11/02/2020
Hello,
I’m Joe Botelho. I’m running for the Chowchilla Union High School Area 1 Trustee position.
I was raised in Chowchilla, where my family owned a dairy farm business. My wife and I started our family in 2006. I have a daughter, age 14, and a son, age 12.
I decided to run for the Trustee position for the following reasons.
1. I’m an incredibly hard worker, and my integrity can’t be compromised. My business fundamentals are based on honesty, integrity, and craftsmanship.
2. I feel that I have a great deal of wisdom that I’d like to share and infuse into our school and community.
3. When goals are set, they must be accomplished; failure is not an option.
4. Success is based on not what you think you can do, but what you cannot do, pushing past and moving forward with your goals.
5. This community has afforded my family and I a great life, and I would like to give back to my alma mater.
I attended Chowchilla High School in the 1990’s, where I discovered my love and passion in the welding and industrial mechanical related industries. Mr. Steve Obad was my instructor and mentor. It was through his exuberates and passion for teaching that led our local agricultural mechanics department to the number 1 position in the state. I would like to see our Ag. Dept return to that level!
After graduating from CUHS, I attended Modesto Junior College, majoring in welding technologies and sheet metal. After junior college, I worked in the sheet metal trades for a number of years before starting my own successful business as a welding and sheet metal contractor.
My success is driven by what was taught to me at Chowchilla High School!
As a community, we share a responsibility to ensure that every student is provided with the tools and skills they need to succeed in life.
I see two possible pathways to ensure that success.
1. Design your high school education towards a college degree.
2. Receive a vocational or technical education at the high school level that could lead to further education in that vocation or permanent employment in the career of one’s choice.
College is great for some, but it is not for everyone.
I would like to see our high school include more vocational and technical (CTE) education pathways. There are many fields of trade that could and should be explored. Some examples are welding and CNC machining technologies, culinary arts, electrical and computer coding, robotics, HVAC, just to name a few.
It is essential to give students that do not want to receive a college degree the tools they need to learn a skill that can better prepare them for the future. Businesses all over our state are having difficulties recruiting people with common basic skill abilities.
It was recently brought to my attention by two large agricultural-related business owners that they were struggling to find local manpower to help build their businesses. Both pay incredibly well and offer benefits. Why is this? This is unacceptable. Could it be that there has been too much emphasis put towards “everyone” needs a college degree?
Whether your goal is a college education or directly into the job market, one must have a good foundation. If elected my hope is to not only focus on CTE but to help guide the school in ensuring that every student gets a high-quality education. Specifically, I feel that we need to vigorously focus on core subjects such as math, sciences, language, and the arts. These are the essential building blocks of a foundation for any successful college or technical career.
I currently serve as an Ag advisory committee member for Madera South High School.
If elected, your vote won’t be wasted. I’ll work hard to ensure every child succeeds in becoming responsible, accountable young adults. You and I are accountable for the next generation of adults, let’s do our part!
Thank you for your consideration!
