Candidates Educational Qualifications and Statement

By Jon F. Dee

Children First, Accountability and Community

Today our 26-year daughter, a Berkeley graduate is raising her own family next door and in a year or two, Benjamin, a third generation immigrant from our family will attend Jefferson School District. Our 23-year-old son, a business graduate of UC Santa Cruz, has a job I could only dream of and our 21-year-old daughter is a senior and editor of the Bruins at UCLA. We are proud to say all of them are products of the Jefferson School District.

Today our school district, like so many others throughtout the county, faces daunting prospects. Some of the people I've spoken with say this is the worst of times to serve as a member of a board of education, others say now is the best time to serve since we must work harder and in a spirit of unity and cooperation to do a better job of serving the needs of our students. It is in this spirit that I want to answer the call to serve.

I do so knowing that my 30 years experience in banking, accounting and financial services can be useful to our school district only if I work effectively and cooperatively with the teachers and staff of the district and the community.

I come into this campaign with a simple message. Whatever we do, the children must come first, that the accountability for results and responsibility for the education of our children is not the teacher's burden alone and that the school system of a caring communmity is the fertile ground in which to plant the seeds of the dream that will ensure an even better life for our children.

As a matter of philosophy and personal experience, I believe it truly takes a village to educate a child.