Ashley Smith Juarez: School Board Candidate District 3

[Metro Jacksonville]

Ashley Smith Juarez: School Board Candidate District 3



District 3 pits a fresh faced, talented newcomer to politics against an election veteran.  Ashley Smith Juarez is energetic, impassioned, committed to reform and comes with a sizzling resume.  Join us after the jump for a look at her resume and a brief candidate statement!  Ashley is definitely an asset to this community

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-aug-ashley-smith-juarez-school-board-candidate-district-3

[John P]

I do not see any direct teaching experience working with poor children in school. 5 years at Bolles and administrative and supervisory jobs after that do not shout "I know how to help kids in poverty learn."

[SaraD]

John P.: Hi there! My name is Sara and I am helping Ashley with her campaign. She is out walking door to door all day today and I wanted to make sure you got a response to your question. I don't think there was enough room for her entire resume. Ashley has worked as a teacher in public schools as well; both as a substitute teacher and also with students who were learning English as a second language. 

Additionally, while working with Communities in Schools Ashley worked with struggling students in 13 different Duval County Public Schools. She worked with the students, parents, guidance counselors, teachers, principals and volunteer mentors to help the students graduate and reach their potential. She also has worked with students from all socio-economic backgrounds in her volunteer and foundation work.

In her current job Ashley travels the country examining best practices in education and education policy and works to bring those successes back to Jacksonville. I have personally known Ashley for 16 years and I can attest to her passion for public education and her firm determination that ALL children in Jacksonville deserve access to a high quality PUBLIC education.

[fieldafm]

Very proud to be voting for Ashely Smith Juarez today!

[mtraininjax]

I do not see any direct teaching experience working with poor children in school. 5 years at Bolles and administrative and supervisory jobs after that do not shout "I know how to help kids in poverty learn."

+1

I find it disingenuous to have the campaign manager speak for the candidate too. After all, who is voting at the school board, the manager or the candidate?

A more detailed description of the issues Ashley found at the local level would help me and my decision against Suzanne. I voted for Jenkins because she has worked in the community and she has a very good idea about our area.

[mtraininjax]

Since Sarah could actually answer the question raised factually I felt that the information was more important.

If the information was THAT important, a candidate can take the 5-10 minutes and make time for MJ.  Look forward to more discussions, WITH the actual candidate.

After all, if you cannot get 5-10 minutes NOW, what about when you want 5-10 minutes with the board member on a topic at the school?

[rippley408]

John P.: Hi there! My name is Sara and I am helping Ashley with her campaign. She is out walking door to door all day today and I wanted to make sure you got a response to your question. I don't think there was enough room for her entire resume. Ashley has worked as a teacher in public schools as well; both as a substitute teacher and also with students who were learning English as a second language. 

Additionally, while working with Communities in Schools Ashley worked with struggling students in 13 different Duval County Public Schools. She worked with the students, parents, guidance counselors, teachers, principals and volunteer mentors to help the students graduate and reach their potential. She also has worked with students from all socio-economic backgrounds in her volunteer and foundation work.

In her current job Ashley travels the country examining best practices in education and education policy and works to bring those successes back to Jacksonville. I have personally known Ashley for 16 years and I can attest to her passion for public education and her firm determination that ALL children in Jacksonville deserve access to a high quality PUBLIC education.

I voted for Ashley in the August election, but I don't know if I will vote for her again. I heard her speak at a two-hour candidates' forum at one of the high schools, and I was impressed by her depth of knowledge. I also spoke with her one-to-one for fifteen minutes on another occasion.  She definitely had a bigger view, a national view, of education. I even went onto FaceBook and told my friends to vote for her. And I was impressed by Suzanne Jenkins but was put off by the fact that she never went to college. To me, it matters whether a school board member completed college.

However, with Ashley, I still have lingering doubts. For example, why does she have SO MUCH MONEY to campaign. Who is funding her campaign. I understand that she comes from a wealthy family, and that's fine. But is all of the money coming from the family?  Who is behind her?  What will they expect from her once she gets on the board.  In all of my contact with her, I get the sense she is hiding something.  Until I find out who is funding her, I am keeping an open mind. Maybe it would be okay to have Suzanne Jenkins on the School Board.

[mtraininjax]

However, with Ashley, I still have lingering doubts. For example, why does she have SO MUCH MONEY to campaign. Who is funding her campaign.

By the same people who got Brown elected, look through those donors, and you will find her backers.  I prefer someone with experience and Suzanne Jenkins, has been a force in Jacksonville for many years and can go much good on the School Board, as she did for the City Council.

We have elected a number of inexperienced people lately, within the last year, do we need to continue the trend? The trend has not served us well as of yet.

[tufsu1]

However, with Ashley, I still have lingering doubts. For example, why does she have SO MUCH MONEY to campaign. Who is funding her campaign.

By the same people who got Brown elected, look through those donors, and you will find her backers. 

yes and no...since Ashley works at the Chartrand Foundation, I'm sure Gary and his family have chipped in a good bit....in the Mayoral race, Gary put his money with Hogan.

and Suzanne Jenkins has Peter Rummell behind her.

[Jaxson]

I am not surprised that Ashley Smith-Juarez and the Chartrand Foundation have parted ways.  This may be a positive step toward dispelling the perception of Ms. Smith-Juarez as being a Manchurian Candidate who was planted into the school board to cause trouble.  I have met with her personally and have found her to be someone who has an open mind toward improving our schools.  She presents an eloquent vision of a school board that indeed listens to all stakeholders - this is something that I cannot say for many policymakers on the state and local levels. 
The circumstances of the separation are not relevant, in my opinion, as it is a personnel matter that is best left between Ms. Smith-Juarez and her former employer. but what is pertinent is how she chooses to carry out her duties unencumbered by concerns about her integrity.  I wish her the best.

[Jaxson]

I don't disagree with you on that one.

[tufsu1]

I am not surprised that Ashley Smith-Juarez and the Chartrand Foundation have parted ways. 

if you read the article, you would note that they will no longer be staffing the foundation...and that staff resources will come from the Community Foundation

[Jaxson]

I did read the article, and I stand by my original statement.  I did not mean to imply anything pejorative, if that is the impression that I gave you.