Jeanne Hori-Garcia

My History

I have been a resident of Salinas over forty years and a full-time Hartnell College instructor for 38 years. Before settling in Salinas, I had taught in elementary schools in California, Mexico, and Chile. As a bilingual elementary school teacher, I had worked with children whose first language was Spanish in migrant education, bilingual education, and Title I programs.

At Hartnell College I was first hired as a Bilingual Education Coordinator to recruit and advise paraprofessionals or teacher aides for education pathways to higher college degrees and teacher credentials. These teacher assistants would become fully credentialed bilingual teachers in the Salinas Valley. Later I wrote grants for Spanish-speaking women to complete coursework and training as caregivers in their homes or teacher assistants at child care centers. They had successfully established family child care businesses in their homes or had been hired as caregivers in child development centers.

During my tenure at Hartnell College, I have been involved with school districts, Head Start, non-profit and for-profit child care agencies. Many times, I had taught classes in Soledad, King City, Greenfield, and East Salinas. My off-campus teaching assignments gave me an opportunity to network with many educators, directors, and community people in Salinas Valley. My contribution as an Early Childhood Education instructor has been to incorporate multicultural/bilingual perspective in the coursework, materials, and “hands on” training to increase student access and success for English language learners of underserved communities.

My Plans

This current 2020-21 will be an exciting year for Hartnell College. I want to participate in these upcoming decisions 1) to hire a new college president, 2) balance the budget during this fiscal uncertainty 3) to keep students and staff safe on campus from Covid-19 and 4) to open the new or expanded campus sites in South County.

The college superintendent/ president for Hartnell has to have the education, experience, skills, aptitude, and leadership qualities to stabilize and lead the college toward student access and success in academic achievement and job preparation.
Budget: The pandemic has caused the California economy to tank. It is important for the board to study and review revenues and cost-cutting strategies without major lay-offs, course cancellations, and program downsizing that would negatively impact student success and access especially in underserved communities.
Covid-19 protocols: Plans to keep staff and students safe on-campus with comprehensive policies and regulations regarding work conditions, health protocols, quarantine policy, and opening up the in-person classrooms.
Opening the new and expanded campus sites in South County and to support groundbreaking for the Hartnell campus site in Castroville.
The most important job of a board member is studying the agenda and supportive documents. If elected, I will be prepared for each board meeting before I make decisions on critical issues.

Why Vote For Me?

As a former full-time Hartnell College instructor, I understand how board decisions can positively or negatively impact faculty/staff’s ability to promote and support student access and success.
Right now, I have the time and interest to study, ask questions, and listen to the issues before making any decision.

My strengths include:

In-depth knowledge of the working of the College by having served on several governance committees including curriculum, budget, accreditation, and safety/health
Experience and knowledge in coordinating state and federally funded grant projects including budgets, quarterly reports, and budget narratives.
Development of curriculum and materials for Spanish-speaking and English language learners pursuing careers in child care and preschool education.
Recent acquisition of online teaching techniques and strategies

Endorsements

Hartnell College Faculty Association (HCFA) • CSEA (Classified School Employees Association) Chapter 470 Hartnell College • Monterey Bay Central Labor Council-AFL-CIO • Monterey County Democrats • Monterey/Santa Cruz Counties Building & Construction Trades Council • Monterey Bay Central Labor Council, AFL-CIO • CTA (California Teachers Association) • Larry Hirahara • Cathy Chavez Miller • Jean Vengua • Yvonne Ricketts • Ruth Andresen • Pat Henrickson • Leslie Buckalew • Linda Dilger • Mary Randall • Tamara Garcia • Mary Jane Choate • Jean Miner • Evie Bolante • Tina England • Linda Blumenthal • Kim Stemler • Lisa Hori • Jane DiGirolamo • Brigid McGrath Massie • Carmen Gonzalez • Patricia Tunstall • Carolyn Jensen • Susan Ratliff • Janet Barnes • Tiffany Kellogg • (Partial List)