Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Live Oak Elementary School District

I've lived in Santa Cruz County for 26 years, 20 in Live Oak. I'm a UCSC graduate in psychology and am married with two teen-age children.

Before pursuing election in 1988, I was an active volunteer at Live Oak School and had attended school board meetings for approximately one year. I was subsequently the top vote-getter in both 1992 and 1996 and have received past endorsement from the Sentinel's editorial staff. I have, thus, served on the Live Oak school board for 12 years.

My most important accomplishments include:

- completion of Shoreline Middle School and securing additional on-going State funds (through special legislation) to support our middle school elective program;

- investment in a strong staff development program, including Reading Recovery, which has resulted in significant test score improvement; our District is a recognized training site for early literacy using the Reading Recovery intervention model;

- articulation with S.C. City Schools, including co-authorship of a Resolution of Collaboration between the two districts;

- creation of a Home Study Program to "re-capture" families being lost to other districts;

- modernization projects underway at all our elementary schools.

Over the past few years, our low-wealth school district has managed to do more with less, thanks to staff dedication, community involvement, and effective governance.

A VOTE FOR GORDON IS A VOTE FOR STABILITY, RESPONSIBILITY, AND COMMITMENT TO THE LIVE OAK COMMUNITY.