Vote Amanda Morrell for SVUSD Board of Education 2024
“Our Students are our future - serving them is my priority”
Why Amanda?
“As an SVUSD Board of Education member, Amanda Morrell eagerly and tirelessly works for student success. With every endeavor, she readily brings fresh ideas and a “parent” perspective that others may not necessarily think about, but are needed. Amanda also brings recent and relevant business experiences, insights and understandings that allow her to effectively and passionately serve the school district community as a whole. In her role as a board member, she has demonstrated visionary leadership and executed actions with thought and intention without compromising her incomparable integrity.
Amanda Morrell is a dedicated public servant who is truly invested in the Saddleback Valley Unified School District. I am most supportive of her continuing in her role and making more meaningful contributions.”
—Laura Ott, Retired SVUSD Assistant Superintendent
Amanda Morrell gets it and she’s lived it! Still is.
Amanda Morrell is a parent who understands public education. She attended public schools, chose to raise her own children in public schools. One of which is working towards a PhD in Chemistry. The other became a commercial airline pilot after being inspired and empowered by his fourth grade teacher.
Amanda Morrell is a widow and breast cancer survivor fighting the fight for students. She has a heart for all students and wants to see them succeed regardless of the challenges they face.
Amanda Morrell works in private industry and has also served our country as a Federal Civil Servant for four years. The majority of her professional career has been spent improving the live-work environments of those serving in our Armed Forces particularly the Navy and Marine Corps but also the Army, Air Force and Air Force Reserve as well.
Amanda Morrell leads by example. Is independent, visionary in her thinking, creative yet detailed oriented. She is a board member who reads the contract before a meeting and understands how to govern in a nonpartisan position.
Amanda Morrell as parent, was instrumental in helping SVUSD get millions of dollars from a developer for the repair of Portola Hills Elementary School after the failure of a lawsuit. She was a parent advocate helping El Toro High School students undo a wrong by not having lights and bleachers in their own stadium as well as helped lead $8 million in Parks Improvements and the construction of a 85 AC Sports Park in the City of Lake Forest for youth and residents in our community. She has given countless hours as a PTA volunteer and Scouting Leader.
As your trustee I will put the needs and well-being of students first.
Our students deserve excellent neighborhood schools. Of utmost importance is a focus on instructional accountability, rigorous academics, and quality educational pathways with career technical and arts education so students have options.
Extracurricular activities are a critical component of our student’s education, their pursuit in belonging and finding purpose, developing passion and work ethic, friendships, and overall growth in life skills.
SVUSD needs to foster an innovative, fact based, creative and inclusive culture that inspires all students. It is imperative SVUSD students, teachers, and staff safely return to classrooms, while ensuring academic excellence, opportunities for social emotional learning, increased health and mental wellness services, and equitable instruction for all including English language learners.
I will seize opportunities to reduce class sizes, ensure everyone’s right to safe, prejudice-free learning and work environments. I pledge to evaluate and improve our district’s culture.
Taxpayers deserve assurance our education dollars are effectively being spent in the classrooms and that there is fiscal transparency.
Committed and passionate about helping students succeed.
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Contribution Rules
I am a U.S. citizen or lawfully admitted permanent resident (i.e., green card holder).
This contribution is made from my own funds, and funds are not being provided to me by another person or entity for the purpose of making this contribution.
I am making this contribution with my own personal credit card and not with a corporate or business credit card or a card issued to another person.
I am at least eighteen years old.
I am not a federal contractor.
About Me
Dedicated to putting the needs of SVUSD students first.
Current SVUSD governing Board of Education Member
Resident of SVUSD for over 30 years
Earned a landscape architecture degree from Purdue University
Currently employed as a Planning Practice Leader with Jacobs Engineering
Amanda’s children attended SVUSD schools; the eldest graduated from El Toro High School after attending Portola Hills Elementary and Serrano Intermediate School, and the other child attended Portola Hills Elementary School before attending Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), a public charter school.
Amanda has insight and expertise to be a committed champion of public education as well as providing options for parents and students.
Earned a Masters in Governance by the California School Boards Association on effective student learning and achievement, setting direction, policy review, school finance, and human resources
Past Chair of the Lake Forest Parks and Recreation Commission
Scouting Leader empowering youth for ten years.
Vacation bible school volunteer.
Amanda helped develop a 5-year parks strategic master plan and the implementation of over $8 million in facility improvements at 14 parks within the City of Lake Forest including; developing a universally accessible playground so that children of all abilities could play together and being a hands-on contributor in the design of the new 85-acre Lake Forest Sports Park (which is about to celebrate it’s 10 year anniversary).
Past member of the Citizen’s Oversight Committee to monitor expenditures on the Facility Improvement Bond for SVUSD schools. With the committee’s oversight, all 36 schools throughout our district received major facility improvements or enhancements with 550 modernized classrooms, 60 new classrooms, 11 new multipurpose rooms, 3 new band rooms, 8 new restrooms buildings, 25 new shade structures, 24 new playgrounds, 2 new kitchens, 3 new gymnasiums, athletic complex improvements, 34 field renovations, and more.
Why running…
Amanda believes in public service, public education, and choices for parents. She values serving in her local community and finds passion helping students succeed and to grow as people. Amanda commits to serving with integrity in the interest of others. She cares about every student and wants them to know they matter and for SVUSD to be a desirable place to attend school and to work. She believes staying focused on student learning at all grade levels and ensuring resources reach classrooms is essential. Her time volunteering in organizations serving youth has taught her to advocate on behalf of ALL students. She strives to listen, understand, analyze, problem solve, and govern though informed and thoughtful decisions. She has no ulterior motives and is willing to listen to and represent varying perspectives.
Making a Difference
Began offering Full Day Kindergarten District Wide
First Orange County School District to offer Unified Sports with a Grant from the Special Olympics Organization
Annual SVUSD STEAM EXPO and Showcases Highlighting Student Innovations
Implementation of Next Generation Science Standards
Energy Savings Initiative with Installation of Solar Carports at High Schools, District Office, Intermediate Schools and Select Elementary Schools. Long-term Savings Expected In Excess of $45,000,000.
District Level Music Concerts Involving Elementary, Intermediate and High School Students
Expanded Career Technical Education (CTE) course offerings in Intermediate and High School Completion of a District-wide Long-Term Facility Master Plan
Creation of Santiago STEAM Magnet School in Lake Forest with Continuing Pathway to Serrano Intermediate
Project Based Learning with Hands-on Ecosystem CurriculumA California “State” Teacher of the Year
VEX Robotics Educational Experiences and Student Competitions Ozobots, Green Screen Studio, Seesaw Learning and Google Suite in Classrooms
Advanced Via Individual Determination (AVID) Elementary School Vertical Articulation
International Festival/Days Celebrating Diverse Cultural Heritages in Our Community
Spanish Consulate Student Recognition and award winning K-12 Two-way Immersion Magnet Program
La Tierra Early Childhood Center
Peer Assistance Leadership Program Recognition
Implementation of SV Innovates, Engaging Strategies and Intentional Lesson Design Vision for Students
Opened SVUSD Virtual Academy K-12 for Online Learning
Future Scientists and Engineers of America at Lake Forest Elementary School
GATE Training and Collaboration
Continued Teacher Collaboration Through Professional Learning Communities
English Learner Progress Towards English Language Proficiency
Engineering Drafting/Architectural Design Room at Mission Viejo High School
Expanded Professional Development Opportunities for Teachers and Classified Employees
Robotics Integration and Teams at Multiple Sites