Candidate for
Board Member; Encinitas Union Elementary School District

Marla Strich is an active participant in both school and community organizations. She was a co-chair of the successful campaign for the District's $29.5 million facilities school modernization bond in 1996. She has served as chairperson of the Ocean Knoll Elementary and San Dieguito Academy School Site Councils and as Ocean Knoll's PTA Legislative Vice President. Ocean Knoll PTA awarded her the Golden Oak, PTA's highest award.

In addition to serving as a classroom volunteer for many years, Marla was a Girl Scout Leader for ten years, and has been a member of the Girl Scout Leadership Team in Encinitas and a Cub Scout den leader. She currently is one of the adult leadership team for San Dieguito Academy's Robotics Team, Team Paradox. She served as Chairperson of the San Diego County Human Relations Commission.

Mrs. Strich participates on the District's Strategic Planning Committee and Legislative Action Committee. She also served as President of the San Dieguito Academy Foundation Board and continues her service on that board. She has been a member of the Legislative Action Network and Strategic Planning Committee for the San Dieguito Union High School District, and participates in the North Coastal Regional Legislative Action Network. She has travelled to Sacramento numerous times to lobby for public education, and has also advocated for our children in Washington, DC as part of the National School Board Association's Federal Relations Network. In 2000 she completed the California School Board Association's Masters in Governance professional development series. She was recognized as Ocean Knoll Elementary's Volunteer of the Year in 2002, for her many school and community-related activities.

Marla has resided in Encinitas for the past 24 years with her husband Dan and their two children, who both attended Ocean Knoll Elementary from Kindergarten through sixth grade. Mrs. Strich graduated from Northwestern University and earned her Master's Degree in Social Work from the University of Southern California. She worked for non-profit organizations for fifteen years.

"I am committed to excellence for all students of the Encinitas Union School District."