Guest Opinion | Michelle Richardson Bailey: Why You Should Vote For Me

It is said that “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always get what you’ve always got.” This was my mantra when I decided to run for school board. After being employed with the Pasadena Unified School District for 14 years, I thought about how to utilize my knowledge and skills to better serve the district and work for the kind of change that would make our district the best it could be. I quickly realized that the best way to serve would be on the school board. As I thought about what I wanted to be a champion for the following areas quickly rose to the top of my priority list: 

• Working to ensure quality and equitable education in our schools. 
• Ensuring that adequate resources are provided to our neediest students. 
• Representing the underrepresented minority perspective on the School Board to adequately reflect our diverse community. 
• Workforce Housing (for PUSD employees). 

I have accomplished much of what I set out to do and I am most proud of authorizing two resolutions, PUSD’s Commitment to Black Students and PUSD’s Commitment to Latinx Students, which drives much of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion work that is currently being done in the district. Below is a list of initiatives that resulted from these resolutions: 

• Application of the PUSD Litmus Test in department and school planning that helps planning teams to consider the impact of programs on marginalized groups 
• Transformation Center partnership with Pacific Oaks to recruit and train prospective teachers of color especially in hard to staff areas 
• Anti-Racism Series – two-year training cycle for all PUSD staff 
• LGBTQ+ Training – inclusion and intersectional identities 
• All It Takes – one-year training cycle for all PUSD staff to create trusted spaces on campus 
• Curriculum Review – incorporating Criticality lens, and Culturally Sustaining practices 
• Development of additional semester-long Ethnic Studies electives to provide multiple course options for high school students. 
• Suspension Policy – updated in partnership with PUSD, African American Parent Council (AAPC), and community partners 

This is an illustrative example of how the board must fulfill its governance function by determining the “What” which then provides direction for the district with the superintendent determining the “How.” My priorities over the next 4 years will include: 

• Working with community stakeholders to bring vocational education back to our schools: Our purpose as a school system is to prepare our students for college, careers, and life. While we strive to prepare all students for college, some may choose to enter the world of work right away. I am working with key partners to make these opportunities available to our students. 
• Addressing areas of disproportionality to promote equity and fairness for all students: My definition of equity is, every student getting what they need when they need it. This therefore means that every student, especially those who have traditionally been underserved will get the services and supports they need in order to be successful. 
• Creating policy for establishing inclusive classrooms throughout the district for students with special needs: Students with special needs deserve to be educated as much as possible with their peers in general education. Additionally, all educators in our school system must have this mindset so that all students get what they need in a supportive and welcoming environment. 
• Continued advocacy for workforce housing: Approximately 60% of our teaching force live outside of the district boundaries with many traveling great distances to serve our students. This is because of the high cost of housing in our area. 

There is much work to be done to transform our district into one of the best in the country and I ask that you afford me the privilege to continue serving as your representative on the PUSD Board of Education.

Michelle Richardson Bailey currently represents District 3 on the Pasadena Unified School Board and is running for re-election.