https://www.jamelasmithfolds.com/endorsements daily 0.75 2024-09-12 https://www.jamelasmithfolds.com/donate daily 0.75 2024-07-09 https://www.jamelasmithfolds.com/about daily 0.75 2024-08-02 https://www.jamelasmithfolds.com/home daily 1.0 2024-07-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6bd06bd274cb6e162db22b/12533e91-0897-439d-b49f-39cb14ada57d/5FD86ED1-BA7E-4C8E-8806-5F1572147E37_1_201_a.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6bd06bd274cb6e162db22b/1599808651373-ROQ6EFKIYMTAN9FUHT6D/%2720+Jamela+Smith-Folds+Campaign+Fotos-223AA-DG.jpg Home - Supporting and Serving the Community My service extends far beyond what I did as a teacher to the larger community. I have a history of volunteering inside and outside the school community. I understand that educating the whole child happens within the broader context of the community. Serving with the whole child in mind ensures students have the necessary support to become the best versions of themselves. Service is my oxygen. I will always find a way to serve. As your board trustee and current board president, I have attended all board meetings and countless additional meetings and events. It is imperative for me as a board members to keep my feet on the ground, in order to make informed board decisions. NAACP (National Association for the Advancement of Colored People) member BWOPA (Black Women Organization for Political action) member HEF (Hercules Education Foundation) board member El Cerrito Democratic Club member West Contra Costa Democratic Club member Hercules Middle and High School APPAC (African American Parent Advisory Council) member Lupine Hills Elementary School AAPAC member Hercules Democratic Club member DPCCC (Democratic Party of Contra Costa County) member Hercules High School Climate Team member Attendee of Area 1 SSC (School Site Council) meetings Attendee of Area 1 PTAs and PTOs Attendee of WCCUSD district cabinet meetings Attendee of CBOC meetings (Citizens Bond Oversight Committee) Attendee of 7-11 meetings Attendee of DLCAP meetings Attendee of MDAC (Multilingual Advisory Committee) meetings Attendee of AASAT (African American Site Advisory Team) meetings Attendee of CAC meetings WCCUSD Literacy Task Force member WCCUSD Black Graduation Committee member WCCUSD Graduation Committee member WCCUSD Budget Committee member WCCUSD Governance Committee member WCCUSD Black Women in Leadership Luncheon Committee member WCCUSD Black Student of Honors Committee member WCCUSD Safety Committee member ************************************************ BSU (Black Student Union) Teacher advisor 2019-2020 Former Hercules Middle School Climate Team member Former PHREED (Pinole, Hercules, Rodeo, El Sobrante, for equity and diversity) member Former Hercules Middle School PTO member Former Hercules High School PTO member Former Hercules Middle School SSC (School Site Council) member Former Hercules High School SSC (School Site Council) member Former Hercules High School EOS (Equal Opportunity School) Coordinator 2019-2020 Former Hercules Middle School ASL (American Sign Language) club mom Former Class of 2023 Class Mom Former BPREP (Black Parents Raising Exceptional People) support group member Former BEN (Black Educator Network) current past president Former Hercules Middle School Geography Club mom Former Hercules Middle School Gardening Club mom Former Hercules High School Garden Committee member Former Hercules Middle School Library Club mom Former Middle School Assistant coach for volleyball, girl’s basketball, and soccer Former Hercules Middle School Mafanikio Black History teacher HARPP (Hercules Against Racism in Practice and Policing) founding member PEACH (Parents for the Educational Advancement Community of Hercules) founding member EBWPA (East Bay Women’s Political Alliance) member https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6bd06bd274cb6e162db22b/1599807578638-GV2LZHZLSL38IOLJ60QJ/HeadShotsCampaign_3.jpg Home - A Message from Jamela I have the spirit of service. I am running for reelection to the school board trustee in Area 1 to serve you and your family. Area 1 includes Hercules, Pinole, and a part of Richmond. I know what teachers, students, and parents need to have a successful school experience. It is my commitment and dedication to the desired outcome of success that makes me the best choice to continue as your school board trustee. Equity, sustainability and building capacity in policies and programs that have embedded measurements for growth are the changes I will continue bring to the school board. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6bd06bd274cb6e162db22b/1599808570664-0IJM98ZLIBJZJ3LQKY8V/%252720%2BJamela%2BSmith-Folds%2BCampaign%2BFotos-168A-DG.jpg Home - Teacher I am a graduate of Auburn University with a double major in English and History and with a credential to teach. I have been in the field of education for over 20 years. I began my teaching career in 2000. I taught at Auburn High School in Auburn, Alabama. Teaching in Alabama reinforced that teaching is a community job. My first teaching job in California was at Gompers Continuation High School in Richmond, California. I credit Gompers with teaching me that delivering information is the least that a teacher does. A teacher is charged and obligated to create and maintain trusting relationships with parents and students. Recently, I taught at Hercules High School as the Leadership Teacher and Activity Director. As a veteran teacher, I understand that the voice of the teacher, student, and parent must be at the decision making table. Making policy without these voices, bears no fruit. I will continue to turn up the volume on all educational issues in WCCUSD. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6bd06bd274cb6e162db22b/41d44448-e2d6-4324-a2f3-19db6efc7507/Untitled_Artwork.JPEG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6bd06bd274cb6e162db22b/8f3ce089-6b1a-4fba-9399-711793e48ad4/IMG_8057.JPEG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6bd06bd274cb6e162db22b/11ae943b-4276-4d61-b54d-2a454c3c6c5f/IMG_5001.JPEG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6bd06bd274cb6e162db22b/ee2a29e3-2209-4b58-83ca-6bca0f5405d3/IMG_6202.JPEG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6bd06bd274cb6e162db22b/3e0bf032-4457-4856-9869-2d52b0c812f4/IMG_7369.JPEG Home https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6bd06bd274cb6e162db22b/7c7d28f3-5d18-4316-bde4-0202c750cc38/IMG_7082.JPEG Home https://www.jamelasmithfolds.com/platform daily 0.75 2024-08-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5b6bd06bd274cb6e162db22b/1599809258283-SBERT3K4WOLLNAT5GSI0/%252720%2BJamela%2BSmith-Folds%2BCampaign%2BFotos-495AA-DG.jpg Platform - “I am done skipping rocks and making ripples, and ready to continue to toss boulders to make waves.” - Jamela Smith-Folds Policy guides practice. As a veteran teacher and current board member, my philosophy has always been “Do No Harm.” The greatest harm done to our students, parents, and teachers is through poor policy. As a school board trustee, I will continue to focus on policy. School site, school district, and school board policy should be transparent, easily understandable and protective. Antiracist, sustainability, and capacity building are the three criteria by which I will continue to measure policy. Determining if the board should keep, alter, or disregard a policy needs to be based around these three criteria; Equitable policy-one in which all students and parents benefit, Antiracist policy-one in which there is an intentional interrogation around policy that is founded in racism and only benefits a few while continuing to marginalize others, Sustainable policy-one in which accountability and transparency are paramount and can hold up even when people change (These policies are around around systems), and Capacity building policy-one which there are layers for growth inside the policy that aims to increase student and parent ability to use education as a tool for elevation. As a school board trustee, I will continue to ensure that policies are equitable, antiracist, sustainable, and build capacity. Policy Priorities I will work to continue to ensure that: WCCUSD is competitive and performing at or exceeding academic standards of surrounding districts. I will advocate for policy that builds capacity in College and Career readiness for all students that allows access to local high achieving colleges and job acquisition that pays at or above minimum wage. there is sustainable policies around the recruitment, retention, and support of highly effective teachers and leaders in WCCUSD. the policies around equity are measurable and attainable. I will champion equitable policies with the most vulnerable student population at the forefront; including but not limited to, African American students, ELD students, ELL (English Language Learners), foster and homeless youth, and those students with special needs. there are policies increasing parent, guardian, and CBOs (Community Based Organizations) involvement at the school site and district level with the goal of increased opportunities for engagement. I want policies that builds capacity by making sure parents, guardians, and CBOs are at the educational decision making table. existing budgetary policies are beneficial to students and their future and don’t just increase the district’s deficit. While in office, I will continue to create sustainable financial policy that has transparency and accountability built in. that the board continues to interrogate policies, practices, and procedures to ensure that they are antiracist.