Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Chico Unified School District

Born in Fl to large family, I was a first generation college student at FSU completely supported by scholarships. I was able to do so because my high school guidance counselor saw my potential and realized that I needed help to get to college. I was able to attend Duke University for my graduate degrees because again my academic advisor showed me the way to make my career dreams come true. As the oldest of 6 kids, all my brothers then followed in my footsteps and have become very successful businessmen. That was a powerful lesson about the positive social change that education can bring to an individual and to a family. As a leader at Chico State, first in athletics, then in academic senate, I have striven to show students at the college level that their dreams can be attained. I now have served at the state level in a number of elected and appointed positions, including as the first female faculty trustee for the CSU. This gave me board experience with responsibility for nearly half a million students at 23 campuses which covered the entire state. But I now have 4 grandchildren enrolled in CUSD schools and I felt very strongly that I needed to make a personal investment, beyond just one school that CUSD was reaching out to every child to maximize their educational opportunities by providing the best professional educators and staff, in the best facilities that we could provide. All children need to be able to experience various athletic, artistic, applied and service options so that they can discover their talents and their interests, while giving back to their community and their family.