Jeff Cole
Prior offices:
Anaheim Elementary School District Board of Education Trustee Area 2
Year left office: 2018
Elections and appointments
Contact
Jeff Cole was a member of the Anaheim Elementary School District Board of Education in California, representing Trustee Area 2. He left office in 2018.
Cole ran for re-election to the Anaheim Elementary School District Board of Education to represent Trustee Area 2 in California. He lost in the general election on November 6, 2018.
Cole completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2018. Click here to read the survey answers.
Elections
2018
- See also: Anaheim Elementary School District elections (2018)
General election
2014
- See also: Anaheim City School District elections (2014)
Three at-large seats on the Anaheim City School District Board of Education were up for general election on November 4, 2014. Jeff Cole was the only incumbent who ran for re-election. He ran against challengers Esther Castillo, Cecelia Lopez, David Robert "D.R." Heywood, Ryan A. Ruelas and Carlos Llanos.
Cole, Ruelas and Heywood defeated the other candidates and won election to the board.
Results
Anaheim City School District,
At-Large General Election, 4-year term, 2014
| Party |
Candidate |
Vote % |
Votes |
| |
Nonpartisan |
 Jeff Cole Incumbent |
21.8% |
10,288 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Ryan A. Ruelas |
20.5% |
9,688 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
David Robert "D.R." Heywood |
19% |
8,978 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Esther Castillo |
14.6% |
6,887 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Cecelia Lopez |
14.2% |
6,697 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Carlos Llanos |
9.8% |
4,627 |
| Total Votes |
47,165 |
| Source: Orange County Registrar of Voters, "General Election Official Results," accessed December 19, 2014 |
Funding
The Orange County Registrar of Voters does not publish and freely disclose school board candidate campaign finance reports that were filed by paper in their office. Ballotpedia staffers directly requested this information, but the municipal office refused those requests to make that information public.
Endorsements
Cole received endorsements from the following organizations:[1][2][3][4]
- Democratic Party of Orange County
- Anaheim Elementary Education Association
- California School Employees Association
- Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood Orange and San Bernardino Counties
Cole also received endorsements from a number of school board members. A list of his supporters can be found here (dead link).
2010
| Anaheim City School District, At-Large General Election, 4-year term, 2010 |
| Party |
Candidate |
Vote % |
Votes |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Jose F. Moreno Incumbent |
25.6% |
15,195 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Jeff Cole |
22.7% |
13,487 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Sandy Blumberg Incumbent |
22.1% |
13,150 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Jerry Silverman Incumbent |
19.7% |
11,715 |
| |
Nonpartisan |
Jackie Everley-Filbeck |
9.9% |
5,887 |
| Total Votes |
59,434 |
| Source: Orange County Registrar of Voters, "Election Results Archive: 2010 General Election," accessed September 12, 2014 |
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Jeff Cole participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on July 31, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Jeff Cole's responses follow below.[5]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
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1. School and District restructuring are essential in order to focus financial resources on students, increase educational quality, and reduce class size.
2. Program diversification and availability of all academic programs (world languages, arts, the fundamentals of engineering and science (STEAM), and music) in all five areas of the district.
3. Improve district academic performance by fully implementing effective instructional strategies for all students, specifically English Learners and students with special needs.[6][7]
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What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
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I am passionate about public schools creating equity and opportunity for all students, specifically students with disabilities, English learners, and those in poverty. Schools must have a climate where all students regardless of background or orientation feel safe and can learn. I believe this is critical to reversing poor student achievement.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[7]
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Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Jeff Cole answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?
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I admire Abraham Lincoln for his determination and persistence in educating himself and using what he learned to improve our country.[7]
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Is there a book, essay, film, or something else that best describes your political philosophy?
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For Whom the Bell Tolls, novel by Ernest Hemingway
Rabbit Run, novel by John Updike
The Financier, novel by Theodore Dreiser
Of Mice and Men, novel by John Steinbeck[7]
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What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
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The most important principal of a public figure is integrity.[7]
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What qualities do you possess that would make you a successful officeholder?
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I have the leadership and governance experience to deliver on campaign promises and the integrity not to grandstand or make false promises.[7]
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What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
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The core responsibility of a governing board member is to provide community oversight and policy direction to the school district.[7]
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What legacy would you like to leave?
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The legacy I have built over the past eight years in office includes over 500 million invested in new schools, improved school performance through instructional reform, expansion of specialized programs in world language, music, the arts, and increased opportunities for undeserved students.[7]
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What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at that time?
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The first major historical event I remember was the resignation of Richard Nixon in 1974. I was seven years old at the time.[7]
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What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
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My first job was in a movie theater. I kept the job for about a year before going to college.[7]
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What happened on your most awkward date?
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My first awkward date was very uneventful.[7]
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What is your favorite holiday? Why?
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My favorite holiday is New Year because of our tradition of thanking the old year for all the good things and asking the new year to be even better.[7]
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What is your favorite book? Why?
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I have many favorite books, see above. However, if I have to choose one, it would be Rock Crystal, a novella by Austrian writer Adalbert Stifter.[7]
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If you could be any fictional character, who would you be?
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If I could be a fictional character, I would be Jim Phelps of Mission Impossible. "Your mission, should you decide to accept it..." is what we face as leaders.[7]
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What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
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My favorite thing is our computer because it gives me access to the world.[7]
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What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
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The last song that got stuck in my head was I lived it, by Blake Shelton.[7]
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What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
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A struggle has been making a living as an educator.[7]
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What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?
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A board member's primary job is to set policy for the district and provide community oversight of district leaders.[7]
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Who are your constituents?
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My constituents are all of the people in Anaheim, California, within the boundary of Trustee Area 2.[7]
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How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?
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I support the needs of parents, teachers, staff, students, and community by listening to their concerns and needs and then working with district leaders to develop priories and polices to address those concerns and needs.[7]
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How will you build relationships with members of the broader community? Which groups, organizations, stakeholders will you specifically target?
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I will continue to build relationships with the broader community by working with city, county, and community leaders to coordinate services for all residents.[7]
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What will you do to build a better relationship with parents in the district? What plans do you have to be inclusive of parental involvement?
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I will continue building a better relationship with parents by empowering them through school site councils and in setting district budget priorities.[7]
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Do you believe it is important to intentionally recruit with the aim of diversifying the district’s faculty, staff, and administration? If so, what would be your policy to achieve this?
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I do not agree with using racial profiling in hiring, even to support "diversity". Instead, as an employer we create an attractive climate, which results in a wide and broad range of applicants of diverse backgrounds.[7]
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What issues get in the way of quality education? How would you address these obstacles?
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Special interests get in the way of quality education. Without sounding negative or accusatory, there are well known special interests on the political right and left that push for their own agendas at the expense of kids. I encourage voters to follow the money in every election and make their own determination as to who is helping and who is hindering education.[7]
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What constitutes good teaching? How will you measure this? How will you support advanced teaching approaches?
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The measure of good teaching is the outcome, determined through multiple measures.[7]
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What type of skills should students be learning for success in the 21st century?
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Students presently learn the habits of mind that support success in the workforce. Our curriculum is based on multiple instructional strategies, including project based learning and universal design for learning, which fosters differing learning styles as well as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills.[7]
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How might you improve the value of a high school diploma? What should a 21st century diploma reflect?
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A 21st century high school diploma must reflect a students ability to communicate and perform at a job involving advanced skills in math, science, and written language.[7]
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In what areas would you like to expand curriculum? For example, do you see a need for advanced technical training or apprenticeships? What sort of innovative programming would you advance if given the opportunity?
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I want to expand the curriculum in the areas of world languages, animation, and computer centered careers, such as web design and marketing.[7]
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What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?
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The primary means to ensure schools are properly funded is solid fiscal planning at the district level and a close relationship with local California legislators.[7]
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What principles drive your policies for safety in schools?
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Our safety principles are based on input from law enforcement, which is to slow and obstruct an intruder. All 23 schools are installing single point of entry and security fencing.[7]
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How might you support the mental health needs of students/faculty/staff?
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We support the mental health needs of students and staff by having on site mental health professionals.[7]
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What role do you imagine technology playing in the classroom in the future? How would you prepare the district for this?
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Technology is playing an ever increasing role in our lives. Students must learn how to protect themselves on the web and use technology to advance their career prospects.[7]
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2014
Cole highlighted the following issues on his campaign website:
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Let's Move Forward Together
There are several major issues facing education today.
1. The Common Core is requiring significant changes in instructional approach and student assessment. The reason for change is a realization by both major political parties that schools must prepare students to be successful in the global economy of the twenty first century. Although there is disagreement about these policies, I pledge an application of the law in a way that will benefit our students. We have the power to adapt the law as we need. As a professional educator, I know what works in the classroom and I can take us forward in this area.
2. The inclusion of special needs students in the general education classroom is a civil right and the federal government has stepped up enforcement in this area. ACSD is a champion of the disabled, however, we have work left to do to meet an ideal vision of a free and appropriate education for the disabled.
3. The local control of our schools to create opportunity for all students to access specialized programs, such as foreign language instruction (Dual Immersion), honors programs, and arts and music has begun to transform schools. Students, parents, staff, and taxpayers collectively manage their own local school within the legal context of the Local Control and Accountability Plan. Stoddard, Gauer, Lincoln, Juarez, and Price have all developed their own unique school site plans.
4. The lack of technology centered education in schools is yet another key issue. I will continue the ACSD example of using high technology in the classroom and articulating these programs with the high school, to ensure our students can compete for the high tech jobs of the twenty first century. In my second term, I pledge to make these issues a priority.
I invite you to look at the facts and make an informed decision on election day. I have included a blog and several links throughout this site to assist voters in gathering information. I have also included three videos below that reflect the spirit of this campaign. There are additional video links on my blog.[7]
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| —Jeff Cole's campaign website (2014)[8]
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See also
External links
- ↑ Democratic Party of Orange County, "November 2014 Candidate Endorsements," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ California Teachers Association, "CTA Locally Endorsed Candidates as of 10/4/14," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood Orange and San Bernardino Counties, "Voter Guide Sheet," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Jeff Cole, "Endorsements," accessed October 29, 2014 (dead link)
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Jeff Cole's responses," July 31, 2018
- ↑ 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 7.28 7.29 7.30 7.31 7.32 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Jeff Cole, "Home," accessed October 29, 2014
