Why I am Running For
SBCUSD School Board

By Mary Ellen Abilez Grande

First, and above all else, I love the kids, the teenagers, the young adults. I honor parents as a partner in learning and teaching. I love to inspire students in some way to bring out their best! I love my parents and I truly understand what they go through everyday.  I myself raised three daughters, single mom, working, unemployed, welfare, sad, injured, sick-but then I went to a Regional Occupational Program and learned how to type! I met people who inspired me to succeed! My Volcano Lava grew and grew, and I met many more inspirational people along my way! I met other students, young and old, other parents young and old, at Community College then at Cal State, all within my reach thanks to our beautiful and supportive community. Twelve years of college later as a teacher for our awesome school district I truly found my life’s purpose-to create a team environment that allows for learning, thinking, action and FUN to occur!  I am running because I love seeing kids grow up and doing their best for us all. I love that parents trust that I truly care about their child. I’m running because I know what parents want, we all want the same things no matter our story. We want our kids to learn everything, to succeed and be happy. We want them to have a good life and an even better one that we had, and a bright future where they don’t suffer, not for a minute. That’s why parents look to us, teachers in the classroom, or on a School Board, to care for our kids not as IF  they matter but BECAUSE they matter.  Our kids should always be happy to go to school, feel safe, where they can best learn from teachers and other kids, where they learn not just Academics, but Fine Arts, Music, and yes, Dance! This is my why.