If you have read any local news recently, even just the headlines, you would know that there is a lot wrong in the city of Moreno Valley. In the past few weeks one councilman was arrested on suspicion of fraud and a day later resigned. In the past few months, federal agents raided the homes and businesses of the mayor and city councilmembers as part of a corruption investigation fueled by allegations of influence peddling, campaign violations, and political corruption. The citizens responded with a recall of the entire council. A school board member was found guilty of pimping, pandering, and insurance fraud. Then there was the resignation of the overpaid city manager and the economic development director. This week’s Point of View, written by a leader of the city’s concerned citizens advocacy group, outlines the many scandals and broken promises of economic growth and prosperity that have plagued the city of Moreno Valley in recent years.
But during the week of the mayor’s annual city address, where I anticipate he will not announce what the city really needs – his resignation from office as well as that of the rest of the city council – we thought we would highlight something that is right in the city… the quiet and effective leadership of the city’s public school superintendent.
Last month I had the opportunity to spend one week with 21 teachers and administrators serving the children of Moreno Valley Unified School District. They made up the entirety of our 16 th Annual Underground Railroad Study Tour. Three years ago Superintendent Judy White sent three teachers, a year later a group of ten teachers and parents made the trek, this year 21. Why? “Because I have seen a profound change in people who participate,“ she said to the group at our orientation meeting a few weeks prior to the tour. That profound difference has already yielded
results when earlier this month over 500 parents of students who have been the hardest to reach, have the lowest test scores, and traditionally from the least engaged families met with school leaders, community leaders, and other education professionals to learn how they can access information that will help their children be more successful this academic year and for the rest of their academic lives.
It all starts with strong and visionary leadership, which is what the district has found in the quiet and determined efforts of Superintendent White. Like the educators who joined me last month, Dr. White is determined to transform the lives of the students in the district by transforming their educational experience. She has developed partnerships with parents, teachers, administrators, and staff and created new programs that involve the larger community and support student achievement. Yes, there is some good news in Moreno Valley just look in the classrooms of dedicated
and determined teachers, the homes of engaged families, and the executive offices of a transformed school district.