By: Abigail Miller
Colijia Feliz was born here in Visalia, she “moved away from college and returned to help take care of my mother who was sick. I decided to go back to school and went back to Fresno State for my Masters in Social Work”.
From there she became a Clinical Social Worker and Trainer for Tulare County Office of Education. “I work in schools doing therapy, counseling, and social and emotional coping skills with students,” she says. Along with this she also is “an adjunct professor for Fresno Pacific University and Education Instructor for COS”.
Feliz is running for the school board because “I work in the school settings and hear the complaints from teachers, parents, and students. I see the disappointment and also see how there are decisions being made based on personal bias and not what is in the best interest of the students”. She feels that the district needs to have “an education system that considers the best interest of the students, and not have people in power fighting only for what keeps them comfortable.”
Feliz believes she is the most qualified for this board seat because “not only do I understand from the position of a teacher, but I also understand from the perspective of a parent.” She is a foster parent, “and also formerly worked for Child Welfare Services where I had to advocate for the kids on my caseload in terms of their education.”
She says that her knowledge and experience with “trauma, mental health, social-emotional learning, the need for students to feel valued and connected” makes her a well-rounded candidate. Feliz says it gives her “several perspectives to see from, that I can utilize when making decisions that will affect all groups.”
If elected, Feliz has a few goals she wishes to accomplish during her time on the school board, one of which is “mak[ing] sure we open up communication and collaboration to include the unions, teachers, parents, and students.” She says “[students] should have a voice. Those elected to the board are voted there by the people to make decisions for the people. I think that has gotten lost in personal agendas.”
Along with this, Feliz wants to ensure equal opportunities for all VUSD students. “Students should all have equal access to education regardless of their background, whether it be poverty, a bad neighborhood, no matter their culture or race, if they have a disability or suffer from mental illness. I want to ensure that equity is happening.”
Feliz is running for the District 7 seat. Elections are on November 3rd.
Abigail Miller
Abigail Miller '22 is currently a fourth-year member of the Redwood Gigantea. As the Government & Politics page editor, lead photographer, and photography editor, she has published over 100 photo galleries capturing Redwood's most memorable moments. She owns her own photography business, Abigail Miller Photography, which you can find in the link below.
https://abigailmiller.zenfolio.com
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