Supporting Our Children and Education

By Terry Nagel

I have always been a strong supporter of local schools. I was PTA President of Lincoln School and have helped on numerous school parcel tax campaigns, including many nights of phone banking. I am supporting Measure E for the Burlingame Elementary School District on the November ballot.

My three children attended Burlingame public schools from kindergarten through Burlingame High. When I was PTA President of Lincoln School, I started a Computer Task Force that networked the school, started a parent education seminar series and initiated a program with Stanford University that enabled students to enroll in online math courses that were usually available only to students in the Education for Gifted Youth program. Prior to serving as PTA president, I chaired many committees and also served as vice president in charge of fundraising. I was awarded Honorary Life Membership in the PTA.

At Burlingame High, I chaired the Communications Committee and started an e-newsletter for parents. I also ran the Music Boosters holiday fundraiser for many years. In 2007, when I was mayor the first time, I brought school board members and council members together and hammered out a collaborative agreement between the City of Burlingame and the Burlingame Elementary School District that assures joint use of school and city facilities, field maintenance and crossing guards.

This year I started a "Healthy Living in Burlingame" initiative aimed at helping young people develop healthy eating habits and get more exercise. I've also organized financial literary workshops that were offered at no charge to high school and college students. When I was a reporter for the San Mateo Times, I covered 10 school districts at various times and the California Teachers Association awarded me the John Swett Award, the state's highest education award for journalists.