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Karen Twaddell
Karen Twaddell was a candidate for an at-large seat on the Tustin Unified School District school board in California. Twaddell was defeated in the at-large general election on November 8, 2016.
Though Twaddell identified as a Democrat, the school board office was nonpartisan. The 2016 election was her first time running for office.[1]
Twaddell participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 school board candidate survey. Click here to read her responses.
Biography
Twaddell earned a bachelor's degree from Central Michigan University, a master's degree in special education, a learning handicapped credential, and an administrative credential from California State University at Stanislaus, and a doctorate in educational psychology from the University of the Pacific. She is a member of Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) and READ OC.[1]
Elections
2016
Three of the five seats on the Tustin Unified School District Board of Education were up for at-large general election on November 8, 2016. In their bids for re-election, incumbents Tammie Bullard, James Laird, and Francine Pace Scinto defeated challengers Matthew Singer, Karen Twaddell, and Elias Teferi.[2][3]
Results
| Tustin Unified School District, At-large General Election, 4-year terms, 2016 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Tammie Bullard Incumbent |
23.81% | 23,040 |
| James Laird Incumbent |
23.05% | 22,304 |
| Francine Pace Scinto Incumbent |
22.93% | 22,190 |
| Matthew Singer | 11.74% | 11,361 |
| Karen Twaddell | 11.67% | 11,296 |
| Elias Teferi | 6.78% | 6,563 |
| Total Votes | 96,754 | |
| Source: Orange County Registrar of Voters, "2016 Presidential General Election Official Results for Election," accessed December 7, 2016 | ||
Funding
Twaddell reported no contributions or expenditures to the Orange County Registrar of Voters as of November 1, 2016.[4]
Endorsements
Twaddell was endorsed by the community organization Evolve.[5]
Campaign themes
2016
Ballotpedia survey responses
Karen Twaddell, Ed. D. participated in Ballotpedia's 2016 survey of school board candidates. In response to the question "What do you hope to achieve if elected to the school board?" the candidate stated on September 16, 2016:
| “ | If elected, I hope to ensure that all children in this school district have a chance to succeed. Every child can, but at their own level and at their own pace, and it is up to the school district to make sure such progress takes place for all children. The goal is to make students as fully functional in all areas as they can be by the time they reach adulthood, and it is sometimes very difficult for teachers to reach all levels. So that begs the question-how can the district help all teachers help all students? It seems that one of the responsibilities of the school board would be to make sure that all steps to reach this goal take place, within the confines of curriculum, training,standards, and any other areas that will lead to student progress-for all students.[6][7] | ” |
Ranking the issues
The candidate was asked to rank the following issues based on how they should be prioritized by the school board, with 1 being the most important and 7 being the least important. Each ranking could only be used once.
| Education policy |
|---|
 |
Click here to learn more about education policy in California. |
| Education on the ballot |
| Issue importance ranking | |
|---|---|
| Candidate's ranking | Issue |
| Closing the achievement gap | |
| Improving education for special needs students | |
| Improving post-secondary readiness | |
| Improving relations with teachers | |
| Expanding school choice options | |
| Balancing or maintaining the district's budget | |
| Expanding arts education | |
| “ | Each of these areas is important. It is not really a matter of ranking them 1-7, or listing which is the most important to the least important. It is a matter of maintaining and improving all, from education for all students, to good solid relations with teachers, to great and effective curriculum, to maintaining a solid budget. I do not think the question is rank in order of priority, but maintain all effectively and simultaneously.[7] | ” |
| —Karen Twaddell, Ed. D. (September 16, 2016) | ||
Positions on the issues
The candidate was asked to answer nine questions from Ballotpedia regarding significant issues in education and the school district. The questions are highlighted in blue and followed by the candidate's responses. Some questions provided multiple choices, which are noted after those questions. The candidate was also provided space to elaborate on their answers to the multiple choice questions.
| Should new charter schools be approved in your district? (Not all school boards are empowered to approve charter schools. In those cases, the candidate was directed to answer the question as if the school board were able to do so.) |
|---|
| Yes. A word of caution here. Any new school coming into an established district needs to be carefully looked at before approval and start date. But just because a charter school wants to come in to any given public school district is not an automatic reason to stifle the entry. Many factors need to be considered before entry of a charter school, but these schools should be given every opportunity to come into any district and be a part of school choice. |
| Which statement best describes the ideal relationship between the state government and the school board? The state should always defer to school board decisions, defer to school board decisions in most cases, be involved in the district routinely or only intervene in severe cases of misconduct or mismanagement. |
| The state should defer to school board decisions in most cases. |
| Are standardized tests an accurate metric of student achievement? |
| No. While standardized tests are important and used as benchmarks for leveling or placements, they are one aspect of student achievement. Achievement also takes place throughout the total school year, and not just during the window of testing opportunity. While they are one measure of student progress and achievement, they are not the only measure, and it should be the sum of all the measures which should be considered when looking at student growth. |
| What is your stance on the Common Core State Standards Initiative? |
| While I believe the premise is sound, I think there are still too many questions left about Common Core. I think teachers do their best to implement it, but not every district has thorough training or sufficient materials. Without such, any state standards will not be totally successful. |
| How should the district handle underperforming teachers? Terminate their contract before any damage is done to students, offer additional training options, put them on a probationary period while they seek to improve or set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district? |
| Set up a mentorship program for the underperforming teacher with a more experienced teacher in the district. Any person in difficulty, or underperforming, should be given a chance to improve if they want to take that opportunity. It comes down to choices. Are they aware they are underperforming? Do they want to improve? All options, before termination, should take place. Mentorship, additional training, and a probationary period while all this is taking place, should be offered. If the person chooses not to take advantage of these opportunities, that's one issue. If they want to take advantage of guidance and help, then that's what should take place before any termination is considered. |
| Should teachers receive merit pay? |
| Yes. There are good teachers who work very hard for the sake of the students. There are teachers who may need more training and help to get to that point, but sometimes that help just does not come, for whatever reason. I think great teachers would not take the merit pay, because they teach for the students they work with, but I believe every great teacher deserves a boost. Business companies give bonuses, why not afford teachers the same reward system? |
| Should the state give money to private schools through a voucher system or scholarship program? |
| No. There is separation of church and state in this country, and private schools are generally considered a facet of "church". At least those private schools with a religious aspect to them. So any religious-based school would not be able to receive state money. If the private school was considered to be "non-profit" or secular, then they should receive state money. |
| How should expulsion be used in the district? |
| Carefully, and with caution. But in severe cases, expulsion should be used, with the caveat that the student could work his/her way back into the district, if all conditions are met. |
| What's the most important factor for success in the classroom: student-teacher ratio, the curriculum, teachers, parent involvement or school administration? |
| Teachers The relationship between student and teacher is most important. It is that relationship which helps determine success for students in any given year. |
Political philosophy
Twaddell described the following as her political philosophy.
| “ | I chose to run for office because of my background and expertise in the public school system. I have the background, the education and the experience to make a difference. I have lived in Tustin for a little over 3 years now. This has been a good move for me and I would like to give back to this city, in the best way I can.[7] | ” |
| —Karen Twaddell (September 15, 2016)[1] | ||
She also added the following statement.
| “ | Since my background is in Education and in teaching students (although I have also been an administrator and am well aware of budgets, funding, standards and the function of a school board (I previously was a District Administrator, and, as such, served as a part of the panel for school board meetings) I started a small tutoring business after I moved here. Many of the students I tutor attend school in Tustin. I talk to parents and students and listen to what they say. I have been in some of the Tustin Schools. As a CASA for Orange County, my first case was with a Tustin student. I would like to make sure that all Tustin students have every opportunity to succeed, and I think being a part of the school board would be an effective avenue toward that goal.[7] | ” |
| —Karen Twaddell (September 15, 2016)[1] | ||
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Karen Twaddell Tustin Unified School District. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
See also
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Ballotpedia's Biographical Information Submission Form, "Karen Twaddell's responses," September 15, 2016
- ↑ Orange County Registrar of Voters, "Candidate Filing Log," accessed August 15, 2016
- ↑ Orange County, "Orange County Unofficial Results for Election," accessed November 9, 2016
- ↑ Orange County Registrar of Voters, "Orange County Public Portal for Campaign Finance Disclosure," accessed November 1, 2016
- ↑ Evolve, "Endorsements: November 8, 2016 General Election," accessed October 13, 2016
- ↑ Ballotpedia School Board Candidate Survey, 2016, "Karen Twaddell, Ed. D.'s responses," September 16, 2016
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
| 2016 Tustin Unified School District Elections | |
| Orange County, California | |
| Election date: | November 8, 2016 |
| Candidates: | At-large: • Incumbent, Tammie Bullard • Incumbent, James Laird • Incumbent, Francine Pace Scinto • Matthew Singer • Elias Teferi • Karen Twaddell |
| Important information: | What was at stake? • Additional elections on the ballot • Key deadlines |
