Education a calling for new schools chief
| Sunday, Jun 14 2009 12:00 PM
Last Updated Sunday, Jun 14 2009 12:00 PM
CHRISTINE FRAZIER: A Q & A
What hooked you into education?
(Describing observing a third-grade class while she was in college): You walked into this room, you had 30-32 kids and you had the opportunity to change their life. You had the opportunity to show them they could learn things they probably didn't even believe they could learn.
I thought that was so powerful. I thought, "Being able to empower these kids so they are in command of their own learning. Wow, what a nice thing to build your life around." It was just being around them, listening to them talk, listening to their stories, feeling their excitement when they got something.
What makes you an effective administrator?
I think you need to look at the whole picture. You have to make the time and the effort to understand everything that is happening in that system because you can't make decisions in isolation. That takes a lot of effort on your part, because we all have things we like to do, and the things we don't care to do are probably the things you need to focus on.
And a willingness to listen to people. One of the reasons I wanted to be a principal is because I would hear the concerns people would voice in the classroom and they were my fellow colleagues and I would think in my mind, "Well, that's not hard to fix."
How do you tackle unfamiliar issues or situations?
I ask a lot of questions. I'm not embarrassed to interrupt someone and say, "I don't know what that is." I've learned through my career, ask.
What are your priorities as county superintendent?
My first priority is to maintain the level of excellence that has been established by this office. I think we have an incredible reputation. But in order to stay the same, you have to change.
We've been on the cutting edge of so many initiatives and programs. In order for us to maintain that edge, we need to keep growing. One of the areas we need to focus on is technology and the use of technology with our kids. They are so technologically savvy.
How do you feel about sitting in limbo, waiting to see the final budget?
It's incredibly frustrating. It's unnerving. We know that kids are going to be coming to school in August no matter what happens and we have to have the doors open and we have to be ready to serve them. That's the scariest part. In other industries you can close down or not provide a service, but schools can't.
What's your response to the parents who were crying about possible music program cuts at the Fruitvale School District school board meeting last week?
That's a tough one. It's going to affect their kids. My kids were very active in athletics and ag programs, and I see how it really helped them be high achievers.
Number one, they need to work with the schools. I know that in tough times, when I became a superintendent, I found the teachers and community coming together to provide some services we were missing. We are going to have to rely on our community, parents and service groups to fill in some of those voids.
How will these cuts affect kids?
Time will tell. I think parents want the best for their kids and I think they will make extra strides to make sure that some of these holes will be filled. My greatest concern is we do have a population of kids who are below the poverty level, whose parents don't have the skills or resources to provide those efforts. The school can't assist anymore.
I'm just afraid we are going to lose some kids ... to dropout ... school is a haven for kids, those extra programs, those athletic programs, after-school programs ... that's what they gravitate to. If (programs) are not there, they are going to fill their time with something and it may not be productive.
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Felix Adamo/ The Californian Christine Frazier will be the new Kern County Superintendent of Schools once Larry Reider retires at the end of June.
Christine Lizardi Frazier had no idea what she wanted to do in life until she stepped into a classroom for a required project.
"I was hooked for life," she recalled. "Just walked in and thought, 'Oh my gosh this is home,' and never looked back."
Now, after 29 years in education, she's taking on the job of Kern County superintendent of schools. She will replace Larry Reider, who is set to retire June 30.
It's a big job. The county superintendent's office implements programs for, relays information to and certifies the budgets of 47 Kern school districts.
Frazier is also assuming the position at a time education budgets are being cut more dramatically than ever.
Her first priority will be working with district superintendents to understand what's happening financially and how they could make cuts.
She exudes confidence.
"It's always a good time to be educating kids," Frazier said. "Tough times, good times, the reason we are here is the kids need a good education."
HER HISTORY
Frazier has had too many titles to list but they include teacher, principal and superintendent. She joined the Superintendent of Schools office in 1996 and has been associate superintendent since 2005.
Frazier taught in Arizona and northern California before moving to Kern County in the early 1980s. She spent 12 years in Shafter, starting as a bilingual teacher and working up to assistant superintendent.
Frazier moved to Lake Isabella -- where she and her husband, John, still live -- and was the Kernville Union School District superintendent before moving to the county office in 1996.
Sharon Carver, chief business officer when Frazier was Kernville superintendent, said as soon as Frazier joined the county office, Carver knew she would end up as superintendent.
Carver said she's personable, intelligent and a great public speaker. Her goal is children, and Carver loves her sense of humor.
"I just knew she had the ability as far as doing what needed to be done," Carver said.
Whether Frazier is at the grocery store or working at the Christmas tree lot, Carver said, she's always talking to people.
Frazier and her husband have three kids -- a son and two daughters. Alaina Frazier, 29, describes her mom as multidimensional.
"She's genuinely caring about other people and extremely flexible in all aspects of her life," Alaina said.
Kathy Mayes, principal at Richland Junior High School in Shafter, said Frazier's fiscal knowledge is "superb."
"With all the programs that have to be cut -- I think she'll be creative in trying to find other ways to try to finance programs," Mayes said.
Mayes said Frazier always puts students first and is enjoyable to work with.
"She enjoyed being with students," Mayes said. "You could just tell on her face when students were around that (education) was her calling."
THE JOB AHEAD
As schools consider cuts and what to preserve, Frazier believes classes like science, math, reading and language arts need to take priority.
"While I cringe at the fact that athletic programs, music, ag, art and drama are going to have to be cut back or eliminated, as high priority as they are, that classroom teacher has to be number one," she said.
"We've always said, 'Cut as far away from the classroom as you can, only it's never been this dramatic.'"
Frazier said schools, teachers and communities need to work together, volunteering and fundraising to fill voids. Her office will be more aggressive in writing grants to create more programs, she said.
"I think if it's a priority for the community, they need to work with the district to come up with creative ways to make sure at least some of those services are maintained," Frazier said.
Frazier also intends to be a leader in Sacramento, making sure kids and education are top priorities.
"When things get better, schools need to be the first in line," she said.
