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# Ana Maria Jara on Her Qualifications for the School Board
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/ana-maria-jara/
- Published: 2004-10-28T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-23T05:21:11.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Education, Pico, #archive-import

Age: 46

Profession: Administrative assistant

Where do you live? Pico neighborhood Educational background: Associate of Arts, SMC

Endorsed by: SMRR, HERE Local 11 (parents, educators, students)

In 100 words or less, what about your background makes you a qualified school board member? I have been a steady figure in our district for the past 20 years as participant, leader and member. I have proved to be inclusive, respectful, knowledgeable and possess a strong commitment to our children and a passion for their success. I bring a different style of leadership skills to our board. Leadership skills learned through participation with government officials, dignitaries and leaders worldwide. As well as my experiences as a student of our district, as parent and advocate. I bring my life experience and skills in working in an economically, racially and culturally diverse community. I am a single parent of four daughters — all of whom have attended our district schools. I have been actively involved in the development of their education and instilled at a very young age the importance of being an advocate not only for themselves but for their peers as well.

In 300 words or less, a group of parents is staging an effort to secede Malibu schools from the school district. Do you think this would be a wise move? What are the possible upsides and downsides to this plan? As a member of the committee to look into the feasibility of opening a high school in Malibu and the final selection for recommendations for principals, I can say that I was very excited about creating this partnership between our two cities. I listened to the need of Malibu residents and was happy that we were able to assist. I also understand that this was not a venture for a lifetime. A process has already begun, and we need to allow it to take its course. However, there are many factors open for consideration and discussion, i.e. the effect on our children, the effect on our teachers, the effect on both cities. We should look into other districts such as ours that have separated to find out how their process was. What long-term effect did it have or does it have? We need to create a space where residents who oppose the effort to secede from the district can come together with those that do not.

In 300 words or less, the school board recently approved a policy that requires wealthy schools to share a portion of their cash donations with poorer schools. Where did you stand on this controversial issue? How will you address inequalities with local schools? If anything I would approve an increase from the 15 percent to ensure that our most needy students receive the resources necessary to succeed academically. A couple of years ago over 150 constituents, leaders, parents, students, administrators, staff and teachers gave up a weekend in order to work on a vision for our district and create the district strategic plan for which I was a team member. The outcome was seven initiatives. One of which was formed by the outcry of students: Equity and Equality for Education Action Group, for which I am co-chair. In 2002, we made several recommendations in how to address inequities and inequalities within the district. I plan to revisit those recommendations and see about allocating the necessary funding to the implementation of them. Other recommendations that I plan to visit are those made by the recent strategic plan for special education. As one of the original members of the district’s multicultural advisory council, data has showed that there is an over representation of students of color in special education. Are students being correctly assessed into special ed or is it simply a language barrier or lack of early intervention in meeting the needs of our students? Is it a matter of intellectual ability versus academic performance? Mediation is a very costly process. We need to investigate why there are so many parents in mediation. We need to invest in effective and early intervention. We must look into ensuring that our teachers and special ed instructors are equipped and certified to know the difference in discipline, attention deficit, etc. I plan to create a space where parents are included in the process and are given the space to hold us accountable.

In 300 words or less, do you think the school district handles at-risk youth properly? And do you think Olympic High School, the district’s alternative high school, needs attention? In what way? As one of the co-chair for the Race and Discipline Task Force, I am faced with many parents’ concerns surrounding this very issue. Through the Race and Discipline Task Force, we successfully started a program with SMART MOVE, which assists young people returning to the community from juvenile detention centers, which was working in collaboration with Laurel Schmidt. However, to the detriment of our children this program was dismantled since we had problems with staffing.

Through my work in the Multicultural Advisory Council, we were effective with the extension of the AVID Program to the middle school through which we are doing a good job at reaching at risk children.

Yes, we have neglected Olympic High School. However, I see changes, i.e. there was an outcry from students to the board not to close down the school. For the first time at Olympic High School, we have student leadership. We need to build upon student ownership of schools.

We need to provide culturally relevant curriculum to our students. We can look into the model of alliance program at SAMOHI for kids with a 2.0 GPA. We need to start looking at our “at-risk youth” and take them for what they are, our disengaged youth. We need to start looking at this issue as means to spark creativity in conjunction with students to provide alternative means of educating.

I look forward to the evaluation of all intervention programs being conducted now. We need to recognize that we have at risk youth in low income and affluent communities.

Drugs and self-destructive behavior is prevalent throughout our student population, and we cannot ignore this. As community members, we need to motivate their engagement into the process.

If elected I will bring my specialization as a parent and multicultural advisory member to ensure that all children are supported through the educational process.

Do you support fast food and/or junk food being sold at local schools? Why or why not? As a participant for many years to health champions at the elementary and middle schools, I know the importance of a well balanced meal as well as physical activity participation. As consumers of some of these fast food companies, we are faced on a daily basis with propagandas such as “super size” and we know the detrimental effects caused by the intake of so much food. Having said that, I also believe that we should offer choices. Provide a variety of simple meals that are attractive to our students but keeping their health in mind first over a profit. We need to make sure that we keep our vendors responsible. Another issue to look into is that at the high school level you have students that although qualify for free or reduced meal, are embarrassed to apply or take advantage of such plan. We need to provide choices for them that can be at minimal cost.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on October 28, 2004.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/102804.pdf?ref=smdp.com)