Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Saddleback Valley Unified School District

Ginny Aitkens and her husband, Greg, married for 27 years, have been residents of the Saddleback Valley for over 20 years. They have three children who have all attended school in Saddleback since Kindergarten. Their first two, Natalie and Evan, are graduates of Mission Viejo High School. Their youngest, Irene, is a seventh grader at Los Alisos Intermediate School. Ginny and Greg have both been active members of the community, involved with youth sports, scouting, church groups, and the Red Cross. Greg currently serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the Saddleback Valley YMCA.

After receiving her Bachelor of Science from CSULA, Ginny worked in Recreation in Los Angeles as a coordinator of countywide Music and Special Event programs. She has worked as a school volunteer since the time their daughter entered school in 1982. Some of the positions she has held include: Classroom Volunteer, PTA Officer, School Site Council Member, Room Mother, Front Office Volunteer, Fund Raising Chair, Volunteer Network Coordinator, and Advocates for Language Learning President.

Ginny Aitkens was instrumental in obtaining Charter School status for the SVUSD's award winning Two-Way Immersion Language Program, a completely voluntary program open to all students entering Kindergarten throughout the district.

Ginny's district level positions include: Education Council President (1998-2000), PTA Council Legislative Chair (1998-2000), Facilities Advisory Committee, District Committee on Promotion/Retention, and she has been a regular attendee of District School Board meetings.

Ginny has also conducted sessions on Parental Involvement at Education Conferences. Other Community involvement includes serving many years as a Girl Scout Leader and service as a Religious Education Teacher/Office Volunteer.

Ginny has been recognized on numerous occasions for her work with the schools, but is most proud of having received the SVUSD Management Team Volunteer of the Year Award for 1999.