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This information is provided by the candidate
Born in Modesto, CA. 1938, my folks were living in a farm labor camp in Riverbank, next to Modesto Ca. Life as a migrant with my folks. Lived in Richmond California when my Dad, Grandfather, and Aunt worked in the ship yards during World War II. My folks returned to Tulare after the war and became active in the CSO (Community service Organization) dedicated to registering Mexican Americans and getting them to vote.
the then president of the CSA was a young Cesar Chavez who later on started the Farm Worker's Union ( the UFW). Cesar remained family friends until his death.
Began teaching as a member of the teaching order of the Catholic Church, the Dominican Order and remained with them until 1966. Very involved in progressive causes in the order, taught with them in Marin and later in Los Angeles.
Began teaching in public schools at Tamalpais High school in Marin.Continued my involvement in progressive causes, the farm workers struggle, peace marches, very involved in the anti-Apartheid movement, Latin American Solidarity movement (El Salvador, Nicaragua, Mexico,Guatemala). Many of the causes were reflected in my classrooms and became the faculty sponsor of the Amnesty International chapter on campus, which we joined with the ACLU as one club.
Lots of solidarity work, numerous commissions into the areas of conflict in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Lead human rights investigations into El Salvador (detained numerous times) and into Guatemala (where I was jailed for my human rights work), Because of this work I was asked to join some international organizations where I did human rights work/investigations in southern Mexico (Oaxaca, Chiapas and Morelos) and also along the U.S. Mexican border.
I moved to San Francisco Unified School District and taught English, ESL, A.P. Spanish and Literature. Began at McAteer H.S. then Mission and then at Wallenburg Traditional H.S. until 1997 when I retired.
I have lived in San Pablo (county) wince the 1980's and have been very involved in the community. Community organizer with the Contra Costa Faith Works (working with tenant rights, housing rights, immigrant rights), Co-chair of the Concilio Latino, Board of the California Latino School Board Association, Treasurer of the Contra Costa County School Board Association, NALEO (National Association of Elected Latino Officials),, National School Board Association Immigrant Rights Alliance and many more.
I ran for the board in 1996 and came within 66 votes of beating the incumbent. Ran again in 1998 and was elected. I want to continue the progressive work, fiscal responsibility, capped the benefits of the staff and the board began a vigorous building program which we want to continue with the passage of the bond in November and also the parcel tax.
I want to see more of our students taking the A.P. classes and also taking the A.P. exams in May. I was the A.P. coordinator in S.F. for the A.P. Spanish / Literature courses. I want to see more academic rigor, more resources for our career/college classes. We now have wall to wall academies in most of our high schools and I want to see more, especially in our middle schools.
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