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Ashley Smith Juarez's Personal Statement
I am running for School Board because I am a lifelong educator dedicated to doing what is best for Jacksonville’s children. Our students and our city deserve excellent schools. I will use my experience as a classroom teacher, student mentor, athletic coach, dropout prevention specialist and director of an education reform foundation to deliver a top‐notch school system for our children and our community. First‐rate public schools are the key component to a better quality of life for every Jacksonville resident. Jacksonville has waited too long for the schools to improve. The time for better schools is now.
I will make sure our schools and our teachers have the support and accountability needed to provide students with safe, inspiring and focused learning environments. My extensive education experience, leadership and determination are what Jacksonville needs to provide an excellent education for every child while maintaining fiscal responsibility. To learn more about my plan for Better Schools Now, please visit the campaign website at www.ashleysmithjuarez.com. Vote Ashley Smith Juarez for School Board on August 14.
Ashley with MetroJacksonvillager Doug Skiles at a cash mob organized by Metrojacksonville stalwart Mike Field!
Resume
Professional Experience:
2011-Present Executive Director, The Chartrand Foundation Jacksonville, FL
Develop programming, grantmaking and grant management strategies and systems that are effective and aligned with the Foundation's vision/mission, and ensure that such strategies and systems are implemented well
Establish accountability standards and systems that track the Foundation's effectiveness and impact
Ensure that Foundation staff are properly selected, supported and guided and that their professional development is nurtured
Assist the Board as appropriate in developing operational budgets and financial tracking systems that are effective; and ensuring that such strategies and systems are implemented well
Contribute to the dialogue, vision and direction of the local community, the field of The Foundation's focus area, and the field of philanthropy
2008-2010
Deputy Director, Chartrand Foundation Jacksonville, FL
Assisted in the research and development of the Neighborhood Schools of Choice (NSC) Initiative, piloted in the New Town Success Zone
Evaluated potential grantee organizations and grant applications
Provided grant oversight, technical support, and guidance to grantees with regard to program management and organizational development
Communicated the goals and practices of The Foundation throughout the community to diverse audiences through written material, presentations and one-on-one conversations
Engaged in reflective practice regarding the grant portfolio and strategic success o Assisted in developing a new strategy and grantmaking framework and practices
2008-Present Community Liaison: H. Smith Inc. Jacksonville, FL
Manage Emily Balz Smith Foundation (EBSF) finances and budget
Facilitate EBSF organizational development including development and implementation of a mission and vision and streamlining of grantmaking practices o Plan and facilitate EBSF Board Meetings and provide opportunities for board involvement in the community
Promote philanthropy and collaboration among philanthropists in the community
2007-2008
Student Advocate, Communities in Schools Jacksonville, FL
2002-2007
Faculty Member, The Bolles School Jacksonville, FL
7th grade US History and 8th grade American Government teacher Coaching assignments (2002-2008)
Provided case management for students and mentors through Take Stock in Children o Assisted in planning and executing events such as contract signings, mentor/student luncheons, Rally in Tally and the Unsung Heroes event
Managed partnerships with other organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters,
MaliVai Washington Kids Foundation and The Atlantic Circle o Conducted mentor recruiting and training sessions
Jesse Ball duPont Excellence in Teaching Award (2004, 2005, 2006) Awarded Duane Ottenstroer Fellowship (2007) *declined due to resignation
Education:
2002 Vanderbilt University Nashville, TN
BS with majors in History and Secondary Education, Magna Cum Laude
To find out more about Ashley Smith Juarez or to donate or help the campaign, check out her campaign website:
http://www.ashleysmithjuarez.com/
District 3 Candidate Ashley Smith Juarez Questionnaire
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John P
August 10, 2012, 08:41:03 AMI do not see any direct teaching experience working with poor children in school. 5 years at Bolles and administrative and supervisory jobs after that do not shout "I know how to help kids in poverty learn."
stephendare
August 10, 2012, 10:28:47 AMSeems like a great question, John P. Perhaps Ashley can answer this question for you before the weekend is out!
SaraD
August 10, 2012, 10:49:23 AMJohn P.: Hi there! My name is Sara and I am helping Ashley with her campaign. She is out walking door to door all day today and I wanted to make sure you got a response to your question. I don't think there was enough room for her entire resume. Ashley has worked as a teacher in public schools as well; both as a substitute teacher and also with students who were learning English as a second language.
Additionally, while working with Communities in Schools Ashley worked with struggling students in 13 different Duval County Public Schools. She worked with the students, parents, guidance counselors, teachers, principals and volunteer mentors to help the students graduate and reach their potential. She also has worked with students from all socio-economic backgrounds in her volunteer and foundation work.
In her current job Ashley travels the country examining best practices in education and education policy and works to bring those successes back to Jacksonville. I have personally known Ashley for 16 years and I can attest to her passion for public education and her firm determination that ALL children in Jacksonville deserve access to a high quality PUBLIC education.
fieldafm
August 14, 2012, 10:09:57 AMVery proud to be voting for Ashely Smith Juarez today!
mtraininjax
August 15, 2012, 11:27:55 AM+1
I find it disingenuous to have the campaign manager speak for the candidate too. After all, who is voting at the school board, the manager or the candidate?
A more detailed description of the issues Ashley found at the local level would help me and my decision against Suzanne. I voted for Jenkins because she has worked in the community and she has a very good idea about our area.
stephendare
August 15, 2012, 11:49:18 AMactually sara was responding to my invitation, Mtrain. Because of the late publication of Ashley's bio, Ashley was over committed to appearances and events in the last five days of the campaign. Since Sarah could actually answer the question raised factually I felt that the information was more important.
However, I think you will be very pleased with the detailed comparisons that we will be able to draw over the next couple of months between the candidates of both runoffs.
mtraininjax
August 15, 2012, 11:51:17 AMIf the information was THAT important, a candidate can take the 5-10 minutes and make time for MJ. Look forward to more discussions, WITH the actual candidate.
After all, if you cannot get 5-10 minutes NOW, what about when you want 5-10 minutes with the board member on a topic at the school?
stephendare
August 15, 2012, 12:01:17 PMI agree, mtrain, and my apologies.
We look forwards to Ashley's live chat as well!
rippley408
August 25, 2012, 07:00:48 AMI voted for Ashley in the August election, but I don't know if I will vote for her again. I heard her speak at a two-hour candidates' forum at one of the high schools, and I was impressed by her depth of knowledge. I also spoke with her one-to-one for fifteen minutes on another occasion. She definitely had a bigger view, a national view, of education. I even went onto FaceBook and told my friends to vote for her. And I was impressed by Suzanne Jenkins but was put off by the fact that she never went to college. To me, it matters whether a school board member completed college.
However, with Ashley, I still have lingering doubts. For example, why does she have SO MUCH MONEY to campaign. Who is funding her campaign. I understand that she comes from a wealthy family, and that's fine. But is all of the money coming from the family? Who is behind her? What will they expect from her once she gets on the board. In all of my contact with her, I get the sense she is hiding something. Until I find out who is funding her, I am keeping an open mind. Maybe it would be okay to have Suzanne Jenkins on the School Board.
mtraininjax
August 25, 2012, 09:40:40 AMBy the same people who got Brown elected, look through those donors, and you will find her backers. I prefer someone with experience and Suzanne Jenkins, has been a force in Jacksonville for many years and can go much good on the School Board, as she did for the City Council.
We have elected a number of inexperienced people lately, within the last year, do we need to continue the trend? The trend has not served us well as of yet.
tufsu1
August 25, 2012, 07:25:50 PMyes and no...since Ashley works at the Chartrand Foundation, I'm sure Gary and his family have chipped in a good bit....in the Mayoral race, Gary put his money with Hogan.
and Suzanne Jenkins has Peter Rummell behind her.
stephendare
December 31, 2012, 12:16:39 PMSince the last posting, Ashley won the runoff election to the School Board.
Today the times union reports that she will no longer be with Chartrand:
Duval County School Board member Ashley Smith Juarez will lose her job at the Chartrand Foundation once the foundation joins forces with another local nonprofit.
Earlier this month, the Chartrand Foundation announced that its operations will combine with The Community Foundation of Jacksonville.
By doing so, the Chartrand Foundation will eliminate its two staff members along with Smith Juarez, who serves as the nonprofit’s executive director.
Smith Juarez, who joined the School Board in December, said after she leaves the Chartrand Foundation, she will look for a job in the nonprofits sector and focus on work with the School Board. She didn’t have an exact date, but Smith Juarez said she will probably leave the foundation this spring.
After a teaching career in Tennessee and in Duval County, Smith Juarez joined the Chartrand Foudnation in 2008. She started as a program officer, then moved to deputy director.
Under the new move, the Chartrand Foundation will dissolve its staff, but the organization itself will still be in existence. When someone wants to apply for a Chartand Foundation grant, the paperwork goes through the Community Foundation staff, but the final yay or nay on getting the money still comes down to the Chartrand family.
Gary Chartrand, who sits on the Chartrand Foundation board, said the move was a difficult decision because it meant losing Smith Juarez.
“We think the world of Ashley,” he said. “She’s done a fantastic job for us. She represented our family well.”
Chartrand said, with Smith Juarez gone, his family is losing the point person who went around town, talking about education reform and sharing the community’s comments with his family.
“Ashley was terrific and she will continue to be terrific in her new position with the School Board,” Chartrand said.
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-12-30/story/new-duval-school-board-member-smith-juarez-loses-job-nonprofit#ixzz2GeOyhrYe
Jaxson
December 31, 2012, 12:37:21 PMI am not surprised that Ashley Smith-Juarez and the Chartrand Foundation have parted ways. This may be a positive step toward dispelling the perception of Ms. Smith-Juarez as being a Manchurian Candidate who was planted into the school board to cause trouble. I have met with her personally and have found her to be someone who has an open mind toward improving our schools. She presents an eloquent vision of a school board that indeed listens to all stakeholders - this is something that I cannot say for many policymakers on the state and local levels.
The circumstances of the separation are not relevant, in my opinion, as it is a personnel matter that is best left between Ms. Smith-Juarez and her former employer. but what is pertinent is how she chooses to carry out her duties unencumbered by concerns about her integrity. I wish her the best.
stephendare
December 31, 2012, 12:42:59 PMim a fan actually.
Jaxson
December 31, 2012, 12:58:44 PMI don't disagree with you on that one.
tufsu1
December 31, 2012, 01:59:16 PMif you read the article, you would note that they will no longer be staffing the foundation...and that staff resources will come from the Community Foundation
Jaxson
December 31, 2012, 02:19:16 PMI did read the article, and I stand by my original statement. I did not mean to imply anything pejorative, if that is the impression that I gave you.