Candidate for
Board Member; Castro Valley Unified School District

Castro Valley's schools are a gem within our community, attracting families, staff and residents. Our schools not only boast high test scores, we have quality and stable staffs plus exceptional levels of parent involvement. Our schools have been honored both statewide and nationally numerous times.

As a board member for the last thirteen years, I have demonstrated a serious commitment to the responsibility of establishing policies and directions that focus on achievement for all students. Castro Valley has done a great job in improving and maintaining our educational programs as well as our facilities. Our district is financially sound and we have not had any program or staff cutbacks during these rocky state budget times.

I am currently the President-Elect of the California State PTA, where I am able to impact the lives of California's children and families. I have the advantage of a statewide perspective on education as I represent California's parents while serving on State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell's P-16 Council. (The Council advises the Department of Education on preschool through college educational issues.) I serve on the Board of Directors for EdSource, an independent and impartial educational data resource.

I have been involved in our community for many years and have served in many different capacities. I have coached soocer, Tball and softball. I worked very hard to re-establish the Castro Valley Education Foundation and served as president. I chaired the Schools 2000 committee for CVUSD. I chaired the Council for the Prevention of Drinking and Driving as we sponsored sober graduation events and many local outreach projects. For many years I have worked with the Community Outreach project for all of the children and families in Castro Valley.

Within PTA I was the president of Proctor School's PTA, of Peralta District PTA (Alameda County) and have been the California State PTA Vice President for Education and Leadership Services. I served on the California Title 1 Committee of Practioners for three years for the California Department of Education.

As a school board member I have earned my Masters of Boardsmanship and my Masters of Governance from the California School Boards Association. I have also been President, Vice-President and Secretary/Treasurer of the Alameda County School Boards Association.