Politics

Heather Plotzke – Area C for Poway School Board Trustee

Proud parent moment, as our 2nd oldest son got his Master’s in Education from UC Santa Cruz and chose teach middle school math.

As the mother of five, with three children still school age in the Poway Unified School District at three different school, I am in an unique position of seeing a broad spectrum of both the wonderful things our District has to offer that need protecting; along with where the starting points for changes are. You can all guarantee it between multiple rotating schedules/early out/late start days and being a “single” parent through multiple deployments I am extremely detail orientated and have logistics skills covered.

I have two Associate degrees, one in General Education, the other in Business. I have over 30 years work experience in the area of bookkeeping, 16 of it right here in San Diego County, while at the same time running an at-home business. My business and bookkeeping background will come in extremely useful as I am reading through all the financial and contract documents for the Board.

After my husband retired from a 25+ year career in the Marine Corps our family decided California, Poway Unified Boundaries specifically was were we wanted our “forever home” to be so our children to have the best educational opportunities available. As a parent of students with disabilities, I have been advocating for my children and others in our community. I have been a member of the Board of Education’s CAC (Community Advisory Committee) for going on six years now, three of which holding an executive office. I am a regular proponent of pushing the boundaries for parents partnering with the District on projects, and for parents to have a seat a the table when it comes to input for new programs and the future trajectory of the District.

The How

I have been asked more times than I can count in the last few months “WHY”. Either why I’m running, why would I want to get into politics, why run for the School Board. My questions back begin with “HOW”. How could I not! How could I just sit back and do nothing while our schools needed help. How would I look my kids in the eye if I sat back and did nothing, knowing that people were going to run that wanted to tear apart some of the best parts of our District. How could I share not just my goals, but the plans I have to help find solutions to our needs if i didn’t stand up. How could I not run, knowing I was the most qualified person for job. The why is the simple part….

Our Why

My family and I decided I should run for the School Board because we strongly believe in teaching our children to fight for the changes that are needed and protecting the rights of those around them. At this polarizing time in our District and Country I needed STAND UP to be that change as well. I am asking you, my fellow neighbors, community members, and parents, to allow me to continue to advocate not just for my children, or the children on the committees I volunteer for, but FOR ALL OUR CHILDREN BY VOTING FOR ME this November the 8th for the Area C – Poway Unified School Board of Education Trustee Seat.

NOVEMBER 8TH…be sure to mark

HEATHER PLOTZKE for Poway Unified School District AREA C

PRIORITIES NOW & FUTURE

ENDORSEMENTS

• The hiring crisis for credentialed and classified workers. We must stop the bleeding of funds and employee morale due to outsourcing.  We need to look more aggressively at new ways to bring in new staff; such as going after college students in the middle of their final program year, instead of after graduation.
• Funding for mental health professionals, past the special federal grants and one time state budget increase. When I talk about there being safety in our schools from both physical and emotional harm for students, that is impossible in the current unhealthy atmosphere of many of our campuses, especially middle school sites as bullying is at epidemic proportions. Left unchecked, the next parents we hear from at board meetings will be discussing their child’s death by suicide, mental breakdown due to physical and/or violence they’ve endured, or worse.
• Letting teachers teach! And assuring that all staff have their requested, necessary training.  We have general education teachers, special education teachers, as well as classified staff working towards inclusive practices without providing the tools needed for success.
• Partnering with all stakeholders for input on major policies, including processing and implementing received feedback as a team instead of the top-tier down system we currently have in place.
• Improvements I would like to see once elected are better public explanations from the district.  There could be a press briefing after the Board meetings addressing hot topics which would be separate from the board briefs (summarized minutes). This will allow fact-checking and responses to the most pressing public comment topics.

Show your support – I’d love to get you sign for your Yard or for your Car Dashboard email me plotzke4pusd@gmail.com

• PFT – Poway Federation of Teachers Union
• San Diego Democratic Education Alliance
•  San Diego County Democratic Party 
• San Diego Democrats for Equality
• Run Women Run
• Rancho Bernardo Democratic Club
• PQ Democratic Club
• Poway Democratic Club
• San Diego County Democratic North Inland Area Caucus
• San Diego Democratic Central Committee

Poway Democratic Club

This was the 1st Safety Summit of the school year. I found what County Office Of Education Rep Tim Ware to have had the most enlightening information of the night. I liked how he talked about when doing school grounds assessments you start with outlining neighborhoods 1st, then working your way towards the school. He Saud that he also puts not only his safety an defensive lens on, but his “father’s eye view” into everything he looks at. The panel stayed, farther longer then expected do to the amount of questions, and there were a lot still left unanswered. The next meeting will be related to social and emotional, mental health; how that plays into safety and what the district is doing to help make a difference Dec 8th. All informational slides from last night are available on the Student Support Services page of the District.

If you are in the Pink – YOU are Area C and I hope I can count on your vote

LATEST UPDATES

Poway USD’s 1st ever inclusion Summit! This was for all Teachers, General and Special Education, along with Admin from the school sites. I am so grateful to have been invited as the Chair of the Community Advisory Committee. I got to Fan-Girl over seeing LIVE all the way from CANADA, Shelley Moore! She’s amazing!!! If you want the slide-deck from any of the three presentations she gave yesterday (Elementary, Middle, and High School) they are posted on her Blog under 09/19/2022’s date documents. I was also thrilled to be able to spend time with the 1,500+ teachers on hand today, and I did my best to circulate and be a good listener when it came to what is working and what is not for Co-teaching and Inclusive practices at their sites. A lot of the teachers had great ideas that could be improved on making the experience better for the students and so life-changing for the teachers! I cannot wait to take back and share the stories and process the feedback I heard!

CAC’s Back to School Meet & Greet

The Plotzke Crew

Brunzell for Area B &
Plotzke for Area C

Poway USD CAC had an amazing turn out at this year’s “Back to School Meet and Greet”! We had a HUGE turn out of families this year and I am so proud to be a part of this community. I know we helped get a lot of Special Education families information to make the start of the school year successful! Thanks to all the school staff, teachers, and District staff that either stopped by to visit or volunteered. As well as our amazing entertainment and vendors. So proud to be a part of TEAMPUSD! Ever wondered why someone works in Special Education, or why “that Parent” who looks extra frazzled most days, but then you see them crying for no reason at the simplest thing…maybe this video will help you understand. These moments don’t come often

7/16/2022

Officially announcing that I am running for candidate as of today for Area C BOE seat! No backing out now I’ve started making calling and posting on social media. So as I told my 16 year-old as she left for her first behind the wheel driver’s ed training, “take a deep breathe and remember you are amazing, you’ll do great!” I want to do GREAT things for you, so I’m taking a deep breathe, and I’m ready!

Subscribe

Sign up for a weekly newsletter with the latest blog posts and exclusive content. In your inbox every Tuesday!

Contact
Privacy
Terms & Conditions