Part II
Re “A School Board Candidate from the Inside”
[img]1220|left|Nancy Goldberg ||no_popup[/img]Since there is a scarcity of School Board candidates from her generation, Nancy Goldberg, doing double duty as grandmother and great-grandmother, returned to her motivation for seeking office.
Not that she needed to.
As recently as last month, the final inning of her shining 42-year Culver City classroom career, she was teaching four periods at the high school.
“I am choosing to run at this point in my life because I know I have some good years left,” she said. “I am study-oriented. I know some of the issues will take study.
“I have watched people on the School Board for the last 35 years and wondered how they did it. I think I might bring something of value, I hope.”
Question: Is the announcement of your candidacy this summer the product of an evolving desire?
“I think I sort of said it in whimsy when I was younger. I just thought I always would be there (in the classroom), and I don’t want to give up those kids.”
You are finished with teaching?
“I am. I finished on the 21st of June. I applied for state teachers’ retirement. I notified Social Security.
“I have been at the high school since 1973. I was at the Middle School since 1970, and I actually started in 1969 as a sub. I was put on contract in February of ’70, and I have been with them ever since.”
You taught English and history — what history do you enjoy most?
“British. I want to go back to all the sturm and drang that went on at the time of the Colonial period with all the Founding Fathers.
“That fascinates me because the British had a very different view of us. The more liberal Brits were not only welcoming what the Colonies represented, they were thinking we should be able to get along better.
“We obviously did. We kissed and made up.”
You can just walk away from the classroom?
“No. It has been very difficult. I was just sitting over my pictures; no, it’s not easy.
“I do have a lot of contact presently with the kids. I go see their productions,” and Ms. Goldberg picked off the table a program from last weekend’s “Styx Run Dry” staging in Hollywood.
“For years, I have got these associations. I get to live vicariously through all of their accomplishments.”
Recent graduate Kevin Mitchell is one of the key players who produced “Styx,” the most ambitious organized undertaking by alumni of the Academy of Visual and Performing Arts, the AVPA.
That reminded Ms. Goldberg that Mr. Mitchell’s younger brother Eric, who will be a junior, is working on her campaign.
“These young people are like I was when I was 20,” she said. “They have an awareness, so conscientious.”
Ms. Goldberg was 20 fifty-four years ago.
What’s to worry about?
“I have longevity, and I am hoping I can serve.”
(To be continued — in more ways than one)
