Alicia Fernandez-Mott - ISD Board Candidate Place 3.
Alicia was born and raised as one of eight children in Texas by her mother, a single parent. She attended public schools while her family was in Texas; however, her family was one of many who migrated to the Northern U.S. to work as migrant farm workers to labor in the fields of Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, and Ohio. While in these northern states, Alicia not only toiled with her family in the fields, but also stayed focused on receiving an education.
Recognizing the importance of acquiring an education, Alicia worked to stay committed to learning but had to drop out of high school after completing her sophomore year; she eventually went on to earn her GED. She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in International Business with a minor in Accounting from Bowling Green State University in Ohio and was awarded academic scholarships and various awards while earning this degree. Alicia also raised 3 children and made sure they were educated in the public school systems where they lived.
In 1991, Alicia was recruited by our US Department of Labor to manage job training programs across our nation. In 2003, she and her husband, Charles, relocated from Washington, DC as she was asked to work in the Dallas Regional Office of our US Department of Labor. Of all the municipalities in and around Dallas, she and Charles chose to reside in Irving and make it their new home.
1. What are your qualifications and experience that will make you an effective member of the School Board?
I have a B.S. degree in business administration and accounting from Bowling Green State University (Ohio). As Division Chief with the Employment and Training Administration, U.S. Department of Labor (1991 – 2010), my responsibilities included setting and monitoring performance standards, and financial management of funds to State governments, non-profit organizations, and educational institutions. In addition, I was honored to be commencement speaker at North Lake College (December 2011) mainly due to my commitment to continuing education.
2. What policies will you initiate and support to decrease the dropout rates in your school district?
I will pursue policies and programs that stress the importance of education to parents. We need to improve parent participation in our schools. Parents are the critical factor to motivating and supporting their children’s academic success and continuing education. Moreover, we can learn from the experiences of other school districts regarding successful or unsuccessful initiatives aimed at reducing dropout rates in our schools.
3. What priorities in spending will you support in light of the reduced funding experienced by all Texas school districts?
My priority is to enhance the classroom experience for both student and teachers. This includes investing in our exemplary teachers and providing them with the adequate tools necessary for an effective and enriched learning environment, especially expanding connectivity. The curricula should serve to stimulate and motivate student self-determination in achieving academic excellence and setting personal goals.
4. What initiatives will you support to ensure that teacher morale and working conditions are good?
Teachers are our classrooms. We expect and need their performance in the classroom to be exemplary and consistent. I will support initiatives that reward excellence in the classroom through policies that include competitive salary schedules and a safe working environment.
5. What initiatives will you support to meet the needs of many students for vocational training?
Irving ISD currently has sixteen Signature Programs that offer vocational training. These programs prepare students for entry level employment or higher education in their chosen careers. My initiatives would be to monitor student participation in each program, as well as completion or success rates in each program. This will determine individual program value to ISD vocational training and the continuing levels of support needed.
6. What do you see as the top two pressing issues for your School District and what are your solutions or recommendations?
First, residents of North Texas should know the good work Irving’s teachers and administrators already do to enhance the lives and career opportunities of our students. We must continue to build academic excellence.
Second, in conjunction with the State’s mandate for bi-lingual education, the District must critically review available alternatives such as Dual Language and immersion programs relative to the needs of English Language Learners. Parental Choice must be included as an option.
