Intro to Deborah Brandon

By Deborah A. Brandon

Experience and focus

I would like to introduce myself as a candidate for Trustee of the John Swett Unified School District (JSUSD).

As a parent of two graduates and a long time community volunteer, I have worked with our teachers, students and community to learn what the district needs to succeed. I have served for twelve years on the Parent Teacher Association (PTA), six of those years as President. During my tenure on the PTA, I led the effort to bring anti-bullying efforts to the schools, which included the recognized program "Challenge Day" that educated our students on the toll that bullying has on each other and our community. I solicited both financial and physical support from our local community foundations, where I recruited many of the members. I have supported and helped produce the current contemporary music and performance programs as well as building a network of sponsors and securing grants for these programs.

Furthermore, I have extensive experience as a public and private accountant who has worked with five of the Big Six Firms to conduct internal and external operational and financial audits of Fortune 500 companies throughout the nation. I consulted for UC Berkeley Press for three years. During this time I supported management staff, improved processes and participated in their internal audit as well as assisted the University of California Office of the President (UCOP) with a systems conversion.

With the improving economy and additional state funding, it will be imperative to assure that the district funds are spent to reflect both the current and future needs of our children and community. The experience I bring, will aid to ensure the continued fiscal solvency of the district.

My desire is to foster continued improvement on curriculum, internal management, staff development, fiscal responsibility and overall operations. I also seek to evaluate and implement best practices that will result in more effective methods and enhance our teachers' practices.

As a district, we have improved student test scores and school facilities. We have a remarkable vocational training program, an extraordinary music and theater program; however, there is much more we can do to make John Swett Unified School District a better place to educate our children.

I have the necessary knowledge, experience, compassion, sensitivity and parental instincts to help the JSUSD. With your support we can continue on the road to making JSUSD the best school district in California.

Debbie