A SPRINGFIELD EDUCATION ADVOCATE
We Must Do Better
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ABOUT ME
Rooted in Springfield,
Committed to Education
A product of Springfield schools and graduate of Thurston High School, Jonathan has long been an advocate for excellence and accountability in public education. After high school Jonathan attended Lane Community College and then went on to earn a Bachelors of Music Education (BME) from the University of Northern
Colorado and his MBA from the University of New Hampshire. Jonathan spent 15 years as a family business owner before returning to education as a K-12 music teacher. Jonathan and his wife Suzanne have two adult children, both graduates of Springfield High School.
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VALUES
I pledge to support our schools to be safe learning environments for all students.
We must create a safe and respectful learning environment for our students, their families, and staff. We must address behavior issues that create disruption in our schools and that detract from the education of others. In addition to existing programs and strategies that address student behavior, I support efforts to engage with our dedicated staff to explore additional options. I firmly believe that with a toolbox of strategies, challenging behaviors can be significantly reduced so that more learning can take place. At the same time, we can’t alienate students with behavior issues. We must honor all students and their families, especially students with differences. Diversity in our schools offers a richness that benefits the education of every student, but we must keep in mind that with these differences, not every child is going to respond the same to our curriculum. Our curriculum must connect with every student in a way that makes learning feel relevant and meaningful. Student engagement is the key to improved behavior and academic success.
I pledge to listen to students, families and staff.
We must listen. We must listen to the people doing the work, we must listen to our students and families, and we must listen to our community. For too long, there has been a disconnect between the needs of students, families, staff, and the district. I have spent my tenure on the board working to make education a more collaborative process between the board, students, families and staff. But we must do better. Teachers and support staff are proven professionals who work with our students every day. The solutions to many educational challenges can be found by listening and acting on the input from staff, students, and families. Board members are elected to design a system that works for all students. If re-elected, I will redouble my efforts to ensure that all families, regardless of background, feel heard and included.
I pledge to help create schools where every student finds success.
I believe in public education and its mission to educate each and every student so that they can enter the world with the skills and the disposition to follow their dreams. I want every student to leave school with a love, an interest they can’t wait to get to, one which makes their world infinitely bigger. This is why I support our schools offering a full and comprehensive education that includes all the subjects as well as a wide variety of electives from Kindergarten thru 12th grade. Specifically, I believe that the following subjects must be part of the curriculum: language arts, math, science, social studies (including history, civics and geography), health, physical education, music, computer literacy, career and technical education and personal finance. Currently, our elementary students do not receive adequate instructional time in science, social studies, art and social emotional learning. This is clearly at odds with the goal of public education, which is to expose students to all the subjects so they can be prepared to navigate a complex world. A comprehensive and well-rounded education is the rock on which great schools are built.
ENDORSED BY
Nancy Golden - Former Springfield School District Superintendent
State of Oregon Chief Education Officer (retired)
John Lively - Springfield State Representative HD7
Sean Van Gordon - Springfield Mayor
Terry Beyer - Former Oregon State Representative
Lee Beyer - Former Oregon State Senator
Garry Webber - Former Springfield School Board Chair
Joy Marshall - Retired Stand for Children Chair
Local Public School Advocate
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Jonathan Light for School Board
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