Letter: Teachers endorse ‘strong candidates’ for La Cañada school board

The La Cañada Teachers Association has endorsed three candidates, Dan Jeffries, Kaitzer Puglia and David Sagal, for the school board election on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

We are grateful that so many enthusiastic and talented people are interested in becoming a member of our school board. Interviews helped determine which candidates bring the strongest skills and experience to best support our students.

Dan Jeffries is a lead prosecutor who works for the city of Los Angeles. As a manager in local government, his experience helps him be more familiar with funding, budgeting, and state regulations governing local government agencies. He is the only candidate with children at the elementary level, which means that he provides a unique perspective.

Kaitzer Puglia is a professor of education at Pasadena City College. She is the only candidate with a background in education, including experience working at the state level. Her perspective is a valuable asset and will help our district navigate the implementation of the Common Core State Standards and the Smarter Balanced Assessments.

David Sagal is a vice president for Warner Brothers and is an active leader in many of our community groups, including the high school boosters and the La Cañada-Flintridge Educational Foundation, and he is board treasurer for Verdugo Hills Hospital. His wealth of experience in finance and in serving on important community organization boards will bring critical skills to meet the financial challenges our school district faces.

As you can see, we have endorsed three very strong candidates. La Cañada teachers urge you to vote for Dan Jeffries, Kaitzer Puglia and David Sagal.

Mandy Redfern
Glendale

Editor’s Note: The writer is president of the La Cañada Teachers Association.