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MEDIA RELEASE:
Veteran teacher, administrator, scholar, and past school board member and president Patricia Martinez-Miller announces her candidacy for the South Pasadena School Board. Known for her collaboration, accountability and innovative problem solving, the longtime South Pasadena resident is motivated to return to the Board in response to the unprecedented complexity and financial uncertainty of our times. Martinez-Miller cares deeply for education as the cornerstone of our community and believes South Pasadena residents can rely on her professional success as a school leader and coach as well as her prior experience as an effective president and three-term school board member.
“I am particularly enthusiastic about returning to serve our community on the SPUSD Board during this very complex time,” said Martinez-Miller. “Because I believe my knowledge and experience can be a resource for the continued success of our students, educators and administrators.” She continued, “South Pasadena Unified has a great strategic plan, but without success measures developed with input from all stakeholders that are reported and acted upon in real time—daily, weekly, monthly—even the best vision is simply a wish.”
Martinez-Miller has not only garnered support for her candidacy from a broad spectrum of residents throughout the city, but also counts the Teachers Association of South Pasadena (TASP) among her endorsements. She has exerted a considerable positive influence as an educator and leader that is felt especially by families, teachers and administrators who seek a meaningful voice in district decisions. 2 of 2
“[Pat’s] wisdom and experience [are] needed now more than ever,” said longtime resident MaryAnn Ahart.
Community member Jan Marshall stated, “As a recently retired public-school teacher, I so appreciate [Pat’s] background working with children of all ages and in a variety of environments.”
“I worked on an education reform effort with Pat nearly 30 years ago,” commented Mary Chambers, former vice president of Los Angeles Educational Alliance for Restructuring Now (LEARN). “She was professional, smart, a listener, willing to ask hard questions, and beloved and respected by all. She understands teaching and learning and how to coach and inspire all school stakeholders to work together to achieve measurable outcomes. I wholeheartedly endorse her candidacy!”
About Patricia Martinez-Miller
A resident since 1979, Patricia Martinez-Miller raised two children with her husband in South Pasadena and is now the proud grandparent to three thriving SPUSD students. She first made her mark in education as an LAUSD teacher and principal. After nearly three decades leading successful efforts to address our nation’s goal of closing the achievement gap, she was recruited as director of faculty for the UCLA Graduate School of Education’s School Management Program. She spent 20 years with UCLA, sharing her expertise across school districts nationwide. She continued her commitment to improve K-12 education as an author, consultant and teacher at CSULA and USC, where she previously earned a doctorate in Spanish language and literature.
Throughout her distinguished career, Martinez-Miller also served on the SPUSD Board (1989–2001). As a three-term member and president, she helped steer SPUSD through continued growth in student achievement, deepened community engagement and improved board/teacher relations.
She is on the Board of Let’s Talk LD, a nonprofit that supports students who learn differently; a volunteer tutor/coach for elementary through high school SPUSD students; and a continuous supporter of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) and the South Pasadena Educational Foundation (SPEF). For more information about Dr. Pat, or to schedule a personal phone call or group Zoom meeting, visit drpatforschoolboard.org.
RELATED EVENTS
Saturdays, Oct. 10, 17, 24, and 31, 2020
10am and 4pm
Virtual Chat with Dr. Pat
Every Saturday in October, join School Board candidate Pat Martinez-Miller via Zoom for Morning Coffee or Afternoon Tea.
Register at: drpatforschoolboard.org
Monday, Oct. 12, 2020
6:30–8:30pm
Virtual South Pasadena School District Candidate Forum hosted by the South Pasadena Chinese-American Club and the League of Women Voters
Register at: https://www.spcc-web.org/events/virtual-candidate-forum-for-south-pasadena-unified-school-district/
