A Vote For James Bishop Is a Vote For Change
By: Melanie Sambrano
Coach. Mentor. Protector. Neighbor. And future Lynwood Unified District School Board member. That is Mr. James Bishop. Serving Lynwood students and the community for over 35 years. An advocate for students through academics, performing arts, and athletics. A strong support system in the community.
“Strong Leadership, Strong Schools, Stronger Lynwood”
Among his many motivations for pursuing a spot on the Lynwood School Board is the passion for change in the community. Mr. Bishop is a firsthand witness to challenges facing Lynwood schools. “…I’ve seen a lot of what’s happening inside the school district, as far as facilities not being kept up, no transparency in the district office…” is a statement made by James Bishop in an interview with City Pride Magazine. He stresses the improvements that the schools, students, teachers, and community deserve. “Students deserve better, teachers deserve support, community deserves a voice.”
As a member of the Lynwood School Board, James Bishop will work to ensure honest leadership, responsible decision-making, the prioritization of student achievement, and the strengthening of community involvement. A pillar in the Lynwood community. A notable teacher, safety officer, and head baseball coach. An educator in vocational education, a platform dedicated to providing career education to students and youth that can lead to jobs such as mechanics and computer technicians. 8% of students in Lynwood do not attend college. Through vocational education, they are given an opportunity to explore the career path that best suits them.
Vocational education is among the three strong points that James Bishop is targeting in his campaign for Lynwood School Board. Vocational education, performing arts, and athletics. Bishop shares his love and support for the low-income communities in South LA in connection to these strong points: “…kids like working with their hands, here in low-income communities, and we should provide a pathway for them through education…those three are very important in a community like Lynwood, Compton, South Gate, and Paramount, which are low-income communities.” He kickstarted this mission by creating the Lynwood Athletics Community Services and an umbrella program for youth known as the Lynwood Jr. Knights. The Jr. Knights have been a running organization for 35 years. With success in acquiring college opportunities for students, mentoring, and ensuring a safe environment for the youth in the community.
After a 13-year stint as a professional baseball player, James Bishop began his career with the school district. He showed initiative and leadership when he noticed a need for an after-school program for the students. A way to keep them engaged, entertained, and an opportunity to build their skills and experiences. “I saw a need for an after-school program because between the hours of 3 and 6 pm, kids didn’t have anything to do. So I started the program in 1994, and it’s been going ever since,” recounted Bishop about the origins of the Lynwood Athletics Community Services.
With the help of volunteer staff, including Victor James, Eugene Jackson, fellow Lynwood alumni who grew up in the community, the Lynwood Jr. Knights are thriving with football and cheer opportunities for the youth.
An exemplary mentor and coach dedicated to baseball. As the then assistant coach, now manager of the Major League Baseball Academy Barons, a summer collegiate baseball team, Bishop coached the team all the way to the state championship after 16 years of not making the playoffs. He and his fellow coaches, AJ Monarrez and Jonathan Kazarian, aided 16 of their players in making it out of the portal and into Division One schools. The portal is an athletic portal where players can opt out of their current college and be selected by other colleges.
A vote for James Bishop is a vote for change, a vote for support, a vote for community. “I know the community, I believe in the community. I’ve seen three generations; I’ve seen the community go from White to Black to Hispanic, and I’ve nurtured 3 generations of Hispanic kids in the community of Lynwood,” said Bishop in his emphasis of love for the community.
“I know the heartbeat of the city” – James Bishop
Support your neighbors, your community. Support James Bishop, and he will support you. Vote for James Bishop for Lynwood Unified District School Board on November 3rd.
