Candidate for
School Board Member; Cabrillo Unified School District

Background and experience that has prepared me for the CUSD Board

I have lived in HMB for nearly 20 years and am a continuous supporter of Coastside youth through volunteer service to CUSD, Scouting, and the Coastal Repertory Theatre. My first service to CUSD was working on the Hatch School Site Council for 3 yrs, and other ad hoc committees for the District Office. Over the years I have supported activities at three CUSD school sites including: judging the Cunha Science Fair exhibits, production assistance for the high school Musicals, and supervising Grad Night. In addition I have volunteered frequently in support of youth theatre productions at CRT, and provided Cub- and Boy-Scout leadership.

Through my occupation as a research scientist and Pediatric Cardiac Research Laboratory Director at Stanford University School of Medicine, I perform extensive strategic and long-term planning, supervision of bargaining unit employees, grant-writing and fiscal management, all of which are major responsibilities of the CUSD Board or administration. I am also a full-time educator. I teach students (undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral MD and PhD students) the art of conducting basic medical science research. These mostly small group or one to one teaching activities constantly expose me to the ultimate expression of the success of an individual's education: the ability to apply knowledge to the solution of new problems. Critical thinking is the specific skill that demonstrates the quality of a student's K-12 education. It is this fundamental quality of education that I wish to see instilled into every CUSD student, and a major reason why I wish to serve as a CUSD Trustee.

I have also considerable experience in advocating for kids with learning differences and supporting their education. It is estimated that 20% of all students have some degree of learning difference/disability. Many of these students are, for a variety of reasons, not receiving the assistance that may empower them to become successful independent learners. Through rewarding experiences in and out of the classroom, I have come to more greatly appreciate the tremendous boost that appropriate assistive technology, together with the support of knowledgeable teachers, can provide to kids that learn differently.

All of these activities and experiences provide me with a broad skill base that is highly relevant to the duties of a CUSD Trustee.