Candidate for
Board Member; Berryessa Union School District

I want to serve my community as a Berryessa Union School District Board Member because I have the compassion, desire, business and common sense to be an independent thinking leader focused on improving our children's education.

I was born in Bac Lieu, Vietnam and am the ninth of eleven children in my family. In 1978 we escaped from Vietnam, lived as refugees in Malaysia for 13 months, and arrived in the United States on the day after Christmas, December 26, 1979. I am a product of the public education system and received my schooling from George Washington High School in San Francisco, attended City College of San Francisco and Mission College in Santa Clara majoring in Business Administration. I am a businesswoman and an owner of a seafood import/export company that my family and I started in San Jose in 1987. However, of all my roles the most important to me is that I am the proud Mother of three beautiful daughters.

I have a strong commitment to community service, not just in San Jose, but to all of the Silicon Valley. I am a trustee of Lincoln Law School in San Jose, an executive member of Silicon Valley Children's Hospital, a Rotarian of the San Jose of the Rotary Club and Chief Financial Officer of COVN-microfinance for Vietnamese Women in Vietnam . Through my years of volunteer work it has been proved to me that a responsible leadership role can have a large positive effect on people and community.

To further understand who I am is to understand why I am running. Since an early age my culture and my parents have helped shape my opinion of the value and my high regard for education. I was always told and truly believe that education can transform one's life, allow one to fulfill their dreams and move up in the world. Education is the true equalizer in our society. Education allows any individual regardless of their social status or otherwise to compete on a level playing field and this is what makes America such a great place, I should know being a refugee of my homeland.

School safety is a top priority on mine because all children have the right to a safe learning environment. We cannot expect our children to learn the basics of English, Math and Science when they feel the pressure of violence, gangs, drugs, alcohol, and speeding traffic. When we send our Children to school we expect them to be centers of learning and places of growth, the last thing parent's should have to worry about is their child's safety.

If elected, as a representative voice of parents, students, the community as a Member of the Berryessa School District I believe that it will be my responsibility and solemn duty to carry out the vision and direction of the people I represent. I would love to work closely with parents, teachers, the Superintendent, and collaborate with schools in other districts as well as other sister cities using the best practices and innovative methodologies to ensure academic excellence for all the students in Berryessa Union School District. I look forward to working together to make our schools the safe places of learning that we all deserve.