Candidate for
Board Member; Novato Unified School District

As our school district embraces change and faces important challenges; experience and decisive leadership is needed and I offer both. In the last 5 years, I have demonstrated the commitment that it takes to be a trustee by being active, informed and engaged. I'm visible at school sites and district and countywide events. This allows me to have a clear vision of how we are serving students and how we can improve upon it. I am 100% committed and I want to continue to work to improve the overall quality of Novato's schools.

Over the last several years the state budget crisis has continued to challenge Novato Unified. While we manage our funds conservatively, in the last few years we have had to cut 17% ($10 million) from our budget. With unstable state funding, slow economy, deferred payments, lay offs, changing demographics; Novato Unified still needs to serve all students and maintain the quality of education they deserve. We must continue to be conscientious with our financial decisions and make choices that are guided by our goals. It becomes difficult to maintain the education we have built and believe in. Educating children can't wait.

Top Priorities

Finance: Maintain fiscal solvency through these difficult times and minimize the impact on the students directly. Organization: Ensure we recruit and retain the best teachers, staff and administrators, while providing the tools for them to succeed.

Academic Achievement: Continue to foster innovative and effective programs and maintain rigorous and differentiated curriculum especially at middle and high school. Work to close the achievement gap.

Community: Strengthen communication between the district, parents and residents of Novato.

Culture: Make all our schools the first educational choice for the residents of Novato.

My Vision for Novato's Schools

It's important to me to not loose site of our mission, which is to provide an innovative and effective education with diverse academics that meets individual student needs and challenges students. My vision for Novato Schools is to be diverse, effective and innovative. We need to provide the 21st century tools to educate a 21st century student. We need to continue to prepare students for college and/or career. Our schools need to be the first choice for Novato residents. It's going to take all of us working together.

My Background

Prior to being a school board trustee, I served 2 years as Hamilton School's PTA president, North Marin Council PTA treasurer and served as committee chair or member for school and district wide committees. My experience and leadership in these roles prepared me to become a school board trustee. I continue to volunteer at my children's schools. In the last 5 years as a trustee I was Board President and served two years as President of Marin County School Boards Assn. In 2007 I completed the Masters in Governance Program through the CA School Boards Assn.