April's Plan
Our students deserve every opportunity to thrive. As a School Board Member, April will prioritize Safety, Student Success, and Community Engagement.
Safety
The safety of our students must be our number one priority. Here’s what April will do to improve safety in Hayward schools:
- Gun Violence Prevention – No parent or student should live in fear of another school shooting. That is why immediately following the Parkland shooting, April drafted and submitted to the Hayward School Board a resolution to improve gun violence prevention policies in HUSD. April will continue to support students’ passion and activism and work with legislators to keep guns out of our schools.
- Inclusivity – Schools must be inclusive and safe for all students. April will ensure that students who experience bullying, racial injustice, and indirect access for students with disabilities are heard and that the issues are addressed with expediency and efficiency. Additionally, she will work with each site to support culturally responsive teaching.
- Conflict Resolution – April believes in Positive Behavior Interventions and Support (PBIS) and restorative justice, and she will expand the use of both in HUSD to increase the growth opportunities these approaches provide students.
- Facility Repairs – Our students deserve safe, clean, and functional learning environments. April will fight for quality school conditions, including roofs that do not leak, classrooms that have heat, and PA systems (which are critical for safety in emergencies) that work properly at all times.
Student Success
Hayward students face many barriers before ever entering a classroom. Of the 21,716 students in the district 72% are Socioeconomically Disadvantaged, 32% are English Learners, 4% are Homeless, and 0.7% are Foster Youth. Additionally, 11% are Students with Disabilities. April will fight to ensure that all students, regardless of race, economic background, and ability, are given the opportunity to success and thrive.
- Special Education – We must meet the needs of each of our students. That’s why April will increase training for special education teachers and paraeducators and encourage inclusive learning environments. We also must work together to promote the goals of each student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) and that parents feel supported during this process.
- English Learners – Diversity is one of Hayward’s greatest strengths. To embrace our students’ cultural and linguistic heritage, April will expand Bilingual programs to every school that needs it. She will also invest in Dual-Immersion programs to encourage multi-language education that supports our mission of fostering dynamic leaders for a global society.
- 21st-Century Learning Environment – We live in a technological age that demands a fast-paced, innovative workforce. April supports a 21st-Century curriculum that prepares our students to enter this workforce. She believes that classrooms must be equipped with the best supplies, resources, and technologies to support our students’ learning. And she’ll ensure our bond projects stay on budget and on time, so the students get the full benefits of the funding for STEAM buildings. As an educator, April also advocates for expanded professional development opportunities for our teachers, who are a vital component to student success.
- College & Career Pathways – Students are the future. Their education empowers them to pursue their dreams and equips them with the tools they’ll need to address tomorrow’s challenges. As a college professor, April knows what it takes to prepare our students for college and career pathways. She will strengthen partnerships with Chabot College and Hayward’s CSU and support apprenticeship and vocational training programs and support existing programs like High School Concurrent Enrollment and Middle College.
- The Arts – The arts play an invaluable role in our students’ personal and professional development. April will continue to support the arts and implement the district's updated VAPA Strategic Action Plan.
- Be in the Classroom – To truly grasp our schools’ unique strengths and challenges, a leader must be willing to show up and meet our students where they are. April currently volunteers in our classrooms. She also meets with parents, teachers, staff, and administrators to listen and to learn how we can best support them and our students. April promises to regularly visit every school in the district once elected.
- Health & Wellness – For our students to thrive in the classroom, we must meet their most basic needs. April supports Hayward's current efforts to support the emotional and physical health of our students. That’s why she advocates to increase mindfulness offerings for students, parents, educators, and staff and will continue to support health and wellness initiatives as well as social and emotional learning. And that's why April advocates for expanded, age-appropriate, comprehensive sexual education in schools to move Hayward schools into compliance with the CA Healthy Youth Act.
- Early Childhood Education – Studies show that children who attend preschool or early childhood education programs perform better in kindergarten and beyond. That’s why April will strengthen these programs in HUSD.
Community Engagement
The success and wellness of our students depends on not just teachers and parents but on the entire community coming together. Hayward’s spirit of volunteerism is one of its greatest assets. Here’s what April will do to engage our community to put students first:
- Family Engagement – Parent and Caregiver involvement in a child’s education is one of the most important indicators of future success. Hayward has several opportunities for families to get involved in their child’s education. April will work to support engagement opportunities, to increase outreach efforts, and encourage formation of PTAs at every school. Additionally, she's dedicated to bringing Participatory Budgeting to HUSD to engage students and their families in decisions on spending in our schools.
- Civic Engagement – Collaborating with civic leaders is the best way to tackle the myriad challenges our students face, which is why working together with Hayward City Boards, Commissions, Committees, and Task Forces, as well as Hayward City Council and HARD, is essential to the success of Hayward schools. April has cultivated relationships with Hayward City leaders and will continue to do so to unify efforts to put our students first.
- Community Engagement – To fulfill the “Made in Hayward” vision, it truly takes a village. Committed to this vision and to the district’s “community schools approach,” April partners with the faith community, advocacy organizations, local businesses, and HUSD to address community issues. As a School Board Member, April will continue to foster these important partnerships within our Hayward community and support full-service community schools.
If you support April's Plan, then Contribute to and Endorse her campaign for Hayward School Board.