Candidate for
Governing Board Member; Torrance Unified School District

3321 W. 180th St., Torrance, CA 90504 310-323-6259 ragins@socal.rr.com

1955-1987 Background and Education

1955 Born in Cleveland, Ohio. Raised in New Philadelphia, Ohio through High School.

1978 B.S. in OT, Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio

1982 Married Mark Ragins, medical student, Wash. University in St. Louis. Followed him to Los Angeles for his psychiatric residency at USC 1983-1987.

1985 Master of Science in Occupational Therapy, Washington University in St.Louis; in St. Louis, Missouri. Teaching Assistant in Graduate Program for 2 years.

1983-1987 Occupational Therapist, Brotman Medical Center, Culver City; Supervisor of OT staff on Mental Health and Geriatric Treatment unit; Teacher of OT intern students

12/87 Move to Torrance- Purchase of home in North Torrance Area. Decision to be stay-at-home mom for children, Kyle 5/87, Matt 10/88.

1992-1999 Yukon Elementary School Involvement

Weekly classroom parent helper, math tutor and reading group assistant.

Operated PTA Library for 5 years ~ 30 hrs/week. Coordinated volunteer staffing. Initiated Accelerated Reader Program 1998-9.

Served on PTA Executive Board each year, as Vice President, Recording Secretary, Historian, etc.

Participated in Successful Application Process for school

To be designated "Distinguished School."

1997 Honorary Service Award Recipient at Yukon Elem. PTA

1997-1998 Coach with husband of successful Odyssey of the Mind Team; 1st place Regional competition,

1st place State competition
1st time reps to OM World competition for Torrance!

1999 Continued with Accelerated Reader Program at Yukon Individualized computer based reading accountability and incentive program.

1998-2004 Magruder Middle School Involvement.

School Site Council-1 term as Chairperson; 1 term as District Communication Council Representative (DCC) PTSA Executive Board, including President, & Historian Magruder Mentors literacy program Coordinator in 1999, Recipient of Torrance Council PTA Project Excellence Award Adventures in Art docent 1998-2004 as well as Coordinator for AIA.

2002-2004. AIA Docent Coordinator, Magruder Middle School AIA Project Selection Committee 2003.

Band parent/supporter-assisted transition to new Music Director in 2000-2001 school year.

Red Ribbon Week Coordinator in 2000, Recipient of 2001 Torrance Council PTA Project Excellence Award

1999-2001 School Site Council for Magruder MS, One year as chairperson

2000 and 2003 Math Steering Committee-Textbook adoption.

1999-present Health and PE Steering Committee-Materials reviewer, Textbook adoption 2003.

1999-2002 Coordinator/Planner for GATE Super Saturday Programs

2000-2002 PTSA President Magruder Middle School

3/00-7/2000 Family Trip Around-The-World Independent Study Contract for School. TERRIFIC OPPORTUNITIES for learning. Awarded 2001 Annual "Spirit of Adventure Award" by The American Youth Hostel organization.

2000-2001 Wrote grant for award of $10,000 Prop 10 funds to offer Super Sitter: Baby Sitter Training as a joint After-School Program for approx. 200 Magruder and Casimir Middle School students.

2001 Honored with Continuing Service Award from Magruder Middle School PTSA

2001-2007 Torrance Council of PTAs and North High School Volunteer Involvement

2000-'02 North High PTSA Executive Board-Health and Welfare

Torrance Council of PTA's-Corresponding Secretary

2002-2007 Torrance Council of PTAs Executive Board and Board of Directors

2002-2005 Torrance Council Parliamentarian and Bylaws reviewer.

2003-present Liaison from Torrance Council to TUSD School Board

2002 North High PTSA Newsletter Editor and Health and Welfare Chairperson

2001-2005 NHS Booster Club and Band Parent Association Member; Parliamentarian 2003-2004

2001-2005 School Site Council for North High, District Communication Council Representative-Chairperson of District Communication Council for 2002-3.

2003-2004 North High PTSA First Vice President, Assistant to the President

2003-2005 Career Day Coordinator, North High School;

Only High School Career Day in Torrance

2003-2005 Parent support services for Academic Decathlon student teams, coaching with interview practice, chaperone to student training weekends, practice competitions.

2004-2008 Liaison from Torrance Council to TUSD School Board

2005 Awarded Torrance Council Continuing Service Honorary Service Award

2005-2009 College Fair Chairperson, Torrance Council of PTAs, District-wide college fair. Initiated including workshops as part of the event.

2006-2007 Liaison from Thirty-Third District PTA and School Board members

2006-2007 Torrance Council Recording Secretary

2007-2009 Torrance Council of PTAs Parliamentarian

2009-2011 Torrance Council of PTAs Auditor

2011-2013 Torrance Council of PTAs Parliamentarian

General Community Involvement

1997-present GATE Advisory Committee Member.

1995-present Torrance Education Foundation, Executive Board--District representative to TEF fom SB Worked with fund raising to support Class Size Reduction, Local corporate donations and partners

1999 and 2003 Science Steering Committee-Textbook adoption. Parent representative

1999-present Education Council of Torrance

2001-2005 Drug, Alcohol and Tobacco Committee-Linda Smukler, Director

2003-present Community Advisory Panel, Exxon-Mobil Corporation

2003 ExxonMobil Pegasus Grant Selection Committee

2003-present Actively advocated with Sacramento legislators, for funding and legislation. Communicated district issues and needs to local rep's in home offices

2004-2005 Presented "College Opportunities" presentation for parents and students in cooperation with City Services Dept. at the "Attic"

May 2005 Presented information session about special education collaboration with Pediatric Therapy Network at the American OT Association (AOTA)National convention held in Long Beach, CA

2003-2007 Torrance School Board Activity

2004 TUSD Board Clerk,

2005 TUSD Board Vice President,

2006 TUSD Board President

2010 TUSD Board President

2004-present LA County School Trustees Association--District Representative, 2004-2012

2003-2005 TUSD Budget Committee--Board Representative

2006-2007 Inter City Board Presidents Committee--Special Education encroachment issues;Culminated multi-district Town Hall meeting with Ted Lieu and State Supt O'Connell

April 2007 Completed Masters in Governance course by California School Boards Association, Over 60 hours of class/training time re: governance skills and issues.

January 2014-present Southern California Regional Occupational Center School Board, TUSD Represetative

Other training and professional development attended: New Board Members training courses, Attended CSBA Annual Conventions and NSBA Conference Board Presidents training courses LACOE Bond Oversight workshop Brown Act workshops Sexual Harassment trainings Legislative Action visits to local offices & Sacramento Student Wellness Conference Financial Forecast workshops Student Achievement workshops

Accomplishments on the School Board
1. Focus on student achievement and rebuilding best practice, data-based programs and student services.
2. Fiscal stability--District reserve restored to acceptable level with diligent fiscal oversight; Deliberate spending plan to be formulated for programs rebuilding.
3. School bond Expenditures--Committed to watchdog oversight of school facilities building and renovations. Raised $550 million in General Obligation Bonds to fund general and Technology/security/safety improvements. Construction projects completed well, in budget, on time.
4. Improved climate of cooperation and approachability of board, at meetings and in the community, amongst all stakeholders.
5. Reorganization of TUSD Admin--new key personnel with construction/bond expertise Superintendent, Chief Business Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Chief Academic Officer, Welcome Center for student enrollment processes, Educational Technology Dept. to guide tech upgrades.
6. Improved communication between the board and all stakeholders--Hired Public Information Officer! User friendly online agendas, website improvements, online community newsletter, community and town hall meetings, heightened presence in the community attending events, Board contact info on website and in district directory, instituted utilizing e-mail vehicle for district and community contacts
7. Successful and collaborative relationships with all negotiating units for District employees. Committed to recruit and retain quality personnel on all levels at competitive but prudent salaries.