Candidate for
Board Member; Berryessa Union School District

I lived in Berryessa with my wife and three children for over 33 years. Our children completed their primary education in the Berryessa Union School District. While our kids were in Berryessa schools, my wife and I volunteered in our children's classrooms helping teachers; we served as "chaperons" during field trips; we belong to the school PTA and I served at the School Site Council. We worked on many school fundraisers to help fund some very important school programs. I also volunteered in many District level committees, such as the Berryessa District Advisory Committee, Human Relations Committee, Superintendent Search Committee and many others. Our children are now professionals and very successful in their selected careers. I attribute their success to the solid educational foundation they received from Berryessa schools. I have worked all my life in the field of education where I am much honored to be associated with educational institutions that are focused on progress and innovation in the classroom. I have worked as a school administrator in Palo Alto Unified School District, Sunnyvale School Distrct and presently at San Jose Evergreen Community College District. I also worked at Stanford University. I volunteered in the City of San Jose Boards and Commissions. I served for seven years as Commissioner representing Council District 4 to the City of San Jose Parks & Recreation Commission. I served in the Commission as chairman in 1997-98. During my term, the Commission was instrumental in creating a very important policy - the City/School Districts Collaborative. Many City-operated youth programs were instituted in different school districts, including BUSD as a result of this collaborative policy. These programs include the establishment of homework centers, recreational programs for youth after school and during summer. The Berryessa Youth Center at Morrill Middle School is one of the results of this collaborative policy. I also served as a Commissioner with the City's Community Development Block Grant for seven years where we provided funding for many community based organizations that serves the less fortunate citizens in our community. I am currently a Director and Past President of the Berryessa Citizens Advisory Council. I was honored to be named Berryessa's Citizen of the Year in 2004. I would like to utilize my experience and knowledge to help the Berryessa Union School District prepare our students to become successful and productive members of our community. In February 1999 I was appointed to fill a vacancy in the BUSD Board. In 2000, I was elected back to the Board and got re-elected again in 2004. Our students academic performance continues to improve and our school facilities have been modernized which offer our students and staff a safe and comfortable learning environment. I have the passion and commitment to continue to serve our students so they are fully prepared for high school and on to college. I am hopeful that my constituents in Berryessa will continue to entrust me with their confidence in advocating for our students by casting their votes for me on November 4th.