Comments on: About Rachel

By: Alicia Crank

Alicia Crank — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:12:56 +0000

Hey Rachel,

You should link this to your website as well. Story plus video:

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/local&id=6013884

By: florence chamberlin

florence chamberlin — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 18:17:45 +0000

Congratulations Rachel – Wish you we had access someone like you here in Miami

By: rpnorton

rpnorton — Sun, 03 Feb 2008 03:32:27 +0000

Thank you! Regarding GATE, I agree with you – there is really not much going on at the elementary school level. There are a couple of really dynamic PPS members who are engaging with the SFUSD GATE coordinator on these issues and if you email me privately I can put you in touch with them. What I would love to see is a plan put together for how we could improve our ES offerings for high-potential students, and then perhaps go to the Prop H money next year to fund a pilot or modest district-wide project. Of course money is part of the problem — but another piece is that there hasn’t (to my knowledge) been a lot of thinking done about what an elementary-level program for gifted students should look like. That planning has to come first before we look at more funding.

On the science question, I have been very impressed with the new K-5 FOSS curriculum the district has implemented this year. It is very hands-on and very comprehensive. Every elementary school should have implemented this curriculum this year, so if you are not seeing it at your school yet, talk to your principal. I think it has been fairly intense for the teachers to absorb and fully digest, so we may not see the full benefits of the new curriculum until next year.

By: sfmom22

sfmom22 — Sat, 02 Feb 2008 17:00:31 +0000

Rachel,
I have enjoyed reading your informed and well-articulated arguments on sfschools and am happy to see that you are a candidate for BOE. I have a few questions for you. I was wondering how you view GATE. IMO, the GATE program seems woefully underfunded and practically nonexistant in SFUSD ESs. Is this an area where you think there should be additional resources, or should the priority continue to be on the bringing the lowest-performing students up to minimum standards? Also, as a scientist, I am concerned that our students’ exposure science (in addition to art, music, P.E. and social studies) is inadequate due to the emphasis on math and reading in the days since NCLB. Is this something you would like to change?

By: Nancy Polen

Nancy Polen — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 22:52:02 +0000

Rachel, it’s all the way. You are so qualified to be a SFUSD School Board Member. Your experience and knowledge of matters is abounding, and your ability to get things done is impressive.
I have taught in this district for 35 plus years and have not met anyone I would put my trust in until I had the privilege of meeting you.
You have my support all the way.
Nancy