Week 181

Positive post Sunday, August 9, 2020- Week 181. 

I’m dedicating this Positive Post to my wife, RUSD School Board member Michele Rendler.  On October 24th of last year, Michele was blessed to achieve one of her longtime goals of serving on the School Board.  Although she was appointed and sworn in to complete a term until December 2022, we recently learned that she will be required to run again in this coming November election.  Although disappointing and a distraction from the critical work Michele is doing on the School Board, including protecting the health and well-being of our students, teachers and all school district stakeholders during these unprecedented times, we’ll need to crank the campaign machine once again!  

We are both very thankful for the support of so many family members, friends, teachers, students, administrators and community leaders and are hopeful we will be blessed with their continued help and support so Michele can continue to serve as an active and engaged member of the School Board.  If you, or anyone you know, live in the green area on the attached map (area 2), we would appreciate your and their support and Michele would welcome an opportunity to meet those she serves.  And, regardless of where you live, we also welcome your prayers and support as she continues to work hard to guide our School District.

Over the past 9 months, I have had the privilege of a backstage view of Michele’s commitment and dedication as a School Board member.  I can assure you, she takes her position very seriously and does her homework to make informed decisions and policies that represent the needs of those she represents.  Speaking of homework, after helping our grandchildren with their homework (which is all schoolwork now with distant learning due to the pandemic), I have personally watched Michele work late into the evening preparing for Board meetings, responding to parent and student concerns, supporting teachers, and collaborating with school district and community leaders on programs and services.  Her passion and genuine concern for our students, parents, and teachers and the overall health of our schools is visible in everything she does.  

As the daughter, sister and mother of longtime teachers, Michele’s passion for serving on our School Board stems from a rich history of education and is backed by 30 years of service within our educational system.  During her short time on the School Board, Michele has successfully leveraged her 30 years of diverse experience, deep understanding of our education system and dedication as an active and engaged parent, grandparent and community member.  She has served on the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) as a member at both the secondary and elementary levels and as a president.  She has served on various boards and committees; among them the Redlands Educational Partnership (REP) Foundation, the Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP) Committee, the Citizens Oversight Committee (COC), the Redlands Council of PTAs, Operation School Bell and many more.  

I’m confident that our fellow residents will recognize and value her experience, deep engagement and presence within our schools, rich history of representing student, parent and teacher needs and success in securing resources for our schools by electing her to the RUSD School Board.  The students, parents and teachers of RUSD deserve a qualified and engaged School Board member. 

Michele’s work on the School Board has just begun, and with the support of the residents in Area 2, she will continue to lead and serve.

As has been the tradition with my Positive Post Sundays, I will end with a question.

How will you support Michele as she seeks to continue to serve the many stakeholders of the RUSD as a member of the School Board?