Inspiring Students Motivates School Board Member

By George McConnell

There are 60,000 students in the San Francisco Unified School District, but they all share the same best friend. She is a hyperactive big kid who likes rock climbing, surfing and running marathons. Meet San Francisco Board of Education Commissioner Sarah Lipson.

Lipson was elected to the board in November 2002 and began her four-year term in January. Because of the severe budget crisis, it turned out to be a baptism by fire.

She began her career serving as a volunteer aide in high school and then taught first grade for six years before resigning to run for commissioner.

While growing up in Los Altos, Lipson suffered from many problems and struggled. With the help of some very devoted teachers, however, she overcame her difficulties.

Because of the help she received, she decided to be a teacher.

"I wanted to help other kids so that they wouldn't have to go through what I did," she said.

Lipson was hyperactive and expended her energy running track and playing soccer. After high school, she was recruited to play soccer for Chico State University, but she ended up rock climbing and running on the school's cross-country track team instead.

She came to San Francisco nine years ago to earn her teaching credential at the University of San Francisco. She was hired by the SF Unified School District to teach first grade and went on to earn a Master's Degree in Early Childhood Education before getting married.

Always an avid runner, Lipson ran marathons until she became pregnant with her daughter, Elsie. She and her husband, Adam, live in the Richmond District a few blocks from Ocean Beach with their two dogs. She likes being near the ocean because she and her husband are experienced surfers.

Lipson says she also enjoys the local spots, such as Santa Cruz, Montara and Pacifica, but she has also surfed in Hawaii and Mexico.

"I'm teaching Elsie to surf," she said with a laugh.

Lipson enjoys the energy and diversity of San Francisco and the fact that it is a progressive city, and she loves her neighborhood, the Outer Richmond.

"The neighbors are so nice and friendly," she said.

One of her first decisions as a board member was having to lay off more than 200 teachers because of the budget.

"It was horrible," she said, "but fortunately, we will be able to hire most of them back."

Lipson considers creating high-quality schools and retaining good teachers her highest priority.

"Teachers need a livable wage and currently that is not the case," she said.

Her position is considered part-time, but her days are long, she said, filled with meetings that can stretch until 2 or 3 in the morning, requiring volumes of material to read. As a commissioner, she is paid a small stipend of just more than $400 per month.

One of her favorite tasks on the board is the creation of small autonomous schools. She believes smaller schools are better for students because teachers have the time to get to know them and they do not get lost in the system as they can at larger schools.

She mentored teenage girls as part of the "Come into the Sun" program and knows from experience the power that personal relationships can have. This year the district will be starting three new smaller schools as part of the "Secondary Schools Redesign Initiative."

Like other professionals, Lipson has difficulty juggling the requirements of her many roles.

"It's hard balancing job and family," she said.

When she needs to escape, she walks nearby to one of her favorite spots, Sutro Heights Park, and enjoys the serenity and beautiful light that filters through the panoply of tall trees. Or, sometimes she goes in the opposite direction to some of her favorite hangouts, like Q on Clement Street or Simple Pleasures on Balboa Street.

"One of the most important lessons I have learned as a teacher is that children know more than they are given credit for. You should always listen to the children," she said.

The board meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month, and one of her accomplishments has been to increase the role of the student advocate.

"I enjoy being a facilitator, helping people get through the system," Lipson said.