Finders seeks third term on Las Virgenes Board of Education

Terilyn Finders Terilyn Finders, president of the Las Virgenes Unified School District's Board of Education, has served two terms, but she says there's more work yet to be done.

Finders is running for reelection and will vie for one of two open seats on the panel. Board member Pat Schulz announced she will not seek reelection. Jill Gaines and Dana Greenspan have also announced their candidacy.

A self-proclaimed "creative problem solver," Finders is the local voice heard in Sacramento. She championed the state's Autism Information and Training Center (Assembly Bill 2513) to ensure teachers and other professionals who work with autistic children receive training based on research- and evidence-based services. She would like to take the idea of training even further by securing state-funded training for special education teachers and wants to push lawmakers to devise funding formulas that follow special education students, not high-need districts.

"Sacramento has more impact and effect on public education than ever before," Finders said. "From funding controls and curricular demands to details in how we train our professionals, the Legislature is shaping the laws and regulations that affect our classroom."

From funding issues and mandates for all school districts based on low achieving schools, Finders wants lawmakers to move away from the "onesizefitsall" mentality and incorporate flexibility into laws so all schools benefit.

Senate Bill 672 is now on Finders' radar. The career technology bill would require that all students in California complete two additional technology courses. While Finders says the bill was born out of a real need in education- to reduce California's high dropout rate and provide skills to students who may not be college bound, the law would hurt Las Virgenes students.

"There's no dropout issue here," Finders said. "Ninety percent of students go to college, and (students) are already having trouble meeting all of the requirements to get into a (University of California school)." The result would be local students left with not much room for electives or athletics.

"This bill is one example of what concerns me about Sacramento," Finders said. "A mandate is wrong."

Finders wants funding to reduce class sizes in middle schools and money for preschool students.

Locally, Finders can be credited with sweeping change. She played a pivotal role in reaching a historic technology partnership with the four cities in the district's boundaries. Agoura Hills, Calabasas, Westlake Village and Hidden Hills contributed a total of $600,000 to pay for training teachers on how to use schools' hightech equipment. (New laptops, projectors and other technology found in all Las Virgenes schools was funded through a bond measure passed by voters in 2006, but the bond money was restricted to hardware and not training.)

Finders is credited with bringing community college courses to high school campuses and approving a policy allowing students to take college classes in high school and receive dual credit. She has also been at the helm for the completion of the new Yerba Buena Elementary School, the start of the Lindero Canyon Middle School renovations and the recent launch of the district's performing arts and education centers.

State money for art, music and physical education was targeted to strengthen existing programs and develop new programs in elementary schools under Finder's direction.

If reelected, Finders said she would push for foreign language education starting in elementary school. She also wants to "dig deeper" into the data on student achievement and find answers to such vexing questions as why more students aren't taking higher level science or math classes.

She said she also wants to pursue more online education opportunities for students as well as online professional development for district employees.

Finders has been endorsed by past and present city, county and state leaders, including the mayors of the four cities served by the district, city council members, Ventura County Superintendent Charles Weis and former Assemblymember Fran Pavley.

"I am honored to support Terilyn Finders, LVUSD's standout leader in education," said Agoura Hills City Councilmember John Edelston. "Terilyn is the person who has the knowledge and experience to continue to guide policy decisions for the benefit of our kids and our school district."

Parents and members of many community groups also support Finders' bid for reelection.

"Terilyn epitomizes great listening," said Deb Frank, the district's 2006 Teacher of the Year. "To be truly listened to and thus to be heard is a gift, the essence of effective communication, and Terilyn gets it."

Parent volunteer Dina Barmasse called Finders' leadership style "a model for other community and political leaders."

As for campaign funding, Finders said she has never asked for donations in any of her school board campaigns. "Anyone who wants to donate to my campaign should donate (the money) to a school," she said.