Claim: I closed Kids Café, harming student work opportunities and community engagement.
Truth: Kids Café was operating at an annual deficit of more than $350,000. We transitioned the program into a Produce Stand model, which significantly reduced costs and expanded student opportunities. As a result, we increased Adult Transition Program student employment from 20 to 70 and grew the number of community-based employment placements, ensuring more students benefited from meaningful work experiences.  Of note, this EdSource article validates our financial and programmatic decision and celebrates our improved student outcomes:  Fresno County shifts job training model to place students with disabilities in workplaces | EdSource

Claim: FCSS staff morale has plummeted.
Truth: In the first few months of my superintendency, I was faced with many fiscal and programmatic issues that needed attention. I made intentional decisions to improve efficiency, collaboration, and fiscal responsibility. Staff salaries have been raised to remain competitive, and resources have been reinvested in student-serving programs while maintaining financial prudence.  Also, the evidence speaks volumes with regard to staff morale in the past three years:

–We conducted a staff engagement/satisfaction survey in January 2025, and earned an 88% result to the question Would you recommend working here.

–For some of our posted openings we have as many as 50 applicants.

–We have had about an even number of retirements for the past 10 years.

–Our Goodwill participation has grown from 80 staff to almost 300 staff in the past two years.

–Our number of nominations for Above and Beyond was at an all-time high of 30, which means our staff are seeing and affirming outstanding work among themselves.

–Our newly created Employee Wellness program is seeing an increase in participation month over month.

Claim: The FCSS Strategic Plan doesn’t mention Literacy.

Truth: First, let’s acknowledge that the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools has a strong sense of direction with a public-facing strategic plan for the first time in decades.  Second, the Plan has five goals, the second goal of Student Achievement encompasses all relevant academic areas, inclusive of ELA or literacy, that the state of California measures for students.