San Mateo County has been the beneficiary of a string of high-quality superintendents for the last several decades — from Floyd Gonella to Nancy Magee. It is without a doubt that the next superintendent will also follow suit as both Chelsea Bonini and Héctor Camacho are familiar with the role, its past and its purpose.
However, Camacho has a tremendous edge when it comes to experience, perspective and promise. Both have experience on two elected education boards. But as the current executive director of Equity, Social Justice and Inclusion of the San Mateo County Office of Education, Camacho knows the ins and outs of what the position entails. Bonini openly admits she doesn’t know details because she has been shut out of information. That may seem alarming, but that complaint is not common. No administration is perfect, and complaints, especially surrounding students, can arise as it pertains to educational offerings and support. For the most part, however, the Office of Education has been seen as a beacon of innovation and support for our county’s school districts. The Big Five Protocol as it pertains to student and school safety is worthy of replication. The office’s support of struggling school districts has been successful.
More can be done, however, and that is where Camacho comes in. Student achievement has been an ongoing issue for years and a holistic approach to contend with it has been lacking. Camacho has the issue front and center, with ideas on collaboration but also listening to the needs of various districts and those with specific interests as it pertains to the education of our county’s children. Experience working within the office and implementing a vision into policy is a strength of Camacho’s and also difficult to replicate at a board level, though that is a complaint of Bonini’s.
Agencies and boards will have disagreements over policy or information sharing, but that appears to be the very origin of Bonini’s campaign for the position. The need for change can be a good political motivator, but only if the problem that one seeks to solve is universal. That doesn’t appear to be case here. Camacho seeks universal change through collaboration within an already successful organization by bringing people together, then up. Shining a light on achievement, and ways to approach it that make sense, can only build success.
Both talk about the importance of the parent voice, and how that shifted because of COVID. And parents need to be involved in this discussion. Things have changed over time, and Camacho is the right person to take the helm and lead the Office of Education into a better tomorrow.
Sorry, but I can’t imagine anyone who is a director of Equity, Social Justice and Inclusion is going to make a good superintendent, among other things. Vote for anyone except Camacho else you can count on kids continuing to not being able to meet academic, or any, standards. Would we see (and I’d hope I’d be wrong), if Camacho were elected, a continuation of biological boys invading biological girl safe spaces? The reason being in the name of equity, social justice and inclusion, of course.
Hey DJ Editors - say what? "Camacho seeks universal change through collaboration within an already successful organization". How successful is that organization? Student achievements are continuing to decline, the focus on DEI is a disastrous policy that has only given marginal students another excuse not to excel. If that is the leadership the DJ promotes, it is a clear indication that they are not serious about raising the bar and will continue the slide to oblivion, all to please another DEI candidate. This is one of the richest counties in the the USA and produces one of least educated and motivated student population. Way to go, DJ!
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Sorry, but I can’t imagine anyone who is a director of Equity, Social Justice and Inclusion is going to make a good superintendent, among other things. Vote for anyone except Camacho else you can count on kids continuing to not being able to meet academic, or any, standards. Would we see (and I’d hope I’d be wrong), if Camacho were elected, a continuation of biological boys invading biological girl safe spaces? The reason being in the name of equity, social justice and inclusion, of course.
Hey DJ Editors - say what? "Camacho seeks universal change through collaboration within an already successful organization". How successful is that organization? Student achievements are continuing to decline, the focus on DEI is a disastrous policy that has only given marginal students another excuse not to excel. If that is the leadership the DJ promotes, it is a clear indication that they are not serious about raising the bar and will continue the slide to oblivion, all to please another DEI candidate. This is one of the richest counties in the the USA and produces one of least educated and motivated student population. Way to go, DJ!
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Keep the discussion civilized. Absolutely NO personal attacks or insults directed toward writers, nor others who make comments.
Keep it clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
Don't threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Anyone violating these rules will be issued a warning. After the warning, comment privileges can be revoked.