He last taught at Ethel I. Baker Elementary School in Sacramento. Students enter the school system at a disadvantage when they come from low socioeconomic situations. We need universal preschool, so all children can come to kindergarten with the phonemic awareness that will prepare them for reading. Just hearing songs, stories and nursery rhymes gives children an advantage. In addition to promoting early education, we need to make our urban public schools the center of the community - not just a place to educate children.
Schools can be a place where parents take classes, perhaps to learn English.
Schools can provide health information and referral services. Schools can give the community whatever it needs. Parents, in addition to getting the services they need, will become more involved in the school and their child's education in order to help their children succeed. One of the biggest issues and problems facing urban schools is the ability to hire and retain qualified staff. We should be attracting already-trained teachers to take on the challenges of teaching here.