Candidate for
Board Member; Empire Union School District

I have a passion for education and for the children who are our future. I believe children have the ability to achieve their dreams with a good education and to make that work, I am committed to providing the best opportunities possible. As a board member, I feel it is my responsibility to provide a safe environment for our children, maintain our schools so they are the pillar of the community, promote self-esteem in our children and provide the best educational programs available. These programs need to include music and the arts, technology and our very successful after school programs. In order to make these programs successful, we need to carefully look at keeping our class sizes low and to eliminate combo classes so our highly qualified teachers can devote their time and efforts to teaching the children left in their care. Balancing a budget to make this happen is challenging, especially in the face of all the cuts school districts have had to endure, but I'm proud to say our school district has top administrators and board members who have made this happen. We are very fortunate, in this district, to have outstanding administrators, teachers and support staff working together with the board to make our schools the best for children. I have prided myself in being open and available to students, staff, parents and community members during my tenure on the board. I, personally, feel board members need to be transparent and available to the public. I am also committed to continuing the process of lowering or paying off Mello-Roos taxes. These bonds, which the public voted in many years ago, has allowed the district to improve our schools and provide opportunities to our children that they would not have had. I feel I still have a lot to offer our children, staff and parents by serving on this board. There is still work to be done and I would be honored to serve another four years on the Empire School District Board of Trustees and would appreciate your vote on November 8, 2011.