A New Perspective Greets Ahrens as She Moves to 'the Other Side'

It's a new perspective for Judy Ahrens now that she has moved to the other side of the board room.  "It felt a little strange sitting on that side of the table when I've always been on the other side," said Ahrens.  Elected Nov. 5 in her third try for a seat on the Westminster School Board, she ousted incumbent Michael Verrengia.  "I took the oath on Dec. 12," she said.  "It was a full house."  All kinds of people who supported Ahrens crowded into the meeting room in support of her victory.  "They were the people I represent," she said.  Ahrens, 57, has a passion for education.  She cares for kids and parents and has held neighborhood meetings on education.  Her priority now is based on her campaign:  "Getting back to basics, with a high emphasis on reading skills and other essentials such as history and math."  She said patriotism is another essential subject.  Ahrens is not afraid to speak up on issues--she has been doing that from the other side of the table for years.  Still, she said that she would ease into her role as a trustee.  "I think the voters understand that initially there is a high learning curve for me, because this is my first time as an elected official."  Almost immediately after her election, Ahrens was attending a California School Boards Association (CSBA) convention where she received a lot of information about serving on a school board and about the budget crisis that will affect education throughout the state.  "What I want to make sure is that standards are applied in every classroom," she said, "that we're using a lot of instructional time on the state standards.  I want to let the teachers know that I'm here to represent not only parents, but to make sure teachers have the necessary tools and support to do their job.  I liked the theme at the recent CSBA convention in San Francisco during the first part of the month--'Putting Children First.'  As far as I'm concerned," said Ahrens, "that's what it's all about: putting the children first in academics."  She responded to the crisis in state funding for education that is looming, but with a positive attitude.  "With (Gov. Grey) Davis' $3.1 billion budget cut in education in California, I don't want the education community to get flustered by this.  It is a challenge," said Ahrens.  "I'm saying if we can get Neil Armstrong to the moon, we can figure a way to continue to educate our children in spite of such a budget cut.  These cuts will be a challenge," she said.  "We're not going to cut the academics.  The kids go to school to learn.  They need to learn the basics.  The challenge is how do we do that with the state budget cuts.  My philosophy is that we can meet the challenge," said Ahrens.  She tutors youngsters needing assistance with their learning and has a successful record of helping them achieve success.  "If I can take a white board and a marker to teach kids successfully...," said Ahrens.  "One of my goals is a world map in every classroom so references can be made when we teach world geography.  Just simple things, like being able to make references when we read stories.  Let the students see where places are on the map that we are talking about.  Sometimes we overcomplicate things," she said.  The victory celebration at the Ahrens' household was a mother and son event.  "My son, Mark, who is 18, was my campaign manager.  The reason I'm on the other side (of the room) now is because he is a phenomenal campaign manager.  He's so proud," said Ahrens.  "He's a freshman at Concordia University in Irvine on a scholarship.  He wants to be a film producer.  He's made home movies since he was 10."  Ahrens is a widow.  Her husband, Norman, who worked in aerospace as a project engineer, died almost three years ago.  He died of at the age of 62.  They had been married for 17 years.  "I have lived in Westminster for almost 14 years," said Ahrens.  "I have always had a passion for education."  With the campaign being over, despite her new involvement as a school board member, some things are getting back to normal.  Ahrens is back to her baking, for example.  "I still walk at least a mile a day in the morning," she said.  "During the campaign, I walked a minimum of six hours.  I'm getting back to my routine.  I've been a member of the Eastwood Elementary School Site Council, a member of the PTA Board and I am secretary of the Citizens for Government Accountability."  Ahrens and her son are active members at Grace Lutheran Church in Huntington Beach.  An advocate of positive re-enforcement, she said "kids thrive on that."  The issue now is being a public servant.  "That is why I am there--to serve the people.  I guess I'm so happy, so excited to improve the academic climate in the children's lives," said Ahrens.  "It's got me so excited."

Orange County News

Wednesday, December 18, 2002

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