My re-election decision

Last week, I announced that after a great deal of thought and reflection, I had decided not to seek reelection to the LAUSD Board of Education. This was an incredibly tough decision for me. Over my seven plus years as a Board Member, I’ve been able to make many important changes for our schools, from making our schools healthier places for students to working to bring families back to their neighborhood public schools. There is still much work to do, and I am committed to serving Board District 4 and the entire LAUSD family until my final day as a Board Member. And, come July 1, I plan to continue my life-long focus on education as I seek new challenges and opportunities to improve the lives of children.

I wanted to share the statement I released regarding my decision (pasted below). And, I wanted to personally thank you for your continued interest in what’s going on in Board District 4. Please continue to check back here often because as I said we’ve got plenty of work to do to keep moving LAUSD forward!

Marlene

BOARD MEMBER MARLENE CANTER’S
STATEMENT REGARDING HER RE-ELECTION

Los Angeles – LAUSD Board Member Marlene Canter issued the following statement today regarding her decision about the upcoming Board of Education election:

"After much thought and reflection, I have decided not to seek reelection to the LAUSD Board of Education.

"It has been a very difficult decision because as a Board Member, I have been able to lead important changes in a wide range of areas. I'm very proud of the accomplishments we've been able to achieve together, and which have set the stage for larger gains by LAUSD in the years ahead:

• Forming the iDesign Schools Division with its focus on outside partnerships and school site innovation and district innovation;
• Bringing Westside and Valley families back to LAUSD neighborhood schools;
• Leading the nation in implementing a series of fundamental changes to school nutrition;
• Setting new standards and approving more charters than any other school district in the country;
• Helping direct district-wide efforts to build desperately needed facilities, while changing the culture of how the District does business;
• Implementing instructional changes that have helped our elementary schools to improve at a rate much faster than the State average;
• Leading the charge to recruit the best and brightest employees and bringing focus to the need for relevant and high quality professional development; and
• Setting the path for LAUSD’s sustainability efforts including putting cleaner school buses on our streets.

"While this experience has been immensely rewarding, it is time for me to seek new challenges and avenues to improve the lives of children. I have spent my entire adult life doing just this -- as a teacher, co-founder and co-CEO of a teacher training company, and as a Board Member. And I will continue to do so in my last eight months on the Board and in the new opportunities and challenges that await me in July and beyond.

"The knowledge that we accomplish nothing by ourselves is one of the many lessons that I will take with me from my time as a Board Member. Whether it has been forging better relationships with Sacramento or creating new partnerships with education non-profits and community groups, collaborating with outside change agents has been essential. I will continue to focus on working with those who are bringing unique and meaningful improvements to education."

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I am also including links to a few news stories about my announcement:

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2008/10/lausds-marlene.html

http://www.latimes.com/news/education/la-me-board31-2008oct31,0,1855717.story

http://www.dailybreeze.com/ci_10851883?IADID=Search-www.dailybreeze.com-www.dailybreeze.com