Meet Deena Kaplanis, Candidate For Livermore School Board

LIVERMORE, CA — Patch reached out to all candidates for the LVJUSD Board of Education with identical questions. Here are the responses from Deena Kaplanis, a chiropractor, LVJUSD parent, and member of the Junction Avenue TK-8 School PTA and member of the Livermore Parent Club Information Council.

Responses have not been altered.

1. What is your personal, educational, and professional background?

I am a native Californian originating in Southern California. I am a product of the California public
education system. I am also a former CIF volleyball champion and state quarter finalist. I started my career at the early age of 15 in the chiropratic and sports medicine field while competiting at the jounior olympic level of softball. As a patient, I was amazed how much this treatment not only helped me but enhanced my performance. I knew I wanted to live my life helping others. I was blessed to contiune competiting in softball and volleyball at Whittier College as a scholar athlete earning a Bachlor's degree in Kinesiology and Lesiure Science with an emphysis in Pre-Med and a minor in Psychology. I contiued working in my field while earning a Cum Lade Doctorate Degree in Chiropractic at Southern California University of Health Sciences so I could help support my mom who was laid off as a special needs teacher in the LAUSD. I would travel to Livermore to help in my sister's mild to moderate special needs class at Croce Elementary while my classes were out of session. When I became an aunt, I relocated to Livermore where I continued serving my community as a chiropractor and taking my niece to Kindergarden at Junction Tk-8th School. Upon getting married and having my own childern, I continued treating patients, opperating multiple businesses, volunteering in various ways at my chidren's schools, sports teams, and serving in the community.

2. How long have you lived in Livermore?

I have lived in Livermore for coming up on 14 years!

3. What brought you here?

I relocated to Livermore to be closer to my family

4. How have you been involved in the community?

I have served my community for the past 14 years in my career of being a Family Chiropractic Doctor. I have also been on the Junction Ave. Tk-8th PTA board for the past 2 years helping at book fairs, dia de los muertos, car shows, dine outs, movie nights, holiday botiques, 8th grade planning committee and learning from other PTA members at the Livermore Parent Club Information Council how to collaborate and bring bigger fundraisers like a fun run to our school site. My husband and I also volunteer on our children's little league baseball and Fusion soccer teams as coaches and team parents. I also serve in our church's children's ministry in the the nursery.

Lately, I have been helping to develop and instruct elementary physical educational programs in our community and occasionally guest teach at the high schools. I also facilitate adult educational courses on American History, World history, Civics, and Economics. Through our familiy businesses we host and donate contuniously to all scout troops, schools, teachers, sports teams, programs, busineses, and even individual students who would not have opportunities otherwise. We consisitently stay involved with Monthly Miracles which helps to shelter, feed, and employ the less forunate in our community.

We also participate in the Honey & Wine festival, Holiday in the Vineyards, Rotary events, Hook &
Ladder, Livermore Half Marathon, Air shows, LARPD programs and even host National Night Out.

5. What do you feel are some of the biggest challenges facing LVJUSD?

We have many opportunities here in LVJUSD that I'd like to enhance and see through to completion. As far as challenges, there are a few. We need to identify and address the reasons why our test scores in reading and math have been so low according to the data. We need to properly secure our schools to be as safe as possible across the district along with the updates that are taking place through our bond facility projects. We need to properly address the mental health crisis our students that are stuggling and bring more support where needed. We need to recover from our 4.4M dollar deficit which is not good but also not nearly as high as some of the surrounding school districts. Lastly, our communication can always improve as there are many changes taking place such as new schedules, new administration, and very soon , new board members.

6. What are your plans for addressing them?

My plans to address these challenges are to bring a fresh and fair perspective to the decisions made. After attending the PCIC and School Board Meetings we see that the data being used shows how low our test scores are but it doesn't propperly tell us WHY. I would like to use improved data driven programs that can promptly enhance and support our students and teachers to rise above these challenges. School Safety is very important to me in our current culture. We need to ensure all school sites are secured with cameras, gate locks, and even fences where there are open elementary campuses near parks and creeks. We can improve the mental health crisis on our students by having therapeutic courses as part of cirriculum so everyone can benefit. As far as the budget goes, we need to make sure we spend responsibly on things that would give us the greatest return on the investments made and eliminate the unnecessary spending without cutting from student programs. Improving the unity and communication in our district can come with simply having converstaions, putting aside differences, and staying focused on our common goals which is supporting teachers and staff while enhacing student achievement.

7. What makes you the best candidate?

I am the best candidate because I come to this position with many lenses. I have really poured my heart into learning about the district through my involvemnt with PTA, PCIC, Board Meetings, and even my realtionships with staff, teachers, parents and students. My active involvement keeps me engaged in the schools and in the community. I represent diversity becasue I can identify as a student since I am one! I am a forever learner and continusly keep myself educated through leadership courses, civics, and my continued education for my profession. I can see things from the teachers side since I have to teach my patients daily about pathology, health, and wellness. I am also currently developing and instructing elementary physical educational courses and have experience doing this at a collegiate level. I see things from a community member's lense since I am a tax paying citizen and a local business owner and want the best for our children, their schools, and our beloved town of Livermore.

8. Outside of politics, what do you enjoy doing?

I don't even like politics. I simply care about serving our community and the children of Livermore since they are our next generation of leaders, doctors, teachers, etc. I am passionate about perserving the foundations of education that make them well equipped for their future beyond high school and for their contribution to society. Beyond this, I love spending time with my family and friends. I enjoy traveling, exercising, gardening, working, and being a mom!

9. Any other comments?

I am supported by David Halbert Alameda County Supervisor, Alameda County Board of Education Trustee Janevette Cole, Alameda County Deputy Sheriff’s Association, Alameda County Bart Police Union, Honorable Former SSFUSD School Board President Laurie Masetti, and Veterans Affairs Commissioner Ronnie Forbes and more.