Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Natomas Unified School District

BACKGROUND

Ron is a parent of two children in the Natomas School District. He became involved in local school issues a few years ago when he learned that the district had only implemented California class size reduction in 1st and 2nd grades. Since 90% of California's school districts have implemented class size reduction for kindegarten through 3rd grade, he felt Natomas deserved better.

He served on the Education Committee of the Natomas Community Association and as a member of the American Lakes Elementary PTA. Ron has also advocated for a joint use agreement between the City of Sacramento and the Natomas School District because he believes that strong schools make strong neighborhoods from which everyone benefits.

As Councilmember Heather Fargo said, "The success of our schools is a critical component to the success of our community. I know that our schools, and the children of our community, will be more successful with Ron on the School Board."

EDUCATION

Ron grew up in Davis and went to college at California Lutheran University in Thousand Oaks, CA. He put himself through college with scholarships and working as a church youth director for teens and summer camp director for kids ages 6-18. Ron married Sue and they moved to Chicago where they lived and worked on the South and West sides of the "inner-city" for 7 1/2 years. Ron recieved a Masters degree in Urban Planning and Policy from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Masters degree in Theology from the Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.

PROFESSIONAL

In Chicago Ron worked in Chicago's poorest neighborhoods as an Economic Development Specialist and Community Organizer. He was part of the successful reform effort to take power away from Chicago's public school bureaucracy and give control to parents, teachers, and community members through Local School Councils.

For the past 5 years Ron has worked for a large, private nonprofit community development corporation headquartered in Sacramento. In that capacity, Ron has worked with small communities thorughout the western United States and assisted them achieve their goals and visions through housing development, water and wasterwater systems, community facilities ranging from a battered women's shelter to rural health clinics, and leadership development.

An expert in organizational development, strategic planning and budgeting, Ron hopes to use these skills as a member of the Natomas School Board.

FAMILY

Ron is married and has two children, ages 7 and 4. His wife works for a social service agency working with the San Juan School District and has a background in school social work. Both his parents still live in the Sacramento region. His mother is a teacher in Vacaville and his father a professor at UC Davis. Both his grandmother's were teachers. His Mother-in-law, who also lives in the region, is an Educational Therapist.

Growing up in an environment filled with educators, Ron developed a deep sense of the value of education. He believes, "Education is more than just knowledge, it is the social and intellectual journey which prepares and guides you through life."