Candidate for
Board Member; South San Francisco Unified School District

As a parent, I have faced many trials and tribulations but have conquered them all and have learned from those experiences. I am the mother of a young man who dropped out of high school, who faced and continues to face many battles in his life. I have come to understand that children learn from their own mistakes, which is what builds character and makes them stronger. My oldest daughter was a Leadership student at Alta Loma Middle School. She is now a student in Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) at South San Francisco High School.

My middle school daughter is a straight "A" student at Alta Loma Middle School she was an Honor student at Ponderosa Elementary. My youngest daughter has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and I understand the challenges and obstacles a parent faces when seeking answers and guidance. My youngest son is a child that thrives in school and strives to do as well as his siblings. As a mother I will bring my personal experiences and empathy for all members of my community because I can personally relate to your struggles.

As a City employee I can bring to the board my professional experiences and build on the partnerships that we as board members can accomplish working in collaboration with the City. I will bring valuable knowledge/insight of the community as a whole and important concepts employed by the City such as shared services, environmentally sound practices, cultural sensitivities and I will utilize the strengths that the City can bring to the school district as a partner.

As the daughter of immigrant parents that came to this country from Mexico searching for better opportunities and a better life for their family. I learned that dreams are attainable with dedication and perseverance. I have five children and even though I have faced many obstacles in my life, I believe that they helped form the woman, mother and wife that I am today. Contrary to many beliefs, my children will not be an impediment to my personal and professional development; they are my motivation and the reason why I push myself to be a better person and their role model. In the past eight years while being a full time employee, a mother and a wife, I obtained an Associate of Arts degree and two professional promotions.

I am now working towards a Bachelor's of Science degree in Human Services from Notre Dame de Namur University. I believe that is a reflection of my character, my dedication, my passion and my commitment. As a Latina, I strive to be a role model for young woman, men and mothers who don't believe that they can succeed in life. I will bring perspectives of a community that our school district serves. I will be an advocate for my community and hopefully become part of the solution to the many problems we face today.

As a shop steward for Teamster's Union and member of the negotiating team for the past eight years, of a culturally diverse unit, I learned to appease the many demands. My career with the City will never overshadow my responsibilities as a board member but will strengthen the relationship I have with the parents of our District. As I've proven with everything I've set out to do, I give my all and this is not the exception.

"If your child marches to a different beat, a different drummer, you might just have to go along with that music. Help them achieve what's important to them." ~ Sonia Sotomayor