Candidate for
Superintendent of Schools; Mendocino County Board of Education

I'm an experienced school leader with the highest integrity, a trained mediator who is approachable and accessible, and a creative visionary who maintains a focus on student achievement.

I have a Master's degree in Special Education and a Business degree in Strategic Planning and Management. I have 13 years of experience teaching in the Career and Technical Education classroom (Business, Graphics and Animation) and have spent the last half of my career in various school leadership roles, including union leadership as the elected President of the Mendocino County Federation of School Employees (Classified and Certificated staff). I sat at the MCOE bargaining table for seven years and became intimately involved in all aspects of the budget process and operational strategies at MCOE. Most recently I was instrumental to the opening of a start-up charter school in Fort Bragg and am very proud of the fact that I was able to relocate the school to the local Junior college campus so that our high school students could become dual-enrolled and take college classes both for high school credit and to get a head start in their Associate's degrees. I have just completed a 1-year intensive Superintendent training program through the Association of California School Administrators, (ACSA).

It is interesting to me when I reflect about what my professors did (and did not) teach me about the realities of the politics and economics of public education and teaching. Serving for many years as the President of the Mendocino County Federation of School Employees, and representing both classified and certificated staff at the bargaining table and in personnel matters, I had the opportunity to obtain this `free' education of my own. I discovered that Teachers are often ill-prepared to enter the political arena and advocate for themselves, their students and the future of K-12 public education in this country. And these teacher and systems inadequacies can have huge and substantial consequences for our greater society at large.

Since this is a countywide election, I would represent 12 different school districts throughout Mendocino County. There are roughly 20,000 children in Mendocino County ages 0-19 according to the 2010 census. I will be a strong voice in support of our students at the county and state level and support legislation that helps our students access educational opportunities. Ultimately it is the quality of life at stake for the youngest members of society. I am the best prepared candidate to perform these tasks as the Mendocino County Superintendent of Schools.

With nearly 20 years of experience in the education field in Mendocino County, and my business background, I'll bring transparency and accountability to this job. I'll continue to support our educators by identifying and implementing cost-effective best practices to support our under-served populations (English Language learners, Homeless & Foster Youth, GATE). I'll work more closely with various county agencies (Sheriff, Health and Human Services, D.A.) to strengthen partnerships that lead to student success.

Please trust me with your vote.