Candidate for
Monterey County Superintendent of Schools; Monterey County Board of Education

Donna Alonzo Vaughan came to Salinas City Elementary School District as Superintendent in 2003 after more than twenty years as principal, guidance counselor, and teacher, including elementary school, middle school science, and high school science and algebra. She earned her bachelor's degree in rural sociology and agricultural economics, master's in psychology/guidance, and Ph.D. in ABD Ed. Administration from Texas A&M University. Her service to the education community includes Association California School Administrators (ACSA); San Jose State University Education Administration and SJSU/UC Berkley Joint Doctorate Advisory Committees; School to School Partnership, Spain/Switzerland/Mexico; and Monterey College of Law Lupe M. Alonzo Scholarship Committee. She received the ACSA Golden Apple for School Innovation and was named Charlie Binderup Nominee/Small School Superintendent of the Year and 2007 Salinas Californian Person of the Year. An avid equestrian, Donna is a professional rescuer, a judge for Carmel Valley Rancher's Days, and chair of the California Rodeo Cowboy Poetry Committee.

In addition to her current position as the Salinas City Elementary School District, Donna co-owns and operates VI Farms with her husband Bill and until recently had been running their books. VI Farms runs 90 acres of row crops in the Mission District of Soledad. Donna and Bill currently live in Arroyo Seco and preparing to move to Soledad where they are renovating a home in the Mission District. They also have a residence in Monterey. From 1993-1996, Donna and her former husband Lupe Alonzo owned and operated the Farm Center in Carmel Valley- a successful feed and tack store. Donna sold the Farm Center when she lost Lupe to illness in 1996.

"When people ask you why they should vote for Donna Alonzo Vaughan, tell them that I have district experience in finance. I took in a district that was in deficit and took it in 18 months to a positive without laying off employees. I have the district experience in program improvement in academics. I have taken a district from program improvement, we, and I mean we because it is a team effort, are speaking at the State Curriculum and Instruction conference this month, about getting out of program improvement because we are almost there. I have the district experience of working collaboratively. Working with students, parents, the community, and with employees with respect and dignity because they are my colleagues.
- Donna Alonzo Vaughan, Ph.D.

"I've had the pleasure of working with her for several years in the role at Carmel Middle as Counselor, where she wore a lot of hats- a lot of counseling, a lot of love, a little Texas discipline here and there for those that needed a little bit whether they were teachers or students. As most of you know that have worked with her, we really love Donna. She is really a lot of fun to be around, she is very bright, loves kids and gets things done. The reason why I've come out of mothballs since I retired in July is to help support Donna. She is what Monterey County needs for Superintendent- for her people skills, her honesty, her directness, her ability to communicate with all different kinds of people and tell it like it is. Her experience in working with Carmel kids- let me tell you, its not that easy. What Donna has done at Salinas (City) Elementary- the program she has built is pretty remarkable, and then at Mission School in South County (Soledad) as Superintendent and Principal. She has a long history of working with a great diversity of students, people and programs. This is the right time for Donna."
- Karl Pallastrini, Former Carmel High School Principal

"We are truly talking about a remarkable woman. I have so many great memories of working with Donna and the remarkable ability that she has to work with all levels, to work with the kids, to work with parents, to work with faculty, and in such a successful way. She is such a gifted woman and such a fun one too. I was so excited to hear about her run (for Monterey County Superintendent of Schools) I knew that I had to be here to support her. I dearly love Donna and support her. This is exactly what Monterey County needs right now so I hope that you will support her in any way that you can, in every way that you can because we have such a gift in Donna. I will do anything I can do to support her and hope you do as well."
-Lou Langley, parent of Donna's former students at Carmel Middle & Carmel High School

PROFESSIONAL INTERESTS & ACCOMPLISHMENTS Region 10 Board + Association California School Administrators Past President-Salinas Valley Charter + Association California School Administrators San Jose State University + Chair Education Administration Advisory Committee School to School Partnership + Spain/Switzerland/Mexico District Director + Categorical Programs District Testing Coordinator Chief Negotiator + Administration CDE + South Bay Team Master Plan Co-Chair + California Association of Bilingual Educators Chair Matsui Scholarship Foundation Community Alliance for Safety and Peace

HONORS Alisal Betterment Association - Educator of the Year 2008 California Assembly Certificate of Recognition + 2008 Educator of the Year Excellence Award Salinas Californian - Person of the Year 2007 Salinas City Council Commendation + Outstanding Contributions to Salinas Students and Residents 2007 ACSA Region 10 - Superintendent of the Year 2007 & 2010 ACSA Golden Apple for School Innovation Charlie Binderup Nominee/Small School Superintendent of the Year Phi Kappa Phi + International Honor Society Kappa Delta Pi/Mu Chi Chapter + International Education Honor Society

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT American Red Cross -California Health & Safety Specialist, Monterey County Board Member, Instructor Trainer + CPR/First Aid & Professional Rescuer California Rodeo- Cowboy Poetry Committee Chair & Centennial Committee Carmel Valley Rancher's Days- Judge Monterey College of Law- Lupe M. Alonzo Scholarship Committee Daughters of the American Revolution- Santa Lucia Chapter Arroyo Seco Citizens Association- Member Carmel Valley Community Youth Center- (Past Board Member) Carmel Youth Center- (Past Board Member)

CREDENTIALS Administrative Services - Pupil Personnel Services Single Subject-Life Science - Multiple Subject

EDUCATION Texas A&M University Ph.D. Dec. 2008 Ed. Administration San Jose State University Credential May 1992 Ed. Administration Texas A&I University MS Aug. 1983 Psychology/Guidance Texas A&M University BS May1981 Rural Sociology/Agricultural Economics

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Salinas City Elementary School District 2003-Present South Bay Recruitment Center 2003 Mission Union Elementary District 1992-2003 Texas A&M University 1996-1997 Carmel Unified School District 1985-1992 Orange Grove Independent SD 1981-1985 Administrator K + 8 Superintendent + Salinas City Elementary School District Personnel Director + Salinas City Elementary School District Principal/Superintendent + Mission Union Director SBTRC Human Resources Teacher High School Biology/Algebra Middle Single Subject-Science Self-contained 7th-8tElementary- 5th/6th grade Counselor- K + 12 Lecturer- Collegiate TX School Board Academy K-12 At-Risk Youth Studies TX A&M Principal's Academy Classified Educators Leadership Academy San Jose State + Education Administration

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING Stanford Certificate of Achievement in Leadership and English Learner Education CSUMB Response to Instruction and Intervention Professional Learning Communities at Work Institute SJSU Grant Writing Workshop- Public Service Ethics (AB1234) Personnel Institute- California School Leadership Academy Project Leadership- Delta Sierra Credential Workshop Legal Issues in Public Education- Program Quality & Coordinated Compliance Review Ventures-Hiring For Excellence- Grief Busters Labor and Law Workshop- Supervision & Evaluation Workshop

REFERENCES Dr. William Barr, Superintendent (retired) Monterey County of Education

Dr. Robert Infelise, Superintendent (retired) Carmel Unified School District

Allen Duckworth, Board President Mission Union School District

Robert Eggers, Board President Salinas City Elementary School District