SONOMA SUN and EL SOL

Name:
Nicole Abaté Ducarroz

Occupation:
I work as a stay at home mom  and professional volunteer (past : I was a software engineer)

Community involvement:
Since moving to Glen Ellen in 1999, I have been actively involved in parenting, family and school organizations. I have organized playgroups, served as a board member of the Sonoma Mothers’ Club, was a founder and governance council member of the Woodland Star Charter School, a trustee of the Woodland Star Educational Foundation and a founder of Little Star Preschool.

Family:
My husband, Jean-Francois Ducarroz, is from Geneva, Switzerland.  Our children are Nikita (8), Jonas (5) and Julien (1).  I have two local sisters, Jules Abaté (with her 4 _-year-old twins, Mickey and Val); and Lynn Abaté Johnson (and her husband Corey Johnson); and a brother, Anthony Abate (and his 3-year-old son, Rafe). My mother, Rosemary Hakim, will be moving here soon from Michigan.  
In Michigan is my father, Michael D. Abaté, who is a lawyer and roller rink owner.
In San Diego is my sister, Angela Aymin, her husband and 4 children.
In a wider circle, I have my children’s school family, the mother’s club family, our playgroup family, the school district family and my broader Sonoma family.

Offices held:
Most recently are Woodland Star Educational Foundation Board, Woodland Star Governance Council, Little Star Preschool Board, Mother’s Club Board

1. What was your inspiration to run for school board?
Serving on Woodland Star’s governance council, I learned what it takes to start a school and to have effective collaborative leadership.  I am concerned that the current infighting on the SVUSD board imperils the education of our valley’s children. I want to bring a new spirit of collaboration to the SVUSD board. I have the experience, ideas, enthusiasm and desire to help increase our district’s revenue, to strengthen parent-teacher partnerships, to foster community, and to support programs. I will work to put the word “unified” back into the Sonoma Valley Unified School District.


2. What do you see as the biggest challenge facing the school district in the upcoming year? The next four years?
Our most pressing practical need is financial. California is one of the lowest-funded states for public education, and one of the most expensive places to live. We also have a large population of ELL students and an unfunded federal mandate that doesn’t recognize the unique challenges of our district. I think our biggest challenge internally is to begin to work with a genuine spirit of collaboration to serve the needs of all the valley’s children. We need to rise above special interests and restore children to primary importance. I think our biggest challenges over the next four years will continue to be finance and meeting the increasing demands of No Child Left Behind.

3. What do you think the school board’s role is in regard to the No Child Left Behind sanctions placed on some of the schools?  
It is quite clear that if a school enters into year 3 or more, the district and board are required to intervene to help the school get out of PI status. How the board intervenes is especially important; more than ever, this is a time for unified action on behalf of our endangered schools. As a board member I will provide leadership to empower the professional district staff to plan solutions that engage the full cooperation of all involved—teachers, administrators, parents and students.
 
4. Do you feel the current programs for English learners is sufficient or lacking and why?
I have been visiting all of the schools these past few weeks.  While my own children are bilingual, I realize not every child learns English in the same way.  Some of our ELLs are older students who are newcomers here, whose other academic skills are not up to grade level--so learning English is only one of their challenges. I believe we need to support these students' broader academic needs in Spanish alongside their English language development, like our Newcomer’s program is doing. As well as our wonderful bilingual teachers are doing.  Younger children, on the other hand, can benefit more readily from an English full-emersion program, as offered at most of our schools. For others, I believe the 2-way emersion program at Flowery will provide the most opportunity. I think it is important to provide different choices, so that each child's particular learning style can be met in the most effective way.  Each of our various ELL programs can be supported and strengthened.  

5. What are your thoughts on charter schools?
Children learn in many different ways, and parents value different aspects and methods of education. Charter schools are among the many programs of choice that can effectively address different learning styles and values. I believe charter schools are a viable option for parents, children and teachers; when any of the above are involved in their choice of education, they tend to be more engaged, more committed and more successful. I believe charter schools add to the diversity that makes Sonoma a desirable place to live, and that they support the district’s ability to meet the diverse needs of our children and families.