Candidate for
Board Member; Kentfield School District; 4 Year Term

I am a fourth generation Marin native. Community involvement and civic leadership have always been at the core of who I am.

So why am I running for the School Board now? Three reasons.

First, I am a mother of four children, including two current Bacich students and two more that will be entering Bacich next year. My children will be in the District for the next eleven years.

I am running to bring balance and "on the ground" school parent perspectives to the Board.

Second, I believe we are at an important crossroads. Our District faces difficult, pressing challenges. And whether you have a student in our district or not, we are all affected. I'd like to highlight three areas of concern:

Enrollment spike & a lack of classroom space

In the past 5 years, District enrollment has risen by over 23%. This enrollment spike has created challenges for sufficient classroom space and allocation for future growth that must be addressed with cost-effective solutions.

Drop in API Test Scores

This year, our District API score dropped by 33 points; Bacich alone dropped 46 points. To ensure a world-class education for our children, as well as protect the strong correlation between test scores and property values, we need a smooth transition to the new state-mandated Common Core curriculum.

Communication and Transparency Challenges with our community

A strong school board is built through a diversity of perspectives; independent, critical thinking; broad outreach; and inclusive community involvement. We need to do a better job in managing expectations and creating a predictable and transparent process that allows all stakeholders-- students, parents, teachers, administrators, and members of the greater Kentfield/Greenbrae community-- an opportunity to be involved in finding solutions.

My approach to address these challenges is one based on inclusiveness, openness, and transparency.

Many in our District believe that the sign of a high-functioning board is when no parents or community members attend Board meetings, and the parking lot is empty. I disagree. We are stronger as a community when we have engaged parents and citizens, and when we allow for diverse opinions & perspectives to be heard.

Third, my record shows that I have the ability to bring community together to work collaboratively and solve problems.

I know, firsthand, the importance of good governance and leadership from my experience as Student body president at Marin Catholic; National Lobby Director at UC Berkeley; and President of all Graduate Students at Oxford University.

Throughout my 15-plus years serving on both national and local boards, I have always supported and modeled respectful engagement and open process.

Professionally, I have over 18 years of Executive Business experience. I've provided technical expertise for education loans at the Inter-American Development Bank and the United Nations in Washington DC. I've also negotiated multi-million dollar partnerships with some of the largest global brands, including Apple and American Express.

Today, I am an active community leader with a reputation for getting things done.

• I founded the Laurel Grove Nextdoor website to foster communication and increased safety awareness among neighbors.

• I developed The Safe Routes to School program in our district which has become a program model for Marin County and received national recognition in August.

• I currently serve on the Bacich Site Council, a Transportation Authority of Marin Board, and the Kentfield Greenbrae Historical Society Board.

I am grateful for the over 200 community members and elected officials who publically support my candidacy. And, I respectfully ask for your vote on November 5th.

It would be an honor to serve our District.

Please see my LinkedIn profile, Facebook page, and campaign website for more info: http://www.heatherforkentfieldschools.com