Written by Justin Culetu
Cindy Sytsma is running for Poway Unified School District Area E and is endorsed by the Republican Party of San Diego County.
Sytsma’s experience with Poway dates back to her first years of elementary school, when she attended Poway Unified schools from kindergarten all the way to graduation. She later went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in Criminology, a master’s in education, and a Ph.D. in Human Services Criminal Justice. Upon completing her education, Sytsma moved back to Poway with her husband, and is a mother of two children, which allows her to relate to district parents on a personal level when it comes to making decisions that affect their children.
Throughout her career, Cindy has worked in a myriad of different positions that helped her develop important skills. Her dedication, passion, teamwork, transparency, and follow-through have all been displayed throughout her professional career.
Sytsma started working as a correctional deputy for the San Diego County Sheriff’s Department. She later began her teaching career in general and special education classes in San Diego Unified School District. Currently, Sytsma is a Professor at National University, teaching courses in different subject areas, including credentialing and field supervision for up-and-coming teachers.
Cindy has also presented at educational conferences all around the world and has several publications with research interests in graduation rates, support for teachers, and youth leadership. Sytsma has also served as the Garden Road Elementary School PTA Secretary, PTA Membership Coordinator, Fun Run Chair, Running Club Coordinator, Volunteer Coordinator, and Room Parent. Also at Garden Road, Cindy frequently works as substitute teacher for students with autism, and experiences the changes that need to be made in the school’s buildings, limited resources, and teacher support. Additionally, Sytsma shows her driven passion for supporting children by being the Girl Scout leader for her daughter’s troop.
The focal points for Sytsma include improving general and special education, building community involvement, and fostering inclusiveness. All children are special and talented in their own way, and Cindy believes that Poway Unified must work to ensure quality education for all students, regardless of their zip code or background. In addition to education, she believes that schools should provide children with programs to expand and develop their talents beyond the classroom through programs like art, music, physical education, and many more. Cindy believes that the best way to improve Poway Unified is through building a sense of community and involvement. She will support school fundraising efforts to ensure that PTAs can provide the best educational experiences for the children as possible and that there is transparency as to how budget decisions are made.
Cindy has been endorsed by a multitude of San Diego organizations, businesses, and political figures. Some endorsements include the Teacher Consulting Group, President of Garden Road Elementary Foundation Chris Knight, National University Professor Dina Pacis, National University Professor and retired San Diego Police Department officer Jim Larson, Poway Unified District trustee T.J. Zane, Poway Deputy Mayor Calyin Frank, and many more.
For more information about Cindy’s campaign for Poway Unified School District, visit CindySytsma.com.
