Cedar Rapids Education Association makes recommendations in upcoming school board elections

DES MOINES, IA (08/28/2015)(readMedia)-- For further information, please contact:

CREA, UniServ Director, Kim Miller

Ph.319-366-5585 (work)

319-551-1452 (cell)

kmiller@isea.org

The Cedar Rapids Education Association (CREA), representing professional employees in the Cedar Rapids Community School District (CRCSD), is recommending the following three candidates for election to the CRCSD Board of Education held on Tuesday, September 8, 2015:

• Rafael Jacobo

• Kristin Janssen

• John Laverty

"A panel of CREA officers and members interviewed each candidate seeking support from teachers who filed for the Cedar Rapids School Board. CREA interviewed each with a series of questions of interest to our membership," said Pete Clancy, Vice President of the CREA and an English teacher at Washington High School. "The Cedar Rapids community is fortunate to have excellent citizens running for the School Board. However, with only four seats up for election, and two candidates choosing not to participate in the CREA endorsement process, we could only recommend three of the seven. We are proud to support Rafael Jacobo, Kristin Janssen, and John Laverty, and are recommending them to our members for the school board election on September 8," said Clancy.

Rafael Jacobo has earned the support of educators in part due to his strong commitment to "Equity for all students in the District..." He seeks to collaborate with others – both on and off the board - to determine the impact and effectiveness of new and existing programs related to student equity.

Kristin Janssen notes that "As a community we need to make sure all of our students are a priority and getting the resources they need to succeed." Her enthusiasm for ensuring that there are adequate paths to success not exclusively through a heavy reliance on Advanced Placement participation will serve the District well on the Board.

During his two terms on the Board, John Laverty has demonstrated his willingness to listen and then advocate for concerns expressed by educators. He acknowledges that obtaining input from those in the class room is just as important as hearing from administrators, parents, students and the community to reach quality Board decisions.

The CREA is the exclusive bargaining representative of the professional employees in the Cedar Rapids Community School District and is affiliated with the Iowa State Education Association (ISEA) and the National Education Association (NEA).

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