Candidate for
Council Member; City of Pleasanton

Cheryl Cook-Kallio, a lifelong resident of the region and Pleasanton resident for over two decades, has a long history of public service and volunteerism. She is a 33 year veteran teacher currently teaching Advanced Placement United States History and Advanced Placement United States Government classes at Irvington High School in Fremont. Since 2000, she has also been the coach of the school's We the People team, a competition civics class. Her team has been a California State Finalists each year and were California State Champions in 2005.

Her volunteer service includes being a Girl Scout Leader, a Cub Scout Leader, school volunteer, Amador Friends of Music board member and past president, and Amador High School We the People volunteer.

Cheryl received the American Civic Education Teacher Award in 2008, one of only three in the nation. Cheryl has been honored by the Fremont Education Foundation for Excellence in Education in 2006, Irvington High School's Teacher of the Year 2005, Woman of the Year 2004 by State Senator Liz Figueroa, Teacher of the Year by the Sons of the American Revolution 1997. In 1997, Cheryl was also awarded a James Madison Memorial Foundation Fellowship, a prestigious merit scholarship awarded to only one teacher per state each year to pursue a master's degree with an emphasis on the United States Constitution, and served as a Congressional Fellow in 2002 and a Federal Courts Fellow in 2005.

Cheryl earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in History from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte and her Masters of Arts degree in History from San Jose State University. She holds teaching credentials in Social Science, English, and a supplemental credential in Spanish. She lives in Pleasanton with her husband John, a retired teacher. They are the parents of four children. Twins Heather and Heidi, graduates of Foothill High School, live out of state. Nathan and Lauren graduated from Amador Valley High School where they both participated in We the People.

Cheryl is seeking re-election to the Pleasanton City Council because of her passion for public service. She is an accomplished leader who is a tireless advocate for Pleasanton residents. As a longtime resident, parent, teacher, and active community volunteer she has proven to be a consensus builder shaping Pleasanton's future.