Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Las Virgenes Unified School District

Educational Background (B.A. and Master's Degree in Communication from University of California, Santa Barbara)

I attended public schools (K-12) in National City, California. Actively engaged in the high school experience, I served as both ASB and Class Officers, Cheerleader, played oboe in the music program, and most particularly, competed on the debate and forensics team. Though this was many years ago, I mention it because my high school experience laid foundation for my eventual professional endeavors. At the time, the California State Speech Championships were held annually at the University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB). I participated in this event three years and in my senior year was a member of the 4-person squad winning the sweepstakes award. Recruited by professors at UCSB, I enrolled there in my freshman year as a communication major and history/political science minor. During my collegiate years, I extended my participation in speech competitions and also worked as the Speech Department's tutor.

Upon completion of my undergraduate work culminating in a B.A., I entered the Master's Degree program at UCSB. Thereupon, I was hired as a teaching assistant, fully responsible for two sections of public speaking or group discussion each semester. In addition to other requirements to complete my Master's Degree, I wrote a thesis analyzing an advocate successfully persuading vastly different audiences through consubstantiality (simplified, a means to identify in some way with the listeners so as to win their favor). During these two years in graduate school, I assisted coaching the debate squad, including the 2-man team which ultimately won the National Debate Tournament.

Professional Background (Teacher for 15 years, competitive debate analyst, writer)

Immediately upon receiving a Master's Degree in Communication and earning a Lifetime California teaching credential, I began teaching at Santa Barbara City College (SBCC). Achieving the title of Associate Professor, I taught at SBCC for 15 years, leaving because of a family move to Danville, California. During my stint at SBCC, I served as the Chairperson of the Communication Department for seven years. Furthermore, I was elected from among all faculty to the seven-person Academic Senate Council, a body quite similar in several ways to the Board of Education for LVUSD.

I taught argumentation/debate, group decision making, public speaking, and interpersonal communication. In part, these courses focus on adherence to topic, research, issue analysis, use of evidence, organization of ideas, and presentation of materials. Also, attention to techniques of persuasion for some courses and recognition of socio-emotional aspects for others are paramount. In addition, I occasionally instructed courses at Moorpark College.

Adjunct to teaching, I was a nationally recognized and requested debate adjudicator at college tournaments held at Stanford, UCLA, USC, Harvard, Georgetown, Boston University, Dartmouth, Northwestern, and others of this caliber. While no longer a classroom teacher, I utilize these same skills as a communication consultant/writer. I have assisted institutions, organizations, and individuals in the writing and presentation of speeches, grants, and documents as well as have facilitated group decision making.

LVUSD Experience

• Measure R
  Feasibility committee
  Co-site coordinator

• Writer
  Two Blue Ribbons
  Three California
  Distinguished Schools
  Two Bravo School Awards

• Site Volunteer (K-12)
  15-20 hours per week
  School Site Council
  PFC-Vice President
  Chaperone on extended trips

• District committees
  Spady Outcomes
  Textbook Adoption

• Classified employee

• American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO)
  Region Board member, 9 years
  Division Director, Registrar,
  Assistant Commissioner

• Grant writer for Senior Concerns:
  Fitzgerald House, Senior Advocates

• Member of the Agoura-Las Virgenes
  Community Band

• Conejo/Las Virgenes Future Foundation
  La Violette Citizenship Award Committee, 3 yrs
  Group discussion facilitator for Youth Congress
  Youth Outreach 2000 planning committee (YO 2000)