Candidate for
Board Member; Westminster School District

My passion for helping children to achieve academically led me to campaign in my successful 2002 election.

For seven years of my child's education in the district, I had observed questionable federal programs take time away from proven methods of teaching basics such as reading, writing, spelling and history. I had attended school board meetings for years to express my concerns and recommend improvements. The trustees in turn defended the status quo.

As I helped children with homework in my extended daycare business, I personally saw the trend of schools moving away from teaching basic academic skills. I observed the frusturation of parents (and children) with poor results of "collaborative learning" methods. I saw very little emphasis, much less education, concerning patriotic holidays and American ideals. I watched classroom time eaten away by fund-raising assemblies and administration in-service training days. Parents started paying me and others such as Kumon, The Phonics Game, Sylvan and others to help their children "catch up" to succeed.

I served on my school's Site Council in hopes of learning how and why these decisions were made and concluded the Site Council was expected to "rubber stamp" decisions made by district officials. I was frusturated that opportunities for parents to participate in matters such as textbook selection were scheduled for the convenience of school officials, not for wide participation by working parents.

When friends and supporters urged me to be their representative on the school board, I seriously reviewed my qualifications and previous experience that would lead me to be an effective trustee.

As a former active PTA leader, I chaired our school's talent shows and served as chairperson of the S.T.A.R. reading program for several years. I taught several Youth Leadership Programs in our school's classrooms and tutored students in my Extended Day Care, whose parents referred more families to my tutoring services.

Before I started my family, I obtained an AA degree from Cerritos College and eventually was the Executive Secretary to the President of a multi-million dollar engineering firm. I served in leadership positions at Grace Lutheran Church (http://www.GraceHB.org) and volunteered to serve as a Neighborhood Watch Block Leader. I spoke at local hearings conducted by County and State Boards of Education.

Norman Ahrens, my husband of 16 years, provided for our family as an aerospace engineer for Boeing. He lost a battle to stomach cancer in 2000. Our 22 year old son Mark Ahrens filled in for his dad as my campaign manager in my successful election to the school board in 2002.

These past four years I have made the role as a board trustee my primary job. I've put in the hours to research action items and ask questions before every vote. I've never been beholden to any special interest. My votes have represented the "back-to-basics," pro-family, and pro-country constituents that elected me.

My record shows that during my first term I have accomplished a number of goals I campaigned on. There is more I can do for you, especially my support for offering a Fundamental School in the district. After reflection, I've concluded that my passion is still there in my belly and I'm willing to serve you another term as a Westminster School Board Trustee.

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Please visit my website at http://www.VoteJudy.com for videos, news clippings, and more!

HB Video Production (http://www.HBvideoproduction.com) founded by my son produced a documentary about our district's victory during a policy debate with Sacramento. Request the DVD by visiting my website.