Candidate for
Member; Santa Clara County Board of Education; Trustee Area 4

Freedom through Education

This belief is the source of my passion for service to schools. In accepting the Republican Presidential nomination in 1880, James Garfield was quoted saying "Next in importance to freedom and justice is popular education, without which neither freedom nor justice can be permanently maintained." For this reason, education remains the key issue of our time as we seek to preserve our democratic ideals. Equal access to a quality education for all, regardless of race, gender, age, religion or handicap, is an enduring fundamental right.

California Education Reform

Public education in our state is seriously flawed. In the past year, two notable reports were issued that frame the problem and suggest solutions for policymakers to reform our schools. "Getting Down to Facts + School Finance and Governance in California" concluded that students in California perform far lower on tests of achievement than other states because of fundamental flaws in our school finance and governance systems. The Governor's Committee on Education Excellence recommended in its report earlier this year a systematic overhaul in four key areas, which taken together will reduce the achievement gap and create a constantly escalating cycle of continuous improvement in California's education system. There is no shortage of understanding our flaws and what we can do; we simply lack the political will. I will advocate for these reforms.

Silicon Valley - Worlds Apart

Across the world, our region is known for innovation, prosperity and a highly educated workforce. However, many in our community find themselves living in another world. This past July, the California Department of Education released results indicating that nearly 1 in 4 drop out of school in this state. Our county performed only slightly better at 20%, but the drop out rate among Latinos, our fastest growing demographic, was 37%. In the view of our new County Superintendent, Dr. Chuck Weis "This means that 2,684 of our Latino students are virtually unemployable. It should really be a clarion call for us to look at what we're doing." For the common good of Silicon Valley, I believe this social injustice must be eradicated.

County Office of Education (COE) - A Critical Partner

Santa Clara County Office Of EducationCounty Offices of Education throughout the state play an important role in our educational system. The organization supports the functions of two separate and distinct constitutional officials; the County Board of Education (CBE) and the County Superintendent. Each official has separate and joint roles and responsibilities. The CBE is a board of appeal, authorizer of county charter schools, approves the COE budget and appoints and evaluates the Superintendent. The Superintendent provides critical oversight for district budgets and other school and district issues. The Superintendent also guides the COE in providing value added student and instructional services to districts. Together, the CBE and Superintendent are the governing team that creates COE vision and goals and advocates on behalf of public education in our region. I understand and accept the breadth and limits of my role as a member of the CBE.

Enduring Vision and Long Range Goals

The CBE and Superintendent have affirmed a common vision and goals:

• Be the central, active leader and voice for critical education issues
• Model excellence in student learning and well being at COE schools
• Provide indispensable services to schools, districts, parents and other governmental and community-based organizations
• Develop the best and brightest educators and other staff members

Success through Teamwork

Achieving our ambitious goals will require a high performing governance team. As a team member, I will act to ensure our success by:

• Building trusting relationships
• Respecting and encouraging diverse opinions
• Committing to common goals and actions
• Holding team members accountable
• Focusing on achieving collective results