Candidate for
Board Member; San Ramon Valley Unified School District

San Ramon Valley Unified School District is a high performing school district that does a lot of things well. We have wonderful schools, staffed by talented and caring educators, administrators, and support staff. I also know that we can be better. Like all school districts in California, we are adapting to a new funding formula, new academic standards, a new accountability system, increasing post-retirement obligations and benefit costs, and uncertain financial forecasts. I believe that if we all work together, openly and honestly, we can get through these challenges.

I believe that quality public education is the cornerstone of a healthy democracy because it is the first step in having engaged and informed citizens. Some students may require more time and/or more resources. Those should be the variables not the constants.

Our district's efforts to align our initiatives around the balance of rigor, relationships, and relevance address the needs of the whole child. With ever increasing access to technology, students today have even more choices for how to spend their time outside of school. Relevance is key for engaging them in their studies, beyond just performing to get a grade, so that they learn deeply and develop meaningful interests. This kind of learning is critical to achieving our mission to prepare our students to be productive, engaged and fulfilled citizens of the world with viable options for their futures.

As a country and a state, we need more students entering fields related to science, technology, engineering, and math. That doesn't mean that all students need to go in these directions, but we do need to figure out how to better cultivate interest in these fields.

I care passionately about our schools, the students that attend them, as well as the adults who work in them. I'm a good listener. I'm visible and accessible. I care about outcomes, but I also care how we get to the outcomes. Much of a board member's job is to approve or reject staff recommendations. We also get to influence by asking questions and sharing insight. I do my homework, consider all perspectives, and weigh all options with the intent to make the best decision for all involved.