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

Although born in Erie, Pennsylvania, Matt is really a California guy. He grew up in Rowland Heights, but as an adult has lived in Claremont, Round Valley (rural northern California), Boulder City (Nevada), Carlsbad, Van Nuys, Fallbrook, all prior to living in Brea for the past twelve years.

A 1978 graduate of Cal State Fullerton with a degree in Communications, Matt took a year off before answering the call into the United Methodist ministry. He graduated from the School of Theology in Claremont in 1983 with his Master of Divinity degree. It was during his time in graduate school that Matt obtained an emergency teaching credential and substituted in schools in the San Gabriel Valley, most often in the Rowland Unified District. Since graduation, Matt has served churches throughout Southern California. He has experienced several different school districts in action.

Matt married Lori (Kubo) in June of 1981 and the two of them have raised two daughters + Jessica and Nicole. Both girls grew up in Brea, attended Mariposa Elementary School, Brea Junior High and graduated Distinguished Scholars from Brea Olinda High School in 2002 and 2005 respectively. Matt believes that parents are crucial in the development of their children and he has been very active in the lives of his daughters. From being on Site Council at Mariposa, to coaching and presiding over the Board of Directors in the softball league, to serving as a parent representative to the WASC review, to being asked to sit in on interviews for teachers and a principal, to spending seven years (including three as president of the boosters) helping out the high school instrumental music program, Matt has been behind his kids' education every step of the way.

Matt believes Brea has a great tradition of quality education and hopes to keep the level of learning high for future generations of learners. While Brea can rightly be proud of the reputation its schools have, there can be no resting on our laurels. We need to be vigilant in our efforts to improve what has gone before. Over the past several years, the district has lost some outstanding teachers, as they seek higher income in other districts, and Matt will work to "level the playing field" for Brea's instructors.

He believes the district needs new voices -- voices with experience in education, in raising responsible children, in creating opportunity for quality teaching and learning to take place.

Throughout his career, Matt has shown a commitment to listening well, weighing issues carefully and making decisions that are fair, well-reasoned and responsible, and he looks forward to working for the betterment of Brea's schools.

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