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 right. We have wonderful schools, staffed by talented and caring educators and support staff. But, I believe we can do better and be better. Like all school districts, we are facing at least a few more years of financial challenges. In addition, we are still adjusting to significant leadership changes. I believe that if we all work together, openly and honestly, we can get through these difficult financial times better than ever.

I believe whole-heartedly that we need to provide a high quality education for all students. Some students may require more time and/or more resources. Those should be the variables not the constants. I also believe that our focus should be on the whole child, not just academic standards. I am very pleased with the district's current efforts to align our initiatives around the balance of rigor, relationships, and relevance. With their 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 really learn, learn deeply, and develop meaningful interests. I believe it is our mission to prepare our students to be productive, fulfilled citizens of the world who have viable options for their futures.

As a country and a state, we need more students going into 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 spark and 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.