Candidate for
Board Member; Brea Olinda Unified School District; 4 Year Term

PERSONAL HISTORY

Rod, his wife, Kathy and two sons, Andrew and Christopher lived in northeast Fullerton from 1980 to 1991. When Andrew attended Fanning Elementary School for kindergarten, it was obvious that the Brea Olinda Unified School District was the district that Rod and Kathy wanted their sons to attend. The Todd's looked for and found a home in Brea ensuring their boys would attend Brea schools. Both attended Fanning Elementary School, Brea Junior High School and Brea Olinda High School. Andrew graduated from Brea Olinda High School in 2003 and is now a sophomore in college. Rod and Andrew served as newsletter editors for Brea's Boy Scout Troop 801. Rod served on the School Site Councils for Fanning Elementary School and Brea Junior High School. Both Rod and Andrew currently serve on Brea Olinda High School's Instrumental Music Booster Board, where Rod is in his fifth year as treasurer.

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY

Both Rod and Kathy have been career employees for the Montebello Unified School District. In 1960, Rod student taught grades three and five in Montebello and began his teaching career at the fifth grade level in 1961. He was elected President of the Montebello Teachers' Association for the 1968 to 1969 school year. In January of 1970, he became an Assistant Principal of Bell Gardens Elementary School. Two years later, in 1972, he was promoted to Principal. In 1980, Rod became Principal of Montebello Intermediate School and served there, until 1985. During his tenure at Montebello Intermediate, the school was recognized as a California Distinguished School. It also received the honor of being recognized as one of the United States' Blue Ribbon Schools of Excellence for the 1983-1984 school year - to date, the only one in Montebello Unified School District's history. In 1985, Rod was appointed Principal of Montebello High School and served in that capacity until January 1997. While serving at school sites, Rod was recevied the Honorary Service Award from the Parent Teachers Association. He also is a charter member of the Association of Montebello School Administrators and the Association of California School Administrators. From January 1997 until June of 2000, he was an Administrative Assistant to the Business Manager at Montebello's district office. At district office, his initial responsibility was the formulation of the structure of a $92,000,000.00 bond campaign. With passage of the bond, the scope of Rod's responsibilities broadened to include implementation of the bond, Department of Transportation, Maintenance and Operations, Facilities Planning and the Montebello Unified School District Police Department's Director of Public Safety.

Rod ended his career with Montebello Unified on June 30, 2000 ending forty years of service. In July of 2000, he joined the staff of the Association of California School Administrators as a Professional Standards Advocate. He is one of six advocates throughout the State of California. The major responsibility of an advocate is to work with administrators in an effort to resolve issues, arbitrate between parties and reach amicable agreements that will ultimately benefit students. As an employee of the Association of California School Administrators, Rod gets constant up-to-date information on legislation that affects the Brea Olinda Unified School District.

As an educator for forty years, Rod has knowledge of the educational system, recognizes situations that need attention and what the proper solution might be.