Submitted by Nancy Ratcliffe
In the midst of this tumultuous election season, there are two local candidates I strongly endorse: Carrie Downey for Mayor and Dr. Helen Anderson-Cruz for School Board. I have known these women for 22 and 25 years, respectively, and both are imminently qualified for the offices they seek.
Over the past 25 years, I have known Helen as a caring mother who has always been passionate about Coronado education. Often, she would volunteer in my kindergarten classroom despite her daughter not being a student in my class.
Helen has also been passionate about her career as an educator. She has taught at every level from K-12 through undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs. Indeed, she was one of my professors when I earned my Masters degree in Educational Technology, so I have first-hand experience with the high expectations she has for schools, their teachers and their students.
Helen has served as a Panel member for California Department of Education Commission on Teacher Credentialing Language Arts panel for WASC (Western Association of Schools and Colleges) accreditation.
As a member of our Board of Education, Helen would bring the perspective of both a parent and an educator. Her daughter is a first grade teacher at Village Elementary and her granddaughter is a kindergartener at the Early Childhood Development Center, which are even more reasons for Helen to be completely committed to the welfare of the students, teachers, administrators, and future of the Coronado Unified School District.
Nancy Ratcliffe
