Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Monrovia Unified School District

My name is Ruhiyyih Yuille, and I am in the third of four generations of Monrovians. My grandfather, John Gholar, moved to Monrovia in the early1950s, and our family has made Monrovia our home since, each generation moving through the Monrovia Public School system eagerly anticipating the day when we, too, could be called a WILDCAT!

After graduating from MHS, I went on to private university for both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. But, regardless to whether I was furthering my studies, facilitating classes in South Africa, the Bahamas, Honduras, Costa Rica, or Panama, or directing a summer school program in the Midwest, I have always remained a Monrovian at heart, taking with me the firm foundation I learned, here, in our public school system.

I also come from a long line of educators, and I am a teacher myself. From my great aunt, Adelaide Sanford, who was elected to the Board of Regents for the State of New York for over 25 years and served as vice chancellor, to my aunt, Traci Gholar, who was a teacher and administrator here in Monrovia, and my mother and all the aunts, uncles, cousins and siblings in between--we are a family that believes that education is a invaluable service to our communities.

As I learned as a student and have continued to follow since my graduation, Monrovia has always been a place that is committed to achieving student excellence. However, our schools--like all public schools in this nation--face significant challenges and obstacles to reaching that goal. I believe that my background and training as a teacher, special educator, literacy expert, English learner specialist, teacher trainer, researcher, negotiator, collaborator, Spanish-speaking community advocate, and curriculum developer--as well as my profound connection to this community, its culture, and traditions--make me uniquely qualified for the school board.

My purpose in embarking on this path is to be of service to the community. Service on the school board is not a political aspiration, but a passion for the betterment of our society on the "front lines". Schools can- and should- serve as the portal for change in the life of the entire community. I have spent my life learning how to make that vision into a reality and will continue to do so when elected.

Thank you for considering me, Ruhiyyih Yuille, for school board member.