"TO: Christina Tax Stakeholders:
We would like to take this time to endorse Shirley Saffer for the Christina School Board. Our three children attended Glasgow High School and we were very involved. We have continued to be involved with Glasgow even after their graduation. During our volunteer days we had the privilege to meet Shirley Saffer. I mean, how could you not. She is at every student event cheering, encouraging and supporting the students and teachers with a genuine smile on her face. Her commitment to the students is like no one we have met. Shirley genuinely cares for the students, teachers and Christina schools. We thought she was just a supporter of Glasgow but then we found out she also attends events at the other Christina school. Wow, thats commitment!
Shirley will go above and beyond the call of duty to help in any way she can. We have never met a person as committed as Shirley. Please vote for her. We NEED her!"
Trish & Derrick Gunn
Monday, April 30, 2012
Say No To Bullying
I have been asked why I first ran for school board and why I am running for re-election. For me, the motivation begins with my own children but goes much further.
My son Justin, who is now a college student, was born with a bi-lateral cleft lip and palate. He attended Jones Elementary School and he loved school until other kids made fun of his lip, bullied him, taunted him and pushed him down the steps. It was after these incidents and while I was a classroom mother that I became more involved as a parent in my school district. I learned firsthand how our schools must have the proper learning environment and sense of security for our children to succeed. I feel the same way about our teachers and staff. What began as my efforts to help my young son grew to become a passion for ensuring that EVERY child received a quality education and access to the services needed to access that education.
For 16 years I have volunteered in our Christina Schools through the PTA, a Mentor and as a CSD Board Member. Every committee, be it Facility Planning, Early Childhood, Code of Conduct or as a Booster and Drama Club Member is about our children and how we can better their opportunities and career paths while seeing them through to graduation.
As a Christina Board Member, my committment will always be about the children, parents and teachers. I love our District and our Schools. The last four and half years of service to Christina have been a gift. Despite the struggles that our district faces, I am as dedicated as ever. Serving Christina been my full-time job and I hope that you will see fit to re-elect me to this volunteer position.
My son Justin, who is now a college student, was born with a bi-lateral cleft lip and palate. He attended Jones Elementary School and he loved school until other kids made fun of his lip, bullied him, taunted him and pushed him down the steps. It was after these incidents and while I was a classroom mother that I became more involved as a parent in my school district. I learned firsthand how our schools must have the proper learning environment and sense of security for our children to succeed. I feel the same way about our teachers and staff. What began as my efforts to help my young son grew to become a passion for ensuring that EVERY child received a quality education and access to the services needed to access that education.
For 16 years I have volunteered in our Christina Schools through the PTA, a Mentor and as a CSD Board Member. Every committee, be it Facility Planning, Early Childhood, Code of Conduct or as a Booster and Drama Club Member is about our children and how we can better their opportunities and career paths while seeing them through to graduation.
As a Christina Board Member, my committment will always be about the children, parents and teachers. I love our District and our Schools. The last four and half years of service to Christina have been a gift. Despite the struggles that our district faces, I am as dedicated as ever. Serving Christina been my full-time job and I hope that you will see fit to re-elect me to this volunteer position.
Parent Support for Shirley Saffer
"While it's nice that two other people feel strongly enough to vie for a seat on our school board, taking this spot away from Shirley is NOT the right answer because she HAS made a POSITIVE impact in our district and continues to fight for every single child. She is always compassionate, willing to help out and goes above and beyond to improve our schools. I think she's our district's best cheerleader and works hard to stop bullying in our schools (and buses) and re-instate the pride back in our district. We have a friend in this board member, and we are lucky to have her. Talk to your friends and neighbors in the district and make sure they get out to vote for SHIRLEY SAFFER in next Tuesday's election!!!!"
-- Alida Garrison, Parent, Tax Payer
-- Alida Garrison, Parent, Tax Payer
Sunday, April 29, 2012
Dear Steve Newton,
Dear Steve at http://delawarelibertarian.blogspot.com/,
Thank you for stopping by and visiting my website. You are right, much of the writing here is in third person. In the interest of transparency, I'll explain why:
I am very new to websites. There is a very short window between now and when the polls open. I knew I needed help to set-up the website and enlisted a friend/tutor to teach me. The earliest posts are an effort to convert printed materials for internet use. The later posts are me breaking out on my own.
I'll find my voice, in the meantime, please bear with me.
Sincerely,
Shirley
Thank you for stopping by and visiting my website. You are right, much of the writing here is in third person. In the interest of transparency, I'll explain why:
I am very new to websites. There is a very short window between now and when the polls open. I knew I needed help to set-up the website and enlisted a friend/tutor to teach me. The earliest posts are an effort to convert printed materials for internet use. The later posts are me breaking out on my own.
I'll find my voice, in the meantime, please bear with me.
Sincerely,
Shirley
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Committed to an honest, transparent campaign
Shirley Sutton Saffer is committed to an honest and transparent campaign for re-election based upon issues and facts. It has come to our attention that there exists a very nasty blog,
http://votenoonvalharris4csdschoolboard.wordpress.com/, that seeks to impugn opponent, Val Harris.
While the genesis of this website, www.shirleysaffer4christina.blogspot.com/ stems from the gutter politics of a Wilmington-based Action Fund this is campaigning for Ms. Harris, Mrs. Saffer would like to publically disclaim that she has no relationship to or endorsement of the aforementioned blog and further she refuses to enter into an equally negative or damaging campaign.
This type of propaganda, behavior perpetrated by adults, sets the wrong example for our Christina children. We owe them so much more! Mrs. Saffer is committed to every child, every day, all the way to graduation.
Do you have a question on an issue related to the Christina's school board election? Post your question in the comments and Mrs. Saffer will provide her answer via this website.
Thank You!
The Community Speaks
May 6, 2012
Dear Neighbors,
On Tuesday, May 8, there will be an election for a member of the Christina School Board. I hope that you will consider voting for Shirley Saffer, a current Christina School Board member. Shirley has been a passionate advocate for children in our district for the past five years. She has lived in Delaware for the 19 years with her husband and family. Both of Shirley’s children, Justin and Ashley, attended Christina District Schools. Justin is a graduate of Glasgow High and is currently an Education major at Wilmington University. Shirley’s daughter Ashley is currently a student at Glasgow High.
Shirley Saffer has been very involved in the life of the Christina School District as both a parent and a Christina School District Board member. She has been part of the Christina School District’s Code of Conduct Committee for over 7 years, served as Jones PTA Vice President, been a member of the Gauger Cobbs PTA, served as a Glasgow High School Drama booster for over 4 years, as a Glasgow Band Booster, served as a classroom mother for both Jones and Gauger Cobbs schools, and has worked school dances.
As a Christina School District Board member, she has attended Due Process Training, served as a member of the District’s Calendar Committee, PBS Committee, attended Title I monthly meetings and participated in many graduations for Christina District special programs such as the Delaware School for the Deaf and the Groves Adult School. She has also serves as part of the Christina School District Early Childhood Board to ensure that every child in our district gets a good educational start.
I hope that you will consider voting for Shirley Saffer, a candidate who is both involved in our schools and our community. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about Shirley’s excellent work.
Please remember to vote on May 8. The closest polling place to our community is Downes Elementary School, 299 Casho Mill Road. You may vote if you are a U.S. and Delaware citizen; are 18 years old or older; and live in the Christina School District. People can vote at any Polling Place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Election Day.
Sincerely yours,
Elisa Diller
Friday, April 27, 2012
Serving Christina Proudly!
Shirley Saffer is originally from Bernardsville, New Jersey where she
received her education at Somerset County College in Business Management before
moving to Delaware. While residing in New Jersey she was employed as a Credit
and Collections Manager with Borg Warner in Parsippany for six years.
As a Delawarean, Shirley has held financial positions with such companies as Hercules, Pepsi and Avon. Her active community service began when she served on the Member Services Staff at the YMCA on Kirkwood Highway in Newark.
As an active parent in the Christina School District since 1997, Shirley has served as a class mother, PTA Vice President at Albert Jones, Mentor and Co-Chair of the Yearbook committee and has been involved with and a member of PTA's at Gauger-Cobbs, Glasgow High School, Thurgood Marshall, and Special Needs PTA, Red Clay/Christina. Shirley has also been a member of the Referendum Citizen Budget Oversight Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. Shirley resides in Newark with her husband, Steve, and their two children, Justin, a Christina Graduate, and Ashley, who currently attends Glasgow High School.
Board Service Highlights
As a Delawarean, Shirley has held financial positions with such companies as Hercules, Pepsi and Avon. Her active community service began when she served on the Member Services Staff at the YMCA on Kirkwood Highway in Newark.
As an active parent in the Christina School District since 1997, Shirley has served as a class mother, PTA Vice President at Albert Jones, Mentor and Co-Chair of the Yearbook committee and has been involved with and a member of PTA's at Gauger-Cobbs, Glasgow High School, Thurgood Marshall, and Special Needs PTA, Red Clay/Christina. Shirley has also been a member of the Referendum Citizen Budget Oversight Committee and Strategic Planning Committee. Shirley resides in Newark with her husband, Steve, and their two children, Justin, a Christina Graduate, and Ashley, who currently attends Glasgow High School.
Board Service Highlights
- Board Liaison, Glasgow High School Partnership Zone Design Team
- Board Liaison, 6-1 STEM Academy in Wilmington
- Board Liaison, Middle School Sports Task Force Liaison
- Board Liason, Christina Early Childhood Committee
Sutton Saffer's Answers to the News Journal's Most Pressing Questions
1. Is Race to the Top improving Delaware schools? Why or why not?
2. Have charter schools improved public education in the state? Why or why not?
3. What is the most important issue facing your district and how would you address it?
RTTT is not a long-term cure for our failing schools. It is a short-term grant with no provisions for continuing the interventions started when it expires. We do not have the means to sustain the programs that have been implemented (how will the district afford to keep data coaches without federal funding?) Delawareans cannot afford to shoulder the additional costs when these federal funds run-out. Dover has failed to put forth plans for life after RTTT. School districts need experienced governance in order to navigate the next wave of reform that is complled by Dover when this grant is gone.
2. Have charter schools improved public education in the state? Why or why not?
Parents need to the right to choice their students to those schools that are best suited to their individual educational need, a practice I have utilized for my own children. Some Charter Schools do offer islands of excellence. But, for the most part, statistically-speaking, Delaware’s charter schools fare no better nor worse than traditional public schools. Charter schools need to be regarded as just one means of enhancing school choice. Districts need the same latitude afforded charter schools in creating magnet programs as well as adopting well-researched and proven educational innovations such as the Montessori model.
3. What is the most important issue facing your district and how would you address it?
Education apathy has led to a decrease in public involvement in education. In Christina, we have been working towards a common goal of parental engagement in all of our school communities. Parents need to renew their voices in education. Tax payers need to understand how their hard-earned dollars support our next generations. Both need engaged school board members who will guide our schools through an ever-changing political landscape while balancing the needs of our children with the needs of our local tax base.
Candidate statement:
As a Christina parent for the last 16 years, I have witnessed the growing epidemic of education apathy in our communties. Research has consistently demonstrated that the single greatest indicator of a child’s academic success is parental involvement. Yet, most school districts continue to see a decrease in community involvement in their schools. Our district needs leaders who are passionately dedicated to ALL CHILDREN, leaders who can see our potential and who are willing to go that extra mile to engage parents and community members on their terms. It is no longer realistic to expect parents with limited resources and busy schedules to be physically present in our schools. Constituents need leaders who are dedicated to ensuring these parents have access to the resources that allow them to be engaged with their student at home, not just in our buildings. I have demonstrated my commitment to my constituents through the many district committees, PTA’s and Boosters in which I participate. I have and will continue to work tirelessly to engage parents and community members in our school district. Tax payers and parents need to understand the changing education landscape to ensure that all children receive the best educational options available. It is demanding work and I am committed to continuing my support of Christina’s programs, schools, teachers, classrooms, students, parents, and community members. We've made progess. Let's keep the momentum going!
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