
Board of Education to the SMMUSD Strategic Planning Design Team.
Team members - parent, staff, administrator, faculty, student and community
volunteers - were chosen to best reflect our diverse educational community in demographic
and philosophic characteristics. For more specific information about individual
Design Team members, click on their names in the table below.
[back to top]
The Action Teams
Seven action teams (see table below) were formed during the
February Strategic Planning Conference (visit Events
Scrapbook for a more detailed discussion of the formation process). Each
team is currently engaged in developing its own action plan. All plans will include
desired outcomes, strategies to achieve those outcomes, key individuals responsible for
strategies, and fiscal and accountability measures. The finalized plans will be
presented to the public on May 18, and subsequently incorporated into the final Strategic
Plan for presentation at the June meeting of the Board of Education. To join in the
work of an action team, contact the appropriate co-chair by clicking on his or her email
address. General questions may be addressed to: spdthelp@smmusd.org.
[back to top]
Abby Arnold
Grantwriter for nonprofit and government agencies,
community activist, and mother of two children who attend SMASH. Professional experience
includes employment as the Executive Director of the Santa Monica AIDS Project, the Health
Officers Association of California and the Santa Monica Neighborhood Support Center.
Worked as a campaign consultant and a lobbyist in Sacramento, a researcher in the labor
movement and as Development Director of several nonprofit organizations. Her support for
child-directed learning and authentic evaluation, and attention to sound fiscal
management, motivated her to join the Strategic Planning Design Team. [back to table]
Christine
Barot
Mother of Xavier, a preschooler, and Laura and Emily, 1st Graders at John Muir Elementary
School. PTA Newsletter Editor, Safety Committee Co-chair, Walk-A-Thon Chairperson,
and upcoming PTA President. Joined the SPDT to help make a difference in our children's
education and achievements. [back to table]
Emily
Bloomfield
Economist, consultant. Married to Byron Auguste. Parent of 3 children, two at Roosevelt
Elementary school, and one at The Growing Place. On the Site Governance Council at
Roosevelt, and serves as co-recording secretary to the Executive Board of the Roosevelt
PTA. She is enjoying meeting so many members of the community with an interest in the
SMMUSD. [back to table]
Michael
Baroff
An organizational effectiveness consultant, seminar leader, group process facilitator and
coach. Author of The Inner Work of Work: Coaching Yourself for Improved Performance
(Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2000). He serves on the SMMUSD PTA Council as 3rd VP for
Health and Safety. [back to table]
John Deasy
John Deasy has extensive experience and a successful performance record in the
administrative, organizational, operational and communicative areas of educational
organizations. He has used his multiple skills and talents to implement whole-school and
systemic reform initiatives which result in dramatic improvement of student achievement.
Mr. Deasy has a proven track record of accurately analyzing and assessing need, organizing
for productive results, achieving accountability through data-driven processes, strategic
planning for controlled change and development, all combined with effective leadership and
efficient management.
John Deasy’s highly tuned professional abilities are based on people-oriented
sensitivity, competent problem solving and the keen ability to coordinate and direct
operational and personnel functions for optimal organizational effectiveness. In the past
five years, the most significant areas of dramatic district-wide reform implemented by Mr.
Deasy are:
- meaningful administrator and teacher evaluation models
- pay-for-performance
- intensive leadership training
- collaborative use of student work as means of assessment
- development of a data-driven system for decision making
In 2001, Mr. Deasy was recognized as the State Superintendent of the Year for the State
of Rhode Island.
Mr. Deasy resides in Santa Monica with his wife and three children. [back
to table]
Diane
Goodwin
Faculty member at Santa Monica College, Emeritus College. Parent of SAMOHI
12th grader. Committed to providing an appropriate education for all SMMUSD students. [back to table]
Jeffrey Graham
Lawyer and business advisor for entrepreneurial individuals and companies. Also
taught American Studies and recently graduated from Loyola Marymount with a Masters in
English Literature. Lives in Santa Monica with his wife and two sons. [back
to table]
Susan
Hartley
Mother of Jenness, an 11th grader at Santa Monica High. An employment law attorney, active
in Girl Scouts and on the Board of Samohi PTSA. Joined the Design Team because she wanted
to be of service to the school district. [back to table]
Ana Jara
Parent of five children across the District as well as alumna of JAMS, Olympic, SAMOHI and
UCLA. Member of the SMMUSD Intercultural Advisory Council. Employee at Santa Monica
College and 30 year community member. Joined the Design Team because her highest priority
is the success of all students, and her belief that this is only possible with involvement
in anything relating to their education. [back to table]
Joseph
N. Quarles, Ed.D.
Deputy Superintendent, Chief of Staff. Currently serving his 30th year in public education
(10th year in SMMUSD). Father of two adult sons; grandfather of four, ages 3 - 6years. Why
SPDT? - to have a deeper connection and understanding of what the entire learning
committee expects of its school system, and to help to design the tools that help us to
reach those expectations. [back to table]
Helen
Siporin
Parent, learning disabilities specialist and consultant, technology teacher at Cabrillo
Elementary School and webmistress of the Strategic Planning Website. Joined the Design
Team out of her commitment to high achievement for all learners and a desire to assist
SMMUSD in developing its plan for this. [back to table]
Ilene
Straus, Ed.D.
Mother of Julie and Andrew, graduates of SMMUSD, who are successfully pursuing college and
career. 16th year as Principal at Lincoln Middle School, 24th year as an
elementary and secondary school administrator. Awards: Distinguished School, national Blue
Ribbon and Secondary Principal of the Year. Joined SPDT to support the goal of
extraordinary achievement for all students and to help ensure that the District goals and
strategies will support what is necessary to reach optimal educational practice for all
students and staff. [back to table]
Shelley
Sweet
Management Consultant for SMMUSD Strategic Planning Process. Other relevant consulting
work with First Federal Bank, Los Angeles Educational Alliance for Reform Now, University
of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles Unified School District, California Council for
Economic and Environmental Balance. Former elementary and middle school teacher. [back to table]
Cynthia
Torres
Director of Marketing at Diamond Portfolio Advisors in Santa Monica. Former director
of institutional business development at Fidelity Investments in Hong Kong. Parent
of two children at Franklin Elementary. She attended college and graduate school at
Harvard University. She has enjoyed meeting many members of the community who are
interested in the Santa Monica-Malibu School District. [back to
table]
Jesus Vaca
Coordinator of Bilingual/Multicultural Programs. Formerly a teacher and site
administrator before coming to the Educational Services Department. Having the opportunity
to directly impact the direction of our educational program was the motivating factor for
his participation on the Strategic Planning Design Team. [back to
table]
[back to top]
| 