Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Rowland Unified School District

Gilbert G. García, Ph.D. Age: 61

Education: Ph.D. in Education, UCLA, `94; M.Ed., Educational Administration, UCLA, '87; B.A., Spanish, UCLA, `70; California Single Subject Secondary Professional Clear Teaching Credential; Preliminary Administrative Credential (eligible); Masters in Governance, California School Boards Association; Chief Business Officer Academy (Candidate + Total School Solutions)

Occupation: Governing Board Member, Rowland School Board; Adjunct Faculty Member, UCLA School Management Program; Chief Executive Officer, Lifelong Learning, Inc.

Qualifications: Vice President, Governing Board of Trustees, Rowland Unified School District; Vice President, Executive Board of the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association; Member of the Delegate Assembly of the California School Boards Association; Past President, California Reading Association; Program Author, English and Spanish versions of California state-adopted Houghton Mifflin Reading; Editor of a professional book published by the International Reading Association titled, English Learners: Reaching the Highest Level of English Literacy; Former teacher at Cathedral High School, Los Angeles.

Biography/Statement: I was born and raised in Los Angeles. My wife, Maria, my three girls, Monique, Susie, and Andrea, and I have resided in Rowland Heights since 1977. All three of my daughters have graduated from Rowland High School. I was a textbook sales representative for 31 years with the same publisher, Houghton Mifflin Company and retired in 2004 to start my own company, Lifelong Learning, Inc. I taught Spanish and history for three years at Cathedral High School, my alma mater, prior to my career with Houghton Mifflin Company. I am also a textbook program author of the English and Spanish versions of Houghton Mifflin Reading that are currently state-adopted in California. I edited a professional book on English learners published by the International Reading Association in 2003 titled, English Learners: Reaching the Highest Level of English Literacy. I have also coauthored several articles on English learner issues.

I am keenly aware of essential business issues like budgets, goals, and accountability due to my vast sales experience. I am nearing completion of a state of California certificate program for Chief Business Officers designed to train future school district CBOs in order to expand my knowledge of school finance. I have had eight years experience in helping assure the fiscal solvency of the Rowland Unified School District, and I also spent four years on the Governing Board of Trustees for the La Puente Valley Regional Occupational Center. I have also completed a Masters in Governance issued by the California School Boards Association. My experience with educators, and with education in general spans my entire career. I have a deep personal commitment to professional development, and although retired from a long career in publishing, I continue to participate in my own business as the CEO of Lifelong Learning, Inc. where I also serve as an educational consultant. This company has just recently expanded operations into Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

I have always volunteered my time, thus my involvement with the California Reading Association where I served on the Board of Directors for seven years as a Director, Vice President, President, and Past President. I have served the International Reading Association by participating on several committees, such as the Nominating Committee (2004), the Multilingual Classroom Committee (four years, and two as Chair), and the Urban Diversity Committee (2 years). I have served on committees established by Rowland's former Superintendent, such as the budget committee and the committee that facilitated the establishment of Rowland's core values and mission statement in the mid-nineties. I have just recently assumed the position of Vice President for the Los Angeles County School Trustees Association after serving two years as a Director and recently as Secretary/Treasurer. I am also an elected member of the Delegate Assembly of the California School Boards Association. I served for four years on the Governing Board of the La Puente Valley Occupational Center's Governing Board, and also served as President of the Board.

I have served two terms on the Rowland Unified School District's Governing Board of Trustees. In spite of the incredible fiscal challenges we have faced, I can certainly look back at the past eight years with tremendous pride in our collective successes. Rowland Unified School District is clearly on the right track! Student achievement continues to rise in spite of the shortcomings we have under the lens of No Child Left Behind mandates, many schools have distinguished themselves locally and nationally, your school bond dollars continue to modernize our schools as promised, we are in the midst of our second successful bond program, our schools remain safe, our police force has been reorganized and our officers are well on their way to post certification, we have fairly negotiated with our employees, and in spite of the challenges that shrinking state budgets have created, Rowland remains fiscally solvent. I have participated in some very difficult decisions on your behalf that have included painful budget reductions. We also have a very successful Superintendent. I have fully participated in my school Board role, and I know that I am accountable to you.

Since my retirement from school publishing, I have devoted even more time to my duties as a school trustee, especially in the area of teacher training and my own training. My educational and business background, my textbook program authorship and educational consulting experience have served me well in this important community role. I ask for your continued vote of confidence in this election. I am deeply committed to the academic achievement of all students. I am well qualified to continue serving on this Governing Board of Trustees. I have a sincere desire to continue serving you and your children.