elect
ed schmidt
for trustee
A Fresh Perspective For New Challenges
and
Experience to Continue Current Growth
San Benito County Board of Education
Area 4
Use this link to see if you live in district or area 4.
Meet Ed Schmidt
As a young person, I grew up on a ranch near the Soledad side of the Pinnacles. Growing up on a ranch taught me to appreciate small towns and rural life. I have not forgotten my many lessons on the ranch.
Having grown up on a ranch in southern Monterey County, I have found living in Tres Pinos a great place to raise a family. My wife and I have thoroughly enjoyed being proud members of our community and our county. Our son attended school in Tres Pinos and then at Hollister High School. These schools prepared him well for the challenges of a university and a new world in which our children find themselves. We appreciate all of the efforts made by teachers, administrators, and staff at his schools.
As a member of our small town community, our county, and our area, I have been able to serve the community in many ways. I taught and served as an administrator in Hollister for a total of 24 years. I have served as a Tres Pinos Water District board member since 2007. For many of those years, I have been the board president as we faced various challenges. As a board member of the Tres Pinos School District for about 15 years, I have helped our board navigate the challenges of a rural school. Finally, I have served as a sports official for the area, which has helped me pay back to youth sports that helped me grow as a young person.
As a member of our school community, I served in various capacities. I was a Spanish teacher, a teacher leader, and a coach.
As a recent retiree, I have both the time and the experience to help our students county wide rather than just in Tres Pinos. I appreciate the opportunity to be on the ballot for this very important position.
My Potential Value
My various forms of experience would serve me well were I given the opportunity to serve on the board. I want to assist our new county superintendent as she endeavors to continue to improve our county level systems and ultimately, the success of individual students. As a newly retired educator, I have the time, a fresh perspective, and a sense of duty to elevate the effectiveness of our schools and teachers and provide them the support to do so.
My Professional Experience
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I served as a Spanish teacher for 25 years. These years provided me the ability to become a proficient classroom instructor and new teacher mentor.
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I served as a teacher leader throughout my career. As a mentor, department chair, and member of campus wide committees, I was part of finding solutions to problems facing students and faculty.
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I served as an administrator for 9 years. This experience provided me with leadership skills at a wider level and opportunities to work with staff to create solutions to problems and challenges. I am particularly proud of our work on grading and instruction.
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I served as a board member of a small, rural school. This allowed me to become acutely aware of challenges all schools face in our county. It provided me as well with knowledge of the ways the county office of education can provide needed services.
I would appreciate your vote!
Priority One
Student Supports
Many of our students face challenges with basic skills. As a high school employee, I noticed many deficiencies. Finding supports for administrators and teachers of elementary and middle school students to decrease potential gaps in learning should be an area of improvement. Continuing those supports at the high school level is the other side of this coin. The County Board of Education needs to continue to lead by setting policies and practices that foster and foment collaboration by all parties at all levels of education.
Priority Two
Initial Instruction and Interventions
Stronger initial instruction and interventions for those students who have yet to become proficient in targeted skills and clear learning objectives should be two actions marching hand in hand. Professional development for all employees in our schools should focus on these areas of the instructional process. Though there are naturally other needs to address, these two should remain central to our mission as a county board of education.
Priority Three
Rural Schools Support
A challenge facing the county board of education is to improve the condition of rural schools that currently are facing many challenges such as decreasing enrollment, funding for services, and the need for continued collaboration with the county office of education.