Junta de Síndicos Sindicos, Area de Síndico 2 — Mount San Antonio Community College District

As a science teacher and education organization executive, Ruth Luevand is the best-suited candidate for this job, and during the course of the campaign she will work tirelessly to earn your vote. Ruth is focused on addressing the challenges facing our district, the opportunities to continue to elevate the quality of education for the students, and strategies to ensure that we face these tasks with fiscal responsibility and as good stewards of the residents’ tax dollars.

For many years, Ruth has been sending her students to Mt. SAC and interacting with them, the faculty and the administration. During that time, she has gained a clearer understanding of the challenges and opportunities we all face as a community.

After being selected as teacher of the year for a second time, Ruth decided five years ago to become more actively involved in the  California Teachers Association and her surrounding community. Since the beginning of this journey, she has dedicated herself to becoming an engaged education advocate. As former President of the Bonita Unified Teachers Association, Ruth ensured teachers and school district officials maintained open lines of communication and collaboration, even in these tough economic times. Ruth’s experiences as association president, along with other leadership roles locally, statewide and nationally have allowed her to understand best practices for facilitating positive interactions between association members and administration, actively participate in the Local Control and Accountability Plan process with all stakeholders, and implement reforms that encourage educators to become more involved with their community. In addition, Ruth’s service as the Service Center One Treasurer and Coordinated Bargaining Chair has provided her with great insight into how a Service Center with over 30,000 members operates and how to meet the basic fiscal needs of CTA members.

Ruth’s beliefs are very closely aligned with the core Democratic values of inclusion, equity, innovation, and commitment to public education. Ruth believes in strengthening the community and small business through educational partnerships. She understands that by working with the community and its supporters both financially and ideologically, it is possible to strengthen the bonds between our educational institutions and the local community. In essence, this merging of community members with our faculty, gives strength to the organizing potential of our college while maintaining a continual and positive relationship with the community in which we serve.

Since education advocacy is so vital to positive relationship building, it is equally important to maintain solidarity within our colleges and our educators, so that professors can embrace diversity within the surrounding community, while maintaining respect for each person’s individuality. Clearly, there is a connection between local unity and commitment to education, as defined by the faculty and leadership at Mt. San Antonio College, who engage the community in activities that develop and foster high quality educational programs in both academics and within the fields of career and technical education. Because she believes strongly in improving the quality of community college education, an opportunity to serve on the Board of Trustees would allow Ruth the privilege to work with all facets of public education to achieve the educational goals that best serve our community and our students.

Mt. SAC College, like all community college systems, are facing drastic challenges. Sacramento has changed our colleges statewide funding formula and we must align ourselves to the master plan with the current budget. Smarter and transparent administrative decisions must be implemented and Ruth is the best candidate to move the college forward.

With over 17 years living in the district, twice chosen as teacher of the year and serving in multiple leadership positions, Ruth has worked to negotiate, reconcile and find new funding for our targeted programs.  As a Trustee, she will work with the community, students, faculty, and staff to find equitable solutions and succeed.

Ruth’s Promise:

·      Be the best steward of your hard-earned tax dollars

·      Maintain accessible/affordable education for all students

·      Expand much needed technical trade education

·      Foster Innovative private-public partnerships

·      Constantly improve campus safety for students and staff

To learn more about her stance on the issues that matter to you, please visit:

www.RuthLuevand4CollegeTrustee.com