Observer Candidate Questionnaire 2016

Maria Barbosa 

Age 52

Lived in Flagler County 16 ½ years

I am an entrepreneur and business person and have managed small and large businesses. I have successfully run 10 enterprises. I have a degree in Business and bookkeeping. I also have a PHD in Christian Counseling.

I also work with non-profit organizations to help them succeed. Currently I am working with T-Club Teens, Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Key Club (a leadership program for students sponsored by the Kiwanis) and founder and C.E.O. of D.I.V.A.S. International. 

As a wife, mother and grandmother, I am always volunteering in different community organizations and projects. Some of these include; Kiwanis Children’s Summer Camp, Terrific Kids, Summer Camp at Buddy Taylor Middle School, and too many others to mention.

My top three priorities, if elected, will be:

Our Children is my number one concern. Increase parent, student, teacher and citizen involvement with Flagler County Schools and improve the School District interaction with everyone. 

Improve our educational experience for students, including those struggling to achieve on standardized tests. Ensure a fair and comprehensive quality education for all our students. All while effectively managing costs.

Prevent bullying and the terrible affects it can have on students and their educational outcome.

News Journal  Candidate Questionnaire 2016  

News Journal Questions

Maria P. Barbosa 

Age: 52

Profession:

I am an entrepreneur and business person and have managed small and large businesses. I have successfully run 10 enterprises. I have a degree in Business and bookkeeping. I also have a PHD in Christian Counseling. I also work with non-profit organizations to help them succeed. Currently I am working with T-Club Teens, Flagler Palm Coast Kiwanis Key Club (a leadership program for students sponsored by the Kiwanis) and founder and C.E.O. of D.I.V.A.S. International.

I am always volunteering in different community organizations and projects. Some of these include; Kiwanis Children’s Summer Camp, Terrific Kids, A-Game Summer Camp at Buddy Taylor Middle School, Boys and Girls Club Summer Camp at Bunnell Elementary School, WIF Women/Initiative, The Florida Department of DJJ, NAAPC, AAUW Florida, Vice-Chair of Commission on Homelessness for Volusia & Flagler Counties and too many others to mention.

I bring knowledge as a business woman and author of ACCEL youth leadership that no one else has. Through entrepreneur perspective, which is valuable when making decisions on important policy issues such as budgets, teacher support, training, evaluations, job descriptions, materials to adopt, instructional programs, curriculum, standards, and after-school intervention programs.   

List of your top three priorities:

Our Children is my number one concern. Increase parent, student, teacher and citizen involvement with Flagler County Schools and improve the School District interaction with everyone. 

Improve our educational experience for students, including those struggling to achieve on standardized tests. Ensure a fair and comprehensive quality education for all our students.  All while effectively managing costs.

Prevent bullying and the terrible affects it can have on students and their educational outcome.

Political experience:

I did run for school board of Education at Flagler County, 2014.

Coordinator of marketing for a Candidate running for Commissioner

Helping with a district 6 Senator Campaigning

MY THREE QUESTIONS

1. For the first time in many years, no school in Flagler County received an A grade from the state. Working within the new methodology for how grades are determined, what can Flagler Schools do to return grades to their former level?

                The new formula for creating school grades requires that students show more than one year of learning gains to receive credit. Flagler’s “B” related to receiving 60% of points possible. An “A” grade needed 62% of possible points. We must remember that this formula is a product of FSA/Common Core that is not internationally normed or validated by educational experts. These tests are designed to create more tests for the benefit of the monopoly that sells them, not our students.  Flagler and districts across Florida are looking at the many factors which earn points in this formula to direct focused instruction for improvement of scores on standardized assessments. 

2. Flagler’s graduation rate of 77.5 percent in 2014-15 is just below the state average and nearly five points below the most recent national average. What obstacles might be hampering a higher graduation rate here and how can these be resolved?

Stability of curriculum, testing and scoring systems, which has changed almost annually in recent years, does not benefit our students. The DOE needs to work with the Florida districts to agree on a more reliable and consistent learning measurement for students not outside contractors that make money on every change.  Continuous changing of (rules) increasing stress for students and teacher, undermines trust, and for some students, brings more conflict to an already challenging life.

We must have an honest conversation in order to get a full understanding of the “formula” Florida Department of Education uses to narrowly define graduation rates and what some districts do to inflate their apparent graduation success. This is needed for school administrators and to raise public awareness.

I believe from what I see daily in my work as Counseling professional, that the cornerstone of a successful education is a better-rounded early elementary curriculum. This would provide stronger and more stable foundation for all students, allowing them to progress more easily as they deal with more difficult materials and concepts that increase through middle and school grades. 

3. The percentage of African-American teachers in Flagler Schools does not reflect the level of enrollment of black students. What can the school district do to improve this ratio?

From my many years as a Flagler resident, mom, grandmother and counseling professional I see efforts for encouraging high quality educators of all races to work in Flagler County. Our schools have been making that a priority for many years by participating in local and distant job fairs. Flagler has also been soliciting at colleges with high minority representation, increasing FS relations with pre-service teachers in local colleges, including Bethune-Cookman, and this year being part of a virtual job fair which reached across the nation.   

A recent decline in graduates of teacher predatory programs creates another obstacle to all districts hiring quality educators to fill the needs in so many of Florida’s schools. 

(Note:  if you need to shorting my answers please add to the article the following phase)  “You can read the complete answers at Facebook page”   Maria Barbosa – For School Board or Campaign Website: www.drmariabarosa.com

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News4Jax.com Candidate Questionnaire 2016  

Candidate name: Maria P Barbosa          

Seeking which office:  Flagler County School Board District 5

Party affiliation: Nonpartisan

Age: Age 52      

Family: Married to Jack Barbosa, mother and grandmother to 9 grandchildren.  

Occupation:

I am an entrepreneur and business person and have managed small and large businesses. I have successfully run 10 enterprises. In addition, I am property manager and homeowner. I also work with non-profit organizations to help them succeed. Currently I am working with T-Club Teens, Flagler Palm Coast High School Key Club (a leadership program for students sponsored by the Kiwanis), ACCCF as a Christian Clinical Specialist Counselor. Founder/C.E.O. of D.I.V.A.S. International and Author of ACCEL Youth/Juvenile leadership/development Coach with the mission to improve their lives. 

Extremely engaged and focused working with coaches and teens implementing literary and creative program to help publishing a series of “My Voice Matters”, published several other books to help Coach team to be highly trained and certified Coaches who are dedicated to ongoing training and development to providing the highest services quality coaching educational available.

I am always volunteering in different community organizations and projects. Some of these include; Kiwanis Children’s Summer Camp, Terrific Kids, A-Game Summer Camp at Buddy Taylor Middle School, Boys and Girls Club Summer Camp at Bunnell Elementary School, WIF Women/Initiative, The Florida Department of DJJ, NAAPC, AAUW Florida, Vice-Chair of Commission on Homelessness for Volusia & Flagler Counties and too many others to mention.

Education: I have a degree in Business and bookkeeping. I also have a PHD in Christian Clinical Counseling, Bachelor in Theology Pastoral Leadership, UCF, and (3 Years) Theology Course EETAD Assemblies of God.

Certifications: I do have over 50 certifications 

Startup Quest/ Entrepreneurship training, Florida works/ USF 

Business International Couse, UCF Florida

Recognition of accomplishments of Psychology, Northamerican Association of Masters in Psychology, NAMP

Effective Grant Writing Tips for Substance Abuse Coalitions in Orlando, FADAA

Interministry International Couse, UCF Florida

Counseling International Seminar Participation, FCU

International Certified Christian Chaplain, IFCC

Life Skills Training, Daytona State College

Customer Service Training, Daytona State College

Personal Developed Coach, ACCEL                                                                             

Recognizing Parental Use of Alcohol and Drugs, FADAA

HIPPA Training, DCF

Functional Assessment Rating Scale, DCF

Identifying and Reporting Child Abuse and Neglect, DCF

Improving Care Coordination for Persons with Substance Use Disorders and/or Serious Mental Illness, FADAA and others…

Political experience:

I did run for school board of Education at Flagler County, 2014.

Coordinator of marketing for a Candidate running for School Board of Education & Commissioner

Helping with a district 6 Senator Campaigning.  

What do you see as the top three issues in this race?

1.       Our Children is my number one concern. We need to increase parent, student, teacher and citizen involvement with Flagler County Schools and improve the School District interaction with everyone. 

2.       Improve our educational experience for students, including those struggling to achieve on standardized tests. Ensure a fair and comprehensive quality education for all our students. All while effectively managing costs.

3.       Prevent bullying and the terrible affects it can have on students and their educational outcome.

How can you help voters in a way that the others running for this office can’t?

I bring knowledge as a business woman and author of ACCEL youth leadership that no one else has. Through entrepreneur perspective, which is valuable when making decisions on important policy issues such as budgets, teacher support, training, evaluations, job descriptions, materials to adopt, instructional programs, curriculum, standards, and after-school intervention programs.    

As a minority I understand the challenges and the psychosocial dynamics of those students continue to fail or straggling with the standard test. Everyone deserves a fair and equal chance in our education system. The children who does not graduating will be lift spinal in a community who never provided them with hope or a chance to realize their dreams. 

It is very important the collaboration and involvement of the community, business partnerships or agencies in the schools, with those relations will improve and make a difference for all children, at risk. Without the proper community support some children will continue to fail and crime will increase, and community will not be a safe place to live.

In addition to being a business experienced, I’m a license Christian Clinical Counselor and therapist that I do provide ongoing support  for children and families by using  Holistic Empowerment that “empower our future generation”. Mental health programs are needed in schools and need to be availed to children and teachers. Some program can be focuses on self-empowering that equip children and adults with tools and skills include conflict resolution, decision-making, educational planning, setting goals, building leadership traits, and suicide prevention. Metal health professional in school are needed and all School staff need to be informed about children psychological metal health needs.  I have spoken with legislators to know how we can extend mental health in schools since that is a key component to academic success.

What would you hope to be remembered for accomplishing after serving in this office?

-Increasing involvement and engagement between parents, community, business and Flagler County Schools and developing a better communication from the school county offices.  

-Fulfilling the need of recruit and hire teachers from minority groups and retain ethnic-minority employees.

-The school district will inform all parents and children about children rights, disciplinary action, and how to report Bullying Incident anonymous or cyber-bullying and requesting counseling services without being afraid. 

I’m Coordinator /Adviser of T-Club Teens of Flagler County               

At T-Club Teens farm located at Daytona North 

 K-Kids Club  Key-Club 

A thank you!

I’ve met so many great people over the last few years! I’ve gotten to spend time with many of you.

Thanks again for everything you do.

Please feel free to call me if you have questions or would like to volunteer to help me. You may reach me at (contact me) or (facebook page) (Google +) (LikedIn) and (Twitter)