Ahead of the March primary, The Orange County Register compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below. Questionnaires may have been edited for spelling, grammar, length and, in some instances, to remove hate speech and offensive language.
MORE: Read all the candidate responses in our Voter Guide
Name: Tim Shaw
Current Job Title: President of the Orange County Board of Education
Political Party Affiliation: Nonpartisan
Incumbent: Yes
Other political positions held: La Habra City Councilmember
City where you reside: La Habra
Campaign website or social media: www.shawforschools.com
A predominant topic in school districts lately has been parental notification policies, requirements for how school officials may inform parents if their child may be transgender. What do you see as the role schools should have in involving parents in social issues?
The parents and guardians of minor children have a right to be informed about what is happening with the student at school. I put the support of AB 1314 on the agenda for the OC Board of Education to endorse, and our board did, in fact, vote to support it.
To be clear, AB 1314 would require parental notification if a student is using a bathroom, playing on a sports team or some other sex-segregated program where they are identifying with a gender that does not align with their birth certificate. The default position should be to inform parents, not to keep them in the dark about what is happening with their children at school.
(Editor’s Note: The bill led by Assemblymember Bill Essayli, R-Corona, was killed in the legislature last year. It sought to mandate that California schools would notify parents in writing within three days if an employee learned a student may identify with a gender that does not align with their birth certificate or other official records.)
With AI rapidly expanding, how do you see new technology playing a role in education? What benefits — and concerns — do you see?
A concern I have is AI is making it very easy for students to plagiarize their papers. The skill of conducting original research may be lost on the rising generation. A benefit I see with all technological advancements is we have more and more information at our fingertips the moment we have a question about something.
Students and families are still recovering from the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. What do you see as the next steps to address lingering learning loss?
Remaining focused on the basics is vitally important. With this generation of students having been set back by the pandemic, we need to stick to reading, writing and arithmetic now more than ever.
Is there anything the legislature should tackle — this year or soon — to bolster public education?
I hope the legislature will reconsider the ideas contained in SB 292 by Sen. Shannon Grove, R-Bakersfield. This bill would create education savings accounts for each student to use at their discretion. This empowerment of families to make the educational choices that best meet their needs would remake the entire system, with a true marketplace for education where the best options would flourish.
(Editor’s Note: This bill failed to pass out of committee on Jan. 10.)
What role, if any, do you see charter schools playing in Orange County?
Charter schools can be an excellent option for students. If a student knows from a young age what interests them, I would hope there can be options available for them where they can pursue their area of interest. We have excellent charter schools in Orange County where a student who wants to focus on math or performing arts or a foreign language or any number of subjects or pedagogy are available. In this way, learning is fun and exciting for young people. At present, charter schools teach about 5% of Orange County students; so while it is small, they fill an important role.
How much do you think the Board of Education should invest in new and future charter schools in Orange County?
Charter schools are public schools, just as the traditional schools are. The state will fund them as with other schools based on the budget capacity they have for education. I remain committed to supporting charter schools in Orange County as long as there is a demand for new and innovative approaches to fulfilling the educational needs of our students.
What experiences and priorities do you bring to the table for this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that make you the person for this job?
I have served on the Orange County Board of Education since 2020, and currently serve as president of the Orange County Board of Education.
I have taught American government for approximately 19 years at the community college level. I hold a master’s degree in legislative affairs from George Washington University. I have worked in various roles, including as a staffer for the governor of California, a member of the State Senate and an Orange County supervisor.
I served on the La Habra City Council for over a decade and was mayor of La Habra twice. I was on the Board of Directors for both the Orange County Transportation Authority and Orange County Sanitation District for a number of years. I have six kids in the public school system and my wife works as a full-time teacher.
Describe your education philosophy in 10 words or less.
Educational choice, support charter schools, back-to-basics.
