Candidate for
Trustee; Santa Clara Unified School District; Trustee Area 2

I was raised to believe that an education is one of the most important improvements a person can make about oneself. My father was a local high school teacher for 30 years and my brothers, sisters and I were raised with the expectation that we should make the most of our education and continue our studies in college. My father was a social studies teacher who taught us that an education was an important part of a healthy and vibrant community and democracy. Studies have proven that a person's education greatly determines their income level, social mobility, home ownership and whether they vote and are active in the political process.

After receiving my B.A. in Business and Political Science from CSU Sonoma in 1985, I was a Federal Agent/Investigator for the U.S. Dept. of Defense for eight years. At the time, our local San Jose office was the largest in the U.S. and I learned a great deal about the diverse people and communities of Santa Clara County. In 1994, I had the opportunity to choose a new career and I decided that I wanted to work in and be a part of improving our community. Over the years I worked professionally as a Fundraising Director for the YWCA of the Mid-Peninsula and the Public Affairs Director for Planned Parenthood Mar Monte, as well as consulting for a numerous of community organizations. I had the great honor to be appointed for two terms to the Santa Clara County Commission on the Status of Women. The Commission advises the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors in matters dealing with women and children and, at the time, the Commission investigated and reported on the findings on a number of issues, including allegations of unfair treatment and the lack of basic services to female detainees at the county jail.

My husband and I have been lucky enough to have two healthy boys now attending Cabrillo Middle School in the SCUSD. I have a long history of volunteering in the boys schools and within the district. I joined the Santa Clara Schools Foundation Annual Campaign Committee in the fall of 2005 and offered my professional experience by creating materials for the Phone-a-thons that were conducted to follow-up the Annual Campaign letter and provided other expertise as needed. This was the first ever Annual Campaign held in the long, successful history of the Santa Clara Schools Foundation and in their first year over $50,000 was raised to improve the kindergarten program and counseling services. I have held most of the Briarwood Elementary PTA board positions, including Co-President and was also a member of the Briarwood Site Council, last serving as its president. My very first volunteer experience for the SCUSD was serving on the Task Force on Promotion and Retention. The Task Force included community members, parents, teachers, district staff and students in reviewing the policy on whether to promote or retain a student from one grade to the next and how that determination should be evaluated. I have always felt that the education of each of us is vital to our community. I have been a long time member of PEO, a philanthropic educational organization that provides grants and loans to women for higher education, both in the U.S. and globally.

Over the years, I have appreciated the opportunity to get to know a number of SCUSD board members. In late 2005 SCUSD board member, Teresa O'Neill, indicated to me that she would not be running again when her board term expired and she asked me to consider running for the board myself. After other parents and community members also voiced their support, I decided that I could make a positive impact on our children's education by joining the SCUSD governing board. I believe that I have the broad experience both professionally and in the community to provide a fresh voice to the Governing Board of the Santa Clara Unified School District. I have a long history of working on boards and within work groups with a proven record of working effectively with community members, teachers, district staff and fellow board members in achieving our agreed upon goals. It would be a great honor to have your support in being elected to the Santa Clara Unifed School District Governing Board, Trustee Area 2.

"Glynis offers broad experience both professionally and within our schools, as both a parent and volunteer. Her enthusiasm to improve Santa Clara Schools is a welcome addition." Teresa O'Neill, Santa Clara Unified School District Board Member