Guest Opinion | Pat Amsbry, Candidate for Pasadena Board of Education: Private School Dad Goes Public

Yes, we sent our two children to private school – guilty as charged. When we moved to Pasadena nearly 20 years ago our children were in pre-school and kindergarten ages – 3 and 5. Our realtor had ‘warned’ us about the ‘private school tax’ in Pasadena and urged us to look at properties in La Cañada and South Pasadena “for the better schools.” But we fell in love with Pasadena and wanted it to be our home, so we bought a house in Orange Heights, a wonderfully diverse neighborhood in Northwest Pasadena, and began the process of finding the right public schools for our two young boys.

Our *first* choice was public school – I am a product of public schools from kindergarten through college, and it worked out well for me. We researched all of the PUSD schools and made three attempts to lottery into a PUSD school for our son who was in first grade at the time and who needed a special individual education plan (IEP). We were rejected all three times. Private school became the only option to accommodate our son’s special needs.

The financial burden of private school made the decision even harder. My wife, who was previously a stay-at-home Mom, went to work as a 3rd-grade teaching assistant to help pay the bills, but sadly, she had to leave that job to pursue a career in real estate to cover the private school tuition. We ‘chose’ public school, but the “chance” of the lottery removed that option. The PUSD option failed us. How many others had it failed?

Educational opportunity for all students has been a concept that I have felt strongly about for a long time. I am also passionate about equity. When I recognize inequity, I take immediate action to find a solution. At my son’s new school, I helped start an ‘Experience Fund’ to provide resources for students on financial aid. The fund pays for prom dresses and tuxedos, field trips, and personal sports gear. I wanted to reduce the financial burden on parents and help to make sure all of the kids had a better chance to succeed. With the help of the school, parents, and other community members, we did it.

All I learned while developing the Experience Fund — community engagement, accountability, and, above all childhood success — was brought to bear for the benefit of PUSD, starting with Madison Elementary School.

Madison Elementary, our neighborhood school, like far too many other schools, had trouble providing basic necessities for its children to thrive. My wife and I decided to dedicate our time and resources to partnering with this public school. If we were to redirect all our focus to a public school in need, could we make a real difference?

We started quietly providing resources to Madison by providing school supplies, giving our time as reading volunteers, introducing attendance incentives and starting a running club for second graders. The school monitored and measured the positive effects our work was having on attendance, performance, and physical fitness. We formalized a nonprofit (Friends of Madison) to bring more structure and funding to our efforts.

Working together with the Madison families, students, teachers, and administrators have been incredibly rewarding. We learned that with a little community, cooperation, communication and a lot of caring, positive outcomes are possible.

That is why I am running for the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education – because I know that with a little hustling, bridge building, and legwork – good things will happen. Equity in our schools is possible. Increased transparency and accountability are a necessity. Higher teacher pay is a top priority. Greatly improving our percentage of students reading by 3rd grade is non-negotiable. And real, positive student outcomes, on a grander scale, are possible.

So, a private school dad goes public. When elected, with some hard work and the collaboration of my colleagues, we will make a real difference. Our collective educational success as a community depends on it, and we need many more ‘converts’ to make it happen. Join me; together, let’s lift up PUSD and ensure EVERY student gets the quality education they so richly deserve.

Pat Amsbry
www.pat4pusd.com