Candidate for
Board Member; Belmont-Redwood Shores School District

I am the proud mother of two children (ages 7 and 5) who attend Sandpiper Elementary School in Redwood Shores, where my husband and I have been residents since 2003. I received my B.A. degree from the University of Maryland and my J.D. degree from Georgetown Law School. I am a member of the Bar in Maryland, the District of Columbia, and California.

My legal career began as a litigator with Baker & Hostetler. Subsequently, I served as Executive Director of the Washington, D.C. chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs and co-authored a book about the IITs, the equivalent of Ivy League, educational institutions in India.

Since the birth of my children, I have taken a hiatus from my career, a period that has been very rewarding. Volunteering in my children's classes as a Room Parent, as an Art in Action docent, as a member of the Site Council, and as PTA Advocacy Chair brings me a great sense of satisfaction. Volunteering in my community is equally gratifying. I have served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Bridgeport Homeowners Association for the past five years, and as its President for the past three years.

My background, education, work experience and community leadership has given me a unique perspective as a problem solver, and this will inform my decision making on the BRSSD School Board. We have a great school district with high achieving students, as evidenced not only by our outstanding API scores and rising housing prices, but also by the large increases in enrollment growth that we experience each school year. Clearly, Belmont-Redwood Shores is an ideal place to live, work and raise children.

The enrollment increases, however, pose many challenges to already saturated schools. If elected, I pledge to champion sustained improvement among all of our schools, to promote neighborhood schools as a priority, and to advocate for creative, long-term solutions to our issues of enrollment growth and inadequate funding. I also pledge to support for students at all levels educational enrichment opportunities, without which our students cannot excel in this competitive marketplace. Finally, to achieve these goals, I pledge to improve communication and partnership with the community, spending the time necessary to listen actively to all concerned voices.

Please support me to make a lasting change for our children.