Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Teri Rocco
Current job title: Retired Teacher/Administrator – GGUSD
Political party affiliation: Non-Partisan
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: GGUSD School Board Member, 9 1/2 yrs
City where you reside: Garden Grove
Campaign website or social media: http://www.terirocco.com
Gov. Gavin Newsom has called for heavier restrictions on smartphones in schools, pointing to studies that show the harmful effects of social media. How do you see schools restricting smartphone use? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
It’s essential to provide an environment that limits distractions to ensure student success. Districts should have clear board policies and administrative regulations that restrict the use of cell phones at school. Cell phones should be turned off during instructional time unless directed by the teacher to be turned on for instructional use or in the case of an emergency.
As elementary, intermediate and high school campuses vary in needs and appropriateness, the board shouldn’t utilize a “one size fits all” approach. The board should delegate to each school site full authority to further establish and implement regulations governing the possession and use of cell phones while on campus.
I don’t think it would be necessary to ban cell phones district-wide if the rules are clear and enforced. It is the responsibility of parents to communicate the boundaries for the use of cell phones and social media, as well as the harmful effects of social media. It is the responsibility of districts and schools to communicate the restrictions on cell phone use at school and to provide information and resources to parents and students about digital citizenship and the harms of social media.
How can your district better harness artificial intelligence technology for learning while also protecting kids from another tool that can be used for bullying? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
In the educational setting, AI can be put to good use to enhance the academic success of students by personalizing their learning. AI can identify the strengths and weaknesses and then adjust content and materials to meet their needs. In addition, AI can support students by using virtual tutoring offering homework support.
Districts can reduce problems like cheating, bullying or misuse of AI by making sure that they develop board policies and district regulations that establish AI guidelines. They should also research and pilot AI programs with reputable companies. The use of AI in the classroom should be closely monitored by the district’s IT department, administration and teachers.
In addition, students, staff and parents should be trained on “digital citizenship” to learn the appropriate use of all forms of technology and AI. It is imperative that students understand the consequences of cyberbullying and its destructive power and what to do if they are the victim of bullying via generative AI. Schools and parents need to continuously talk to kids about the benefits and risks of the digital world.
What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
COVID turned our world upside down and disrupted learning and the mental health and well-being of students. Though GGUSD has been recognized for academic excellence and its commitment to support student wellness, we must continue focusing on these areas.
Preliminary test scores indicate that we are at pre-COVID levels academically. If we want our high schools to continue to earn a spot on the U.S. News and World Report’s elite rankings of America’s best high schools and retain our status as a California Honor Roll District, we must continue to focus on offering our students before/after-school and summer extended learning opportunities that focus on math, reading and writing.
We are just beginning to see the benefits of the addition of our 5 Family Resource Centers offering parent education, speakers on topics of interest and vital resources for families. GGUSD’s Aspire System of Care, our school-based mental health counseling provided by a network of social workers, mental health specialists and social work interns is crucial to the mental health wellness of our students. We need to maintain staffing and resources of these programs to meet the needs of our families.
What experiences and priorities do you bring to the table for this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that make you the person for this job? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
I’m a 55-year-old Garden Grove resident, a product of GGUSD, as were my children and currently my grandchildren. I’ve had 42 years of classroom and leadership experience at GGUSD. I started as a teacher’s aide, and then a school community liaison before I became a teacher at Russell Elementary. In the evenings I taught parent education and ESL and helped facilitate community meetings with the SAPD.
In the last nine years of my career in education, I was an administrator at the district office, developing the Office of Parent & Community Outreach. I continued my work in education leadership by creating lasting partnerships with community agencies that provide services and programs for families, implementing quality parent education programs and organizing district-wide community outreach meetings to support parent engagement.
I have utilized my knowledge, skills and experience to serve effectively on GGUSD’s Board of Education these past 9 1/2 years. I understand how schools work, how the district works and can see multiple perspectives. My role on the board has been one of a bridge builder, problem solver and relationship builder, always visible and approachable. My passion is education and I’m there for the kids.
California has a new law, set to go into effect in 2025, that prohibits districts from enforcing what’s been called parental notification policies, rules for school employees to contact parents if their child may be changing their gender identity. What do you see as the role of parents in education? Is there a limitation? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
Parents play a vital role in the lives of their children and they are their child’s first teacher. Research shows that there is a direct correlation between students, whose parents are engaged in their child’s education, and positive academic achievement and student behavior. Districts and schools are much more effective when they see parents as partners with a shared responsibility for their child’s education and there is consistent and effective communication between home and school.
Districts have a duty to enhance parent involvement by providing parent education to help parents learn how to navigate our education system, participate in school events/activities, seek help at their child’s school and in the community, support their child’s learning at home, communicate effectively with their child and support their social-emotional development. A successful district informs and inspires parents to become involved in the school’s/district’s decision-making process and even become parent leaders. A parent’s role is that of a stakeholder and partner in their child’s education and their voice should be heard.
The only limitations I see are those that would be imposed by laws, education codes, district policies or administrative regulations.
What role do you see your district playing in combating climate change? (Please limit your answer to 200 words or less.)
GGUSD believes in conservation and in protecting our environment and has taken many steps to combat climate change. When we modernized our schools, they were equipped with energy-efficient LED lighting, energy-efficient windows, upgraded insulation and upgraded energy-efficient air conditioning units. We have been replacing diesel buses with green electric buses and installing charging stations. As budget permits, we should continue to replace all diesel buses with electric buses as a way to responsibly reduce carbon emissions.
Our food services department has switched from plastic trays that needed to be washed to recyclable cardboard trays and tries to reduce food waste by donating unused food items. All our schools have stations where students can fill reusable water bottles, thus reducing the use of plastic water bottles.
Our board has discussed and approved plans to install solar panels at the high schools to generate renewable energy. As a large district with 67+ schools and various sites, we know we have a responsibility to continue to explore ways to reduce, reuse and recycle to do our part to help fight climate change.
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