Candidate for
Board Member; Santa Barbara Unified School District

Thank you for your interest in my candidacy for Santa Barbara School Board for the 2012 election.

I believe that the Santa Barbara Unified School District is a critical community resource that needs experienced, committed leadership to improve academics in our schools and guide the district through difficult financial times.

I have lived in Santa Barbara since 1983, and my husband Jon and I have seven children who have all attended the Santa Barbara public schools, K-12. I am also a product of California public schools and have attended UC Berkeley for my degree in Anthropology and Cal State Northridge for my teaching credential for elementary education.

I feel that my primary qualification for a position on the school board is that I have been a consistently involved parent with the Santa Barbara schools on many levels for nearly 25 years. My ongoing participation as a parent classroom volunteer has given me experiences in a wide range of settings, allowing me to closely understand many of the academic challenges students face in our schools.

Over the years I have gained valuable background with school issues involving: school safety and transportation, principal selection, school funding, food service, bond issues, school construction, textbook selection, curriculum development, classroom management, school events, fundraising, etc. The past six years I have been a school representative on the Parent Advisory Committees for both elementary and secondary schools in our district.

My philosophy centers on ensuring that local schools have strong academics and excellent teachers, while providing all students with the guidance needed to ultimately take responsibility for their own learning. I believe that it is important to maintain strong fiscal control in these difficult economic times, while we work hard to maintain and improve our standards for programs and teachers.

I will bring a spirit of cooperation to every discussion, as I work with educators, parents, politicians and community members to see that every child has the opportunity for success. I look forward to serving our community as a member on the Santa Barbara School Board and I would appreciate your vote November 6th.