President Jeanette Vazquez of the Fullerton Elementary School District Board of Trustees resigned from her position (effective immediately) during the August 11 Board meeting. Following this announcement, the Board was re-organized with Hilda Sugarman serving as the new Board president, and Beverly Berryman serving as Vice President. The seat vacated by Vazquez will remain unfilled until the November election. She represented District 5. As of August 12, only one candidate, Leonel Talavera, has qualified to run for that seat. The seat will be filled in December, following the election.
Board President Vazquez announced her decision to resign at the August 11 meeting (held via Zoom).
Vazquez, who is also a full-time teacher, posted the following message on social media on August 12:
“It is with a heavy heart that I share my decision to resign from the Fullerton School Board. I did not come to this decision lightly. As a family member and teacher, I understand the impact this pandemic has had on our community and in the educational setting. Continuing online instruction this fall is no easy task for our students, teachers, and families. As I prepare to fully emerge myself in the educational setting as a teacher and learner, I believe it is best for me to step down for the remainder of my term. I am deeply grateful for the support I received from family and friends when we began our campaign 4 years ago. To the community members of Area 5 and Fullerton families, I thank you for your support. I am proud of the work we have advocated for in the last 4 years for our local neighborhood schools and remain committed to advocating for educational equity in our community.”
During her tenure as Board President and as a Board member, Vazquez was a strong advocate for equity and justice for all students. She brought forth a resolution in support of Black Lives Matter, which sparked long discussions about institutional racism and necessary changes. As a result of this, the District will be creating and implementing Ethnic Studies curriculum in the future.
After explaining her choice to resign, Vazquez quoted South American educator Paulo Freire. “Education is an act of love, and thus an act of courage.
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Categories: Education, Local News
To study history, is to know more about other cultures, throughout time. Studying history gives the individual an appreciation for the uniqueness of all cultures and civilizations. Ultimately, the student should know and appreciate the commonalities that connect all people regardless of time and place. “ I don’t get how seeking to know more about everything is propaganda.” I don’t get your point in this statement. I didn’t say ethnic studies wasn’t knowledge. However it is another name for history. If certain historical perspectives are favored over others, then it fails to teach history and thus humanity to students; there is not middle ground.
Bandito – We agree that claiming “wokeness” is used as a tool to virtue signal when not paired with follow-up action. People and politicians display this all the time, even when they couple it was some “action” by only posting a black square, by putting BLM in the backdrop of their videos, etc.
Woke has an actual definition, whether or not you want to use it that way is your prerogative and may cause the definition to shift over time – it certainly seems to have shifted in your circle already. I think we can benefit from identifying why that is. However, “woke” as it is actually defined and intended to be used works well as a synonym for informed (in a specific area: injustice).
hildaashworth – It would be a delight to live in a place where we were at that level. To claim that we are already or that all problems would be resolved if we would just stop talking about it is welcoming blindness to issues and systems which are causing people hardships. Maybe the reception to ethnic studies would be more positive if everyone “felt” their stories were being told equally. There is a lot to show how certain perspectives are favored and highlighted in the history lessons we are already taught. That bolsters the argument for ethnic studies.
Philosophers might argue that taught properly everything is philosophy. Breaking subjects down gives them more adequate attention and helps us as students to receive information, analyze it, and eventually to comprehend.
I don’t get how seeking to know more about everything is propaganda.
if correctly taught, history is ethnic studies whose ultimate goal is to show unity through humanity. However, if this task is left in the hands of the typical elementary school teacher with her degree in child development, the student not taught history. what the student does learn is divisive propaganda that teaches them how to categorize the human race based on superficial characteristics.
I would have been happy to have received more Ethnic Studies as part of my curriculum when I was a student growing up here. Seeking to know more about the treatment, experiences and goals of everyone in the Fullerton school district is an act of respect and kindness.
I don’t understand the derision of “woke voices” when woke is being used there as a synonym for informed.
I don’t understand the carpetbagger argument when Jeanette attended local schools.
Thank you for your dedicated work, Jeanette!
Woke is not a synonym for informed. Woke a synonym for virtue signaler. The woke bit is sarcastic because they are the least bit informed.
The more woke voices leaving positions of power, the better. BLM is a dog and pony show as much as the supposed two party system. All of it is propaganda to misdirect attention from real issues.
She’s a carpetbagger. Glad she resigned.
Who disagrees with Black Lives Matter? Nobody.
But calling out Only black lives is racist. Ever notice that liberals see the world by the color of people’s skin?
Where’s the color blindness they used to look for?
Calling out Black Lives is not racist when it is Black People who are not treated equally, and are being shot. Time to stop being afraid of the truth.
https://theboeskool.com/2016/03/05/when-youre-accustomed-to-privilege-equality-feels-like-oppression/
As an advocate for equality for all and equal justice under the law, Black Lives Matter is purely a political organization that is using racial injustice to push a false narrative.
I’m not looking forward to it but I will absolutely be fighting against “woke” ideology and not allow my son to be demonized for the color of his skin.
I’m glad to hear she’s leaving.
Who’s demonizing who now? Isn’t it simply going to be about teaching kids the history of other cultures that aren’t explicitly American?
I don’t see how anyone can be afraid of the simple concept of Black Lives Matter. Black Lives Matter. Say it. You agree with it, right? So what’s the problem?
What false narrative? Who cares about the “political organization?” What are you panicked about?
Listen to the people, Mr. Whitmore. Only the GOP classifies social and cultural discussions as “political”. All your “tough guy” talk won’t make common sense, American values, freedom of speech and the right to demonstrate for civil rights go away. The BLM movement is grass roots. Its participants have joined because of their personal experiences with racism, and racial injustice that , yes, Fullerton used to promote. You would better serve your community by listening.