Candidate for
Trustee; Newport-Mesa Unified School District; Trustee Area 5

I support: orderly, safe schools; long range strategic planning; employing only highly qualified teachers; challenging curricula; fiscal and staff accountability; upgraded technology; increased opportunities in Visual and Performing Arts and Honors/Advanced Placement classes; increased enrichment activities in science and other core subjects; all Measure F dollars are spent according to voter approved criteria and standards; Professional Learning Communities that use data driven decisions in the education of our students; curricular and professional development for our teachers in low-performing schools; intense academic intervention for struggling students.

I am a consensus builder who believes that all stakeholders must be involved in the decision-making process. I am optimistic. I believe that every child can learn. I am a realist. I believe in accountability - testing to be sure that students have learned what we have taught them and when needed, rigorous remediation programs for all students who need help and workshops that provide our teachers with effective methods to use in enhancing the education of all of our students. I am a listener - to our students, teachers, parents and the community. I am a strong advocate for the public school system who believes that we must all work together to make sure that all of our students learn more today than they did yesterday and that they will learn more tomorrow than they did today. The teachers, support staff, parents and the Board must be partners in our goal setting and in our prescription for each student's learning program.

I will use my extensive training and practical application of curricula, fiscal and management skills to provide the insight that is needed as our District faces the challenges created by the continuing budgetary problems at the state and federal levels. I will ensure that our teachers are prepared to meet the challenges of the recently adopted National Standards by the State Board of Education and the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Federal Legislation.

I am committed to working to preserve the best of the past, make wise choices in the present and plan for the future needs of all of our students.