Candidate for
Board Member; Poway Unified School District

I was born in Rancho Peñasquitos. Both of my parents spent their careers as teachers in the district, and I attended Poway Unified schools from kindergarten through high school graduation. The tremendous education I received paved the way for me to earn degrees from Stanford University and UC Hastings Law School.

My husband and I returned to live in the PUSD community to give our two young children the same great education I received when I was a student here. I've got one in Kindergarten and one in 2nd grade, so I have a very personal stake in this district for at least the next 13 years until they've both graduated.

I am currently an Adjunct Professor of Business Law at the University of San Diego, and when I'm not doing that, I'm very involved at my kids' school and in my community. School Volunteer

Having kids in school here gives me a huge advantage because I'm involved and see what's going on firsthand. I don't need someone to report to me what things look like on an elementary campus. I'm there every day.

When my kids started school, I jumped into volunteering on campus, helping out in the classroom, with various PTA and Foundation events, maintaining the PTA website, and serving as a Room Parent. This year, I'm on the PTA Board, a Room Parent again, and a School Site Council representative. I am also the parent of a special needs child, so I pay close attention to what's going on with our district's special education population and volunteer for our school's amazing Ability Awareness program.

I've spent a lot of time on my kids' school campus and I've seen how few resources there are to go around and how hard that makes things for school staff. But I've also seen what great things can happen when parents and community get involved to bridge the gap. We're already a great district with wonderful schools and staff, and engaged parents and community members. But we can do better. Community Leader

I also have experience as a community leader. This is my fourth year as a member of the Rancho Peñasquitos Town Council. I've taken on many leadership roles there and helped to change the Council's focus, level of community outreach and involvement, and fiscal position. I've served as Vice President, Treasurer, and Chair of the following committees: Education, Web & Print, Government Affairs, Grants, Elections & Appointments, and Community Partners. I am currently the Education Committee Chair and PUSD Board liaison, roles in which I've seen the School Board in action at almost all of their meetings over the past 21 months. I'm especially proud of my work in creating the following:

High School Student Representative positions on the Council, which brings one student from Westview HS and one from Mt. Carmel HS onto the Town Council to represent the student perspective and encourage more community engagement from young people;
"Growing Up PQ" K-12 essay contest to generate community spirit;
School Spirit fundraising booth at our annual Fiesta street fair event, through which we raised and donated $1251 to our 12 PQ schools in 2013;
Community Partners program, which raises money from community members and businesses to further the community service purposes of the Town Council;
Revamped website with hundreds of community event posts and information about the Peñasquitos community;
Partnership with 92129 Magazine whereby I write a column in every issue about Town Council initiatives in an effort to increase community awareness and involvement;
Online application for our Grants program to increase participation, and public committee agenda to improve transparency of our process;
Photo Contest as part of our annual Fiesta street fair event, including developing a relationship with our public library that allowed me to display the gorgeous work of our community photographers there.

As a Town Council representative (and in everything I do), I have a successful track record of hard work, courage, imagination, initiative, and follow-through that will continue to be the hallmark of my efforts on the School Board when I am elected.

I will A.C.T. to bring MORe accountability, MORe communication and MORe transparency to our district. I hope you'll join me.