Be informed!

   I hope that you are all doing well and getting used to the school year routine.  I lost my focus for a while - life can get a little crazy sometimes.  But here I am with somethings to think about.
   The Common Core seems to be here for a while but that doesn't mean that you're powerless.  As the upcoming local elections are approaching, it's good to remember that there are important issues going on, both state wide and locally.  We are experiencing a situation with our government currently which shows us that having common sense and not acting like spoiled children is important.  Locally, I'm concerned with our school board elections.
   In my school district, many of the teachers live in other school districts.  The teachers (and other school employees) are the ones who truly know how the district works.  Even though teachers live outside their work districts, it's important for all teachers to vote, locally, for those individuals that have knowledge of social services and/or educational systems in their districts.
   In my district, I am very concerned with the types of programs offered to students, especially secondary students.  I want students to be offered more vocational and alternative programs.  Not all children want the college route and their needs to be a wider range of opportunities offered to these students.
   I also believe that not all students are "traditional " students.  In my district (as I'm sure as in most), we have to keep "DATA" in order to get those "Race to the Top" funds.  If only those in control would consider other avenues for those "untraditional" students, our graduation rates would be much higher.  We need people on these boards who can think outside the box for the sake of all students, not just those tracked for college.
   I'm looking into the back rounds and voting records of the candidates.  I want people elected who want to provide successful situations for all students, not just the "easy" ones.  Let us not follow the our government officials in their stubborn and nonproductive antics.  Let's be better!!!!!