Candidate for
Member, Board of Education; Long Beach Unified School District; District 3

YOUNG IDEAS • EXPERIENCE • MATURE & COMMITTED LEADERSHIP

I am native of Columbia, South Carolina,moved to California in 1971 and settled in Long Beach 10 years ago. In 1977 I received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in French with a minor in Political Science from the University of California, Los Angeles and, also, received the Master of Arts in Education with honors from California State University, Los Angeles.

Upon completing my teaching internship in Paris, France, I completed my teaching credential and began teaching with the Los Angeles Unified School District. Since beginning as a classroom teacher, I have taught diverse students in diverse settings, including the Juvenile Court Schools. My tenure with the Lynwood Unified School District began in 1990. Since that time, I have served at the site, district and state levels in various capacities:

Coordinator - Community programs such as United Way and the Brotherhood Crusade.

Club Sponsor - Providing programming, travel and career development opportunities for students interested in careers in foreign language and international studies.

Department Chairperson - Drafting criteria for departmental testing and evaluation for second language acquisition; developing scholarship opportunities for students interested in advanced studies in foreign language.

Consultant - Providing remediation for children with the Department of Social Servicces; Providing statewide workshop training for principals, teachers and administrators.

District Mentor - Providing new and veteran teachers with effective classroom management and discipline stratetgies.

Resource Specialist - Assisting Principal with daily operations, budget planning, school site council coordination and teacher training.

In 1998, I formed a sole proprietorship, EduSource USA, providing educational and technology services to the general public and corporate concerns. The Company also serves as a corporate link, training students for the Long Beach Unified School District's Regional Occupational Program.

I have further strengthened my understanding of the complex environment of education through completing Business Management Certificates with California State University, Dominguez Hills and the University of California, Los Angeles, as well as have participated in budget studies for the past 10 years.

Additionally, I stay abreast of current issues in education through memberships with various national, state and local orgnizations.

I have made a special effort to be able to speak to the hearts and minds of parents and students. I have mastered three languages, which has proven to be an enormous asset in working with the parents and community in the ever increasingly diverse linguistic environment of the California school system.