i have known Irene Ibarra for years. She is a product of Santa Ana schools. She has come a long way, overcoming a lot of challenges to become the owner of a very successful business that helps people who are forced to relocate due to eminent domain seizures of their homes.
Here are a few biographical highlights about Ibarra, from her Smart Voter website:
- Occupation: Business Owner
- City of Santa Ana Parks & Recreation Community Award, 2002
- Latin Business Association Latina Entrepeneur of the Year, 2003
- Glamour Magazine “en Espanol” Woman of the Year, 2004
- International Right of Way Association Employer of the Year, 2004
- Member, Santa Ana Kiwanis
- Member, International Right of Way Association
For some reason, a few of the other SAUSD school board candidates have been attacking Ibarra, which just goes to prove that no good deed goes unpunished. Ibarra didn’t have to run for the school board. She did it because she cares. And I think she will do a damn good job bringing her common sense attitude to the SAUSD School Board. She won’t be bullied by SAUSD administrators – instead she will hold them accountable.
Ibarra has been endorsed by yours truly, plus former Santa Ana Councilman John Acosta, SAUSD Trustee john Palacio and Santa Ana Councilman Sal Tinajero. She is also endorsed by Planned Parenthood and the Young Democrats of Orange County. You can read about her other endorsements at this link.
In the early eighties, Ibarra was employed by the City of Santa Ana as a Code Enforcement Inspector and Residential Rehabilitation Specialist. She left the City of Santa Ana in 1985 to work for the City of San Jose as a Project Manager and subsequently she started her own consulting business in 1989. She has owned her own business for almost twenty years.
You can read Ibarra’s full biography at this link. You can read more about Ibarra’s goals for the SAUSD at this link. And you can email Ibarra at this link.
Ibarra is working hard on her campaign – she has spent a lot of her own money. She has no interest in higher office. She just wants to do a great job on our SAUSD School Board. I hope she wins!
About the Focus on the SAUSD School Board Candidates Series:
The Orange Juice will be profiling each of the candidates for the SAUSD School Board. Our first post featured Gregory Barraza, a teacher at Saddleback College. Click here to read that post. Barraza recently sent me a new picture to replace the Facebook picture we used in that post. 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.
Up next in this series: Roman Reyna
Art,
Although you speak very highly of Irene Ibarra, don’t you think that someone who might end-up on the Santa Ana SCHOOL Board should lead my example? I am referring to the fact that she doesn’t mention anything about a college degree.
Did you know that only 3 of the 9 candidates have a BA? Scary don’t you think?
Although I understand that a candidate must have the right intentions (as you mention with Irene), they should also have the knowledge and skills in order to fully comprehend the pressures kids and parents are going through when it comes to education.
What do you think?
SA-Anon,
That is true, but Irene has proven herself as a businesswoman – and her story is very relevant to the young people in our city. Irene was a young mother herself – and she had to develop a career on her own. She persevered. Her kids all went to college. Now she wants to help other kids to be successful too. I think that is laudable.
I’ll tell you what is scary. With all the degrees on the current school board they’ve made the District sink even lower than ever before. Straight down the toilet. If people think the City of Santa Ana has a terrible reputation, the School District’s reputation is worse. Why do you think Audrey and Pulido don’t send their children to SA Schools!
I was accepted as a Junior at the University of California, Irvine and stood at a crossroad. Do I, a mother of 4 children, begin my studies at UC Irvine or do I work towards a career and suport my children. I chose the latter. I did attend San Jose State University and without a 4 year degree was allowed to take graduate courses in Urban Planning and Real Estate. Education is a journey. I’m still on the road and fully intend to complete my journey. The finish line is within reach now that I have helped my children complete their college degrees.
While employed with the City of San Jose, I oversaw Redevelopment, Public Works, Airport and Parks & Recreation projects with budgets in the tens of millions of dollars. I also pepared departmental budgets for the Public Works Department. Currently I work with very large School Districts and their Facilities Departments and prepare budgets for them as well as writing Relocation Plans, review Environmental Documents, negotiate property settlements, relocate families and businesses, prepare feasibility studies and establish Relocation Policies and Procedures.
As a business owner I employ over ten people and have trained them in a specialized and unique profession serving the public sector.
As a board member, I will bring my public sector skills and experience to help guide the District in meeting it’s goals. I will be the voice for those children who have not been listened to for many years. I also bring my skills as a problem solver, facilitator and advocate to the District.
Finally, with four children, I truly understand what families need from their School District.
Does anyone know that Irene Ibarra has kids? In fact she has four kids, and didnt take part in raising any of them. How is she supossed to be responsible for making sure the children in the SAUSD are taken care of properly if she couldnt do the same for her own children? She is a dishonest person who cares more about her image rather then doing the right thing.
Alex Aldana is the father of Patricia Sanchez’ child. Ms. Sanchez has sent emails to candidate Irene Ibarra from her Bank of America email and I understand there is a current investiigation regarding those harrrassing emails. People should be careful not to spread runors or lies because they will be held accountable for slanderous comments.
The problem here appears to be Patricia Sanchez and Alex Aldana are envious of Ms. Ibarra and all her accomplishments.
I wonder if Patricia’s mom is still on welfare and still holds a Section 8 Vouncher?
I want people who read this blog to know that my mom is the best mom anyone could ask for. She has had a lot of adversity in her life beginning with a husband who almost beat her to death, stole her children and then threatened to kill her if she came looking for them. In spite of all the adversity in her life, my mother persevered and today is a very successful businesswoman. Any woman who has endured daily phyical abuse from an unfaithful husband and doesn’t become bitter but rebuilds her life, should be held in high regard.
My mom was very active and participated in my and my siblings education and continues today to be active and participates in the schooling of her grandchildren. She personally paid for almost all of our college education, except for my deceased brother who receieved several academic scholarships. My children couldn’t ask for a better grandma than my mom. My mom has already set-up education trust accounts for future college costs for her grandchildren.
I encourage everyone to pick up the book “Empowering Latinas” and read for yourselves the struggles my mom overcame.
As for the comment about the Bank of America emails, it is true that Ms. Sanchez has been harrassing my mom and there is an investigation going on right now. I cannot comment further.
Anyone who has any issues with my mom, should meet with her and talk to her personally. They will find my mother to be kind, compassionate and a good listener.
Is there a specific reason why Irene has not showed up to the last couple of candidate forums? It is my understanding that ALL candidates get invited….these forums are the perfect time for candidates to let the voters ask questions.
Unfortunately, Irene and Mike Gonzalez are have gone MIA at the last forums….
SA Parent,
Irene’s parents have Alzheimer’s. There are times when she has to take care of them and cannot attend these meetings. I think folks would understand if they knew. In our culture we do whatever we can for our familia.
Who appointed SA Voter as Attendance Monitor? Not all candidates have perfect attendance. Get a life.
Valley Falcon: Good one! Hmm….wouldn’t I love to confirm that allegation…
Alex Aldana: Listen…EVERYONE has a certain instance that happened in their life that EVERYONE wished never took that turn…or never happened for that matter. NO ONE has the privilege of getting through life without having to answer to someone or a higher being about a a situation that we might have wished to have handled or dealt differently. I couldn’t give a shit about family skeletons….family chisme……
My vote is on Irene as she proven to me without at doubt that she would be able to tell not only me…but the rest of the tax payers of this city what has happened to the money while we continually are still to this day scoring at the lowest scores at the State level as she has a vast wealth of knowledge of budget and public funding.