[Speech for Campaign Kickoff 9/10 by Tony Qin, Candidate for Evergreen School District Board Member]

        Hello, everyone! Thank you for your support. Thank you, our honorable guests. Thank you, my fellow Evergreen residents. Thank you all very much for coming! 

        The education system is a human system. It is neither a mechanical system, nor a system for streamlined production, in which failed products can be abandoned or recycled. We cannot afford a system that allows some students to succeed and others to fail. Our education system must ensure every child is successful, and every child’s potential maximized. In short, No Child Left Uninspired!

        We frequently hear talk of money, and I know that our schools are short of money, and will always be, even for another 100 years to come. But this should not be an excuse for our schools to fail in their mission to deliver quality education to our children. It is critically important that our spending priorities will focus on student’s achievement, focus on facilitating student’s learning, and focus on stimulating student’s curiosity and creativity.

        California is the richest state in America. However, this year 2016, our public education has been ranked in the bottom 10 states, due to very low reading and math test results, as well as a very high dropout rate.

        My friends, fellow parents, don’t you feel the pain? Don’t you? I do! That’s why I chose to stand out. And I hope you will stand out, too. The community will stand out. Together, together we can make our schools outstanding!

        Our education system must be worthy of our community. The education system must be high-performing. A high-performing education system must have strong support for its teachers. Teachers are the lifeblood of education. Our children need quality teachers who are professional and conscientious, who are enthusiastic in education, and who are always willing to pursue excellence in their teaching.

        A high-performing education system must have close links with the community. A collaborative community must play an important role in our education system.

        A high-performing education system must also have a broad and diverse curriculum. Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics, so-called STEM, are important for students, but they are not enough. Students also need Arts education, such as music, drama, drawing, and painting, to put the “A” into STEM to make it STEAM, so that we can have a complete spectrum of well-rounded educational programs.

        I have personally experienced how education uplifted my life. To be honest, I was born in a poor Chinese village and started working in farming fields at the age of 5, but I fought my way up and earned my Ph.D. from Oxford University. Now I wish to serve my community by creating a public education environment of “No Child Left Uninspired”. I will work to expand a rich STEAM curriculum, engage in transparent communications with parents and teachers, and serve as a link between the school board and our community to ensure students get the best education possible.

          Surely this campaign, just like any other, is an uphill journey. It is like pushing a huge rock to the top of the Evergreen back hills, a task which is beyond any single individual’s capability. Instead, it requires collective teamwork. Luckily, we have a very committed and enthusiastic campaign committee, as well as a big group of volunteers and supporters. Even today, we have many hardworking volunteers who made this campaign kickoff possible. Volunteers, I want to thank you! Thank you so much for your time and effort, for your determination and dedication. My sincere appreciation also goes to all of those who generously contributed financial support to our campaign.

        Last but not least, my deepest thanks go to my family: my wife and children. Without their support, this campaign wouldn’t have been started at all.

        There are just 58 days until the November election. Please join me, join my campaign with your enthusiasm and desire for better schools. Evergreen schools need new ideas, new vision, and a new board member to adapt to the demographic change. Vote for me, vote for me in November. I count on you.

          Together, we will win in November!

          Together, we will Make Evergreen Schools Evergreat!

          Thank you!