I have asked the candidates for the SAUSD School Board to submit articles to this blog introducing themselves to our readers. One of them has just sent in his article. His name is Gregory Barraza (pictured above). He is a College English Professor at Saddleback Community College. Here is his self-introduction:
Educational Background: Attended Santa Ana Schools for elementary and intermediate education–Sierra Elementary and Willard Intermediate. Graduated from Santa Ana High School in 1989. I graduated from Chapman University with a BA in English in 1995. I continued enrollment at Chapman University and graduated with a MFA in Writing and a MA in English in 1997; moreover, I was named Graduate Student of the Year. After three years of teaching, I enrolled in Cal State Fullerton’s Education Administration Program, where I graduated with a MS in Education Administration in 2001.
School Committees/Volunteer Positions: I am a member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges Task Force, Student Learning Objectives Committee for Saddleback Colllege and Orange County Department of Education Alternative and Correctional Education. Also, I wrote curriculum for the Orange County Department of Education Alternative Education Division and assisted in developing a Character Based Literacy Program for Orange County Department of Education Alternative Education; this program is now adopted by Contra Costa Department of Education, San Bernandino Department of Education and San Diego Department of Education.
Organizations: Also, I am a member of the California Teachers Association, Orange County Educators Association, and Character Education Institute.
Santa Ana Unified School District is at a crux. I bring fifteen years of teaching and administration experience and ten years of graduate education to the table. I continuously research better learning practices at the elementary, secondary, and collegiate level. The constant pursuit of improvement motivates me to give back to Santa Ana Unified what I received from its schools: a quality education from quality teachers who taught me how to learn, but more importantly, how to become a successful, productive member of our community.
You may contact Barraza at this email.
UPDATE:
Barraza sent me a new picture, which is above, to replace his Facebook picture. He also said that Rob Richardson and Mark McLaughlin did NOT ask him to run. He ran because he felt he was the most qualified candidate and he wants to help the troubled SAUSD. It is certainly not debatable that he is the only teacher running and the only candidate with experience as an educational administrator.
He doesn’t mention if he has a family. Specifically does he have any children in the District and what schools do they attend? Is that one of his students sitting on his lap?
Too bad that a more appropriate photo of Barraza was not chosen. This is a photo just waiting for jabs.
I would have liked to have known also if his children are attending public school here in SA…or if he has children for that matter.
The photo he submitted goes straight to the question of judgement. And since a picture is worth a 1,000 words. I am not impressed.
Art,
Did Barrazza summitt the photo?
If he did. It is a odd choice to say the least.
He has a MFA. He doesn’t have any children!
Art,
I asked Barraza to submit a picture, but he did not. I then searched the Internet to try to find a picture. The picture I found is his main picture on his Facebook account. Facebook is a networking service used by many businesspeople and college students. I have an account too – but I use my executive portrait. That is the picture I use for political purposes and for my presentations at various conferences.
I also looked on http://www.smartvoter.org, but could not find a picture or a complete website pertaining to Barraza. Nor could I find a campaign website.
While this picture is an odd choice, it is the ONLY picture I was able to find of him.
I don’t know where people get info. Greg has 2 kids, both attending Santiago Elementary School. My husband has known him for years. I think that part of the reason he wasn’t endorsed by SAEA is that although he is not an outsider in the field of education, he definitely is an outsider to the SAUSD. He is a concerned parent and a caring person who has my vote. The woman in the picture is his wife.
anon teacher,
Here is the REAL problem with Barraza, as my sources outline it – he was asked to run by Mark McLaughlin and Rob Richardson. They asked him to run so that he would dilute the Latino vote and help Rob win reelection. That is why he did not buy a candidate’s statement. They don’t want Barraza to win. They just want him to cost one of the Latino candidates a chance at winning.
And sure enough when I saw him yesterday at the Park Santiago Neighborhood Association meeting he was accompanied by McLaughlin. Who is McLaughlin? He is the guy trying to make sure that Lynette Verino loses her race for the Rancho Santiago Community College District’s Board of Trustees. I have already endorsed Verino, which ought to tell you what I think of McLaughlin…
I had Greg for an English composition instructor at Saddleback College in the spring semester of 2007. I am a 49-year-old mother with one daughter (also at Saddleback) and a son in high school.
Greg was a wonderful teacher, and one of the qualities that I admired most about him was the manner in which he assisted a few students in my class who seemed to have some difficulty with the curriculum.
Also, at the time, he was teaching and mentoring at-risk kids through ACCESS (Alternative, Charter, and Correctional Education Schools and Services) which provides educational options to diverse student populations referred by local school districts, probation, and social services. I believe that some of the students in my class were former students who followed him to Saddleback; a wonderful opportunity, and success story, for teens who may otherwise end up on the street.
Give him a chance. I am involved with one of the county’s largest parent/teacher organizations and advocates for children; this is a man that I would vote for in a heartbeat if I lived in Santa Ana.
Mary Anne,
He does seem like a nice fellow. But the fact that he did not buy a candidate’s statement is very suspect. You cannot win elections without that investment. So the question remains, is he a serious candidate or did he file just to water down the Latino vote? We may never know. I wish however that he HAD taken his campaign seriously. We need good candidates for our school board.
I am a Finnish-American mother of two (ages 7 and 10) living in Santa Ana. I run a global fashion business based in Los Angeles, and in my 20-year career I have dealt with people from all walks of lives.
Greg Barraza is my best friend’s husband, and I have known him for over 10 years. He is an amazing father, brilliant educator and a great example to children and adults in regards to how to take responsibility and be a productive member of a community.
Of all the people I have met over the years, Greg is the one I admire the most. Why? Because he is a testament to human capacity to create a better life for yourself and for your family through determination and hard work. He takes responsibility of everything he commits to and wants to make this world a better place. He is a man who does not want to promote himself, but wants his actions to speak on his behalf. In regards to Art Pedroza’s concern above, I don’t know why he did not to buy a candidate’s statement, but I can assure you that he is serious about his candidacy. And based on what I have seen on the ballot, he is simply the most qualified person for the SAUSD School Board.
Sari,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us.
Who is Barraza? He is being used to make sure Richardson gets reelected. Barraza is just another brown face thrown in the mix to make sure the white guy wins reelection. This wasn’t too hard to figure out.
VOTE FOR CECILIA AGUINAGA NOVEMBER 4.
VOTE FOR GLORIA ALVARADO NOVEMBER 4.
VOTE FOR VALERIA AMEZCUA NOVEMBER 2.
THE TRUTH HAS BEEN REVEALED.
BARRAZA IS MAYOR PULIDO’S TENNIS BUDDY.
Greg doesn’t play tennis. This person needs to check his or her sources.
Well, if Greg doesn’t play tennis, he’s playing with balls. That’s for sure!