Meet Helen Doyle:
Candidate for DMUSD School Board
A Passionate Advocate for Children
About Me
As the mother of three school-aged children, I’m invested in our schools and community. I have been on campus nearly every day for three years and will be for eight more. My active involvement with the PTA and a year and a half of DMUSD Board meeting attendance has given me valuable insights into the issues that matter to our families. One of my proudest achievements is working with DMUSD parents to successfully campaign for a locked door policy, enhancing the safety and security of campuses. As a Del Mar Schools Education Foundation (DMSEF) Vice President and Director, I work with parents from all nine schools to support our district-wide goal of raising money for our STEAM+ program.
Outside of my work with DMUSD, I’ve had the privilege of advocating for the needs of foster children as a Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) and continue that work by helping to train new CASAs on how to work with biological parents toward reunification. My work experience as an engineer has taught me problem-solving and collaboration.
These experiences have deepened my commitment to ensuring that every child’s voice is heard, and their needs are met. I’m eager to join the Board of Trustees, where I will work to improve communication and trust between DMUSD and our community.
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In my free time, I enjoy local adventures with my family, reading, playing video games with my kids, and working on my neglected garden and chicken coop.
Priorities
First and foremost, we need increased transparency, access, and engagement with the community. I will advocate for the availability of virtual attendance at school board meetings, clear messaging and notification on the DMUSD website, complete publication of district survey results, and budget transparency. Parents deserve a better understanding of the STEAM+ program and goals, which they help to fund directly through our Del Mar Schools Education Foundation (DMSEF). I will attend at least one PTA meeting on each campus and several DMSEF meetings each year to hear directly from parents, teachers, and staff across the district. I will work to make sure students, teachers, parents, and staff are heard.
Secondly, the needs of all children need to be met. Parents of special needs children should feel their children are supported and safe, and the district should be proactive and responsive in providing that support. I will also advocate for differentiated instruction for children who aren't being challenged, especially in math. All too often teachers are asked to accommodate a large breadth of needs without the necessary support. While our amazing teachers are doing everything they can, we need to be sure they have everything they need to set our children up for success.
Finally, there are several district-wide programs I will advocate for. Our district implemented a TK program this year, open to free-and-reduced-lunch, homeless, and foster youth in the district. In accordance with the California state mandate, I will advocate for a full TK program. I would also like to see an accelerated math program for those students who need it. I will work with the district, administration, and teachers to find a practical solution to meet that goal. Finally, the district ended their out-of-date sex-ed curriculum but has yet to find a new one. I believe a fully inclusive sex and health education is important for all students.