Candidate for
Board Member; Tamalpais Union High School District

Award Winning Teacher. Public School Parent. Experienced Former School Board Member.

As a local teacher for over 21 years, a Marin public school parent, and former local school board member, Chuck Ford has seen firsthand how Marin schools work--and sometimes don't--from every perspective.

On the Tamalpais Union High School Board, Chuck Ford will bring students, teachers, parents, and School District staff together to solve problems, improve communications, increase transparency, and prepare our students for successful careers and fulfilling lives.

An Award Winning Teaching Career Spanning Two Decades

Of the current Tamalpais Union High School District Board, not one Boardmember has a background as a teacher. Chuck Ford has had a distinguished 21 year teaching career at Tamiscal High School, and he's the only teacher running for Tam High School Board in 2013. His perspective is desperately needed on our School Board.

For 21 years, Chuck ran Tamiscal High's Team Program, an enormously successful academic and experiential program that teaches high school juniors leadership, community building skills, and self reliance, through wilderness trips, career-building internships, and community service projects. To ensure the program's high level of service to students, Chuck raised over $1.5 million from outside sources. The Team Program has transformed hundreds of young lives for the better.

In recognition of Chuck's success, he won the Marin County School Boards Association Golden Bell Award for Outstanding Program (for the Team Program) in 2000 and for Outstanding Teacher in both 2002 and 2013. He was also awarded the Teacher of the Year Award in 2003 from the Tamalpais Union High School District. He retired from teaching in June of 2013.

A Marin Public School Parent

Chuck and his wife of 46 years, Elizabeth Ford, have lived in Lagunitas for 40 years. They raised their two sons--both now adults--here and enrolled them in Marin public schools. Chuck understands our schools not just from a teacher's perspective, but also from a parent's point of view. And his experience as the parent of a special needs child makes him especially attuned to the interests of students who require an alternative setting and individualized curriculum.

An Experienced Former School Board Member

Chuck Ford served on the Lagunitas School Board from 1979 to 1983, with one year of service as Board President. He chaired teacher hiring and superintendent selection committees, participated in collective bargaining with district employees, and brought parents and members of the community together to solve disputes. Chuck's past school board service will enable him to hit the ground running when he is elected to the Tamalpais Union High School Board.

Other Qualifications

Drake High School Track and Cross Country Assistant Coach, 1983-1989
Former Summer School Teacher, Phoenix Academy, San Rafael
Former Recreation Therapist and Drug and Alcohol Counselor, Threshold for Change, Novato
Former Red Cross Emergency Response and CPR for the Professional Rescuer Instructor
Sierra Club Inner City Outings Leader, 1986-Present
Trips for Kids Volunteer Trip Leader, 1988-1992
Teaching Credentials in History, Social Science, English, Photography, and Multiple Subjects Instruction
Member, Association for Experiential Education
Wilderness First Responder Certification
Education: Berkeley, Stanford, and San Francisco State