Rochelle Giuseffi

Name: Rochelle Giuseffi

Age: 65

Birthplace: San Francisco

Residence: 16538 Mt. Sherrod Circle, Fountain Valley

Occupation: retired educator

Education: St. Anthony’s Girls High School; Long Beach Business College, School of Dental Assisting

Experience as an educator:

I have worked in special education for the Westminster School District since 2000 on the elementary and middle school levels.

Previously elected or appointed positions: Served on the board of the Harbor Dental Assistant’s Society as recording secretary and convention delegate. Received the HDAS Friendship Award, and the Southern California Dental Assistants Journal Award. Charter member, recording secretary, and president of Holy Spirit Women’s Council. Served on the Parent/Faculty Assn.of St. Simon and Jude as pParliamentarian, recording and corresponding secretary, as well as the Servite High School Parent Guild.

Community organizations you belong to:

I have been involved with AYSO, Fountain Valley Youth Baseball, booster for Servite and Chapman University baseball programs. For 20 years chaired many yearly fundraisers to support women’s resource centers, health clinics and shelters offering programs for girls in crisis situations.

Why should constituents vote for you?

People expect honesty, civility, clarity and sincerity in an elected candidate. I wish to bring these qualities to our school district as I work to support accurate and objective curriculum, as well as solid basic education to form the academic groundwork from which our students can build through high school and college. Not only is fiscal responsibility and professionalism necessary, but it should be across the board.

My family has lived in Fountain Valley for 37 years, with two of my three sons residing here, and one owning a business in Fountain Valley. They have children, in whose education I also have a vested interest. I bring 30 years of volunteer and work experience holding a variety of positions and fundraising that have required prudent time, finance and volunteer management. I bring an impartial, unbiased, open approach to the Fountain Valley School District, with no ties to outside interests I have no constraints. My career and family responsibilities completed, I am fully open and ready to serve.

What do you think is the biggest problem facing your district and how do you plan to address it?

Across the board, whether it’s the school district where I worked, or FVSD, budget constraints face everyone. Unfortunately, I have seen good programs cut or reduced under the fiscal strain and I feel we are being creatively challenged to find ways to keep enriching programs alive. A well-rounded curriculum contributes to the formation of a good student, from language arts, to music and drama -- one builds upon the other.

In the last year, what is one issue that you think the sitting board members handled well and why?

Since being recently retired, my focus has been on the classroom demands of my profession, not necessarily on the inner workings of Fountain Valley school board, its strengths, or weaknesses.