I have spent the past 17 years in public service advocating for the citizens of California through my work for Senator Dianne Feinstein, as a education program evaluator for school districts and afterschool programs, and as a Director of Federal Relations for University of California. In these roles, I am responsible for providing timely and detailed analysis of legislative proposals and their impact, and and I will bring my analytical skills to the role of Board of Education Trustee. I received my Master’s in Public Policy from UC Berkeley’s Goldman School of Public Policy focusing on K-12 education policy and graduated cum laude with Honors in Government from Claremont McKenna College. My Masters Thesis investigated city programs to reduce teacher turnover in San Francisco. I worked with the San Francisco teachers union and gathered best practices from around the country to inform my recommendations. A year after I gave my report to the City of San Francisco, then-Mayor Newsom implemented my recommendation that the city create a downpayment assistance program for teachers to help with the high cost of housing. I currently serve as the President of the Terra Linda HOA and was appointed by Mayor Phillips to serve on the Wildfire Prevention Committee in San Rafael. My husband Kieran grew up in San Rafael, and we are thrilled to raise our two kids, William and Juliet, where they can receive an excellent public education.
San Rafael Elementary School District - Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 1
Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 1 — San Rafael Elementary School District
Get the facts on the California candidates running for election to the Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 1 — San Rafael Elementary School District
Find out their top 3 priorities, their experience, and who supports them.
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Candidates
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Gina Daly
Advocate for Public Higher Education
Top 3 Priorities
- Ensure that a return to in-classroom instruction is...
- Close the digital divide and put equity at the center...
- Attract and retain excellent teachers
Profile
Endorsed by
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Gary Phillips, Mayor of San RafaelGreg Knell, San Rafael Board of Education TrusteeJohn Gamblin, San Rafael City Council
Samantha Ramirez
Youth Program Coordinator
Top 3 Priorities
- Equity
- Safety, health, and wellness
- Recruit and retain excellent staff
Profile
Endorsed by
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Marin Democratic PartyMarin Professional FirefightersSan Rafael City Schools Trustee Greg KnellSan Rafael City Schools Trustee Linda Jackson
Higher Education Director
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My Top 3 Priorities
- Ensure that a return to in-classroom instruction is guided by science, not politics
- Close the digital divide and put equity at the center of all programs
- Attract and retain excellent teachers
Experience
Experience
Profession:Advocate for Public Higher Education
Director of Federal Relations, UC Berkeley (2015–current)
Committee member, San Rafael Wildfire Prevention Committee — Appointed position (2019–current)
President, Terra Linda Homeowners Association — Elected position (2017–current)
Director of Federal Relations, UC Davis (2011–2015)
Director of Field Services, Senator Dianne Feinstein (2008–2011)
Associate for Evaluation, Hatchuel Tabernik & Associates (2007–2008)
Legislative Correspondent for the Senate Judiciary Committee, Senator Dianne Feinstein (2003–2005)
Education
University of California, Berkeley — Masters of Public Policy, K-12 education policy (2007)
Claremont McKenna College — Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), Government and French (2003)
Community Activities
Board of Trustee, Goggio Family Foundation (2008–current)
Biography
Who supports this candidate?
Featured Endorsements
- Gary Phillips, Mayor of San Rafael
- Greg Knell, San Rafael Board of Education Trustee
- John Gamblin, San Rafael City Council
Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
I am a lifelong Democrat who believes that public education has the power to close the opportunity gap in this country. Every decision that I will make as a school board member will be in the best interest of the students with the highest need in order to improve student outcomes. I have spent many years working with underrepresented minority students to help them achieve their policy goals and will share that experience and knowledge to empower our young people to make the change they wish to see in their community. As a mother of two young kids, I want them to grow up in a more fair and equal society, and it starts with ensuring that every child has the best start in life.
Position Papers
COVID-19 Safety
Summary
Any return to in-classroom instruction must follow science, not political pressures.
Students, parents, teachers and staff need to trust that there is a plan in place for a safe return to in-person instruction and that it follows science, not political pressures.
At the same time, parents need to work and are under immense pressure to oversee their children's daily classwork, have their children at home, and keep their jobs. Other families are experiencing job loss and reduced pay and hours as a result of the pandemic.
I will work with local public health authorities to understand the latest science and public health guidance to ensure that returning to school is safe for our students, teachers, and staff.
If the evidence suggests that we can’t have in-person instruction, we must keep equity at the forefront as we provide additional assistance to students who need more assistance because of socio-economic status or who need supportive services.
Communication and transparency in decision making is necessary to help parents, teachers and staff make informed decisions about a return to the classroom.
Equity and Excellence
Summary
We must ensure that equity and empathy are at the core of every decision that we make.
One of the hardest lessons of the pandemic is evidence of a stark digital divide that has been exacerbated by the move to remote learning. We need to make sure that every student has access to technology regardless of their socio-economic status. This not only includes providing computers to students to use at home, but ensuring that students have access to WiFi. I will work with the City of San Rafael, County of Marin, and the schools to close the digital divide.
I will advocate for more funding for public education. We will always lose if we believe that funding is a zero sum game with winners and losers. As a lobbyist, I have experience building coalitions at every level of government. More funding for students will ensure that they have the foundation they need to succeed in life regardless of their parents' income.
College and Career Readiness
Summary
We need to align our standards with what students need to attend college and to start their careers.
The achievement gap in the San Rafael City Schools must be addressed. Students of color are dropping out at higher rates than their white peers and disadvantaged students aren’t completing the required courses to attend University of California and the California State University system, known as A-G courses. Graduation requirements from San Rafael City Schools currently do not meet the A-G requirements, meaning that a student can graduate and still not be eligible to attend a four-year public university in California.
Using the best research, case studies from other cities, and drawing on the knowledge from our own community, I will work with the school district, families and teachers to address inequity and provide better pathways to college and career for all students.
Candidate Contact Info
Youth Program Coordinator
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My Top 3 Priorities
- Equity
- Safety, health, and wellness
- Recruit and retain excellent staff
Experience
Biography
Samantha has worked with youth throughout her career.
Samantha served as the After-School Program Coordinator at Venetia Valley School from 2014 to 2018. She led a weekly after school program for newcomer immigrant students at Davidson Middle School from 2018 to 2020.
She currently works as Senior Program Coordinator for the Youth Leadership Institute. She also worked with Huckleberry Youth Programs, Canal Alliance, and Bay Area Community Resources. She loves her students and their families. Some of them call her Mizz Ram.
Samantha is from the San Rafael community.
She has lived in the San Rafael City Schools district since 1995. She is a proud alumna of San Rafael City Schools District. She attended Gallinas (now Venetia Valley) school from first through eight grade. She attended Terra Linda High School from 2003 to 2006. She graduated from San Rafael High School in 2007.
Samantha is bilingual and bicultural.
She is the daughter of Central American immigrants. She visited her 91-year-old grapndpa in El Salvador three times this year. Samantha will become the first Millenial, Latinx elected official in Marin County. Representation matters.
Who supports this candidate?
Featured Endorsements
- Marin Democratic Party
- Marin Professional Firefighters
- San Rafael City Schools Trustee Greg Knell
Elected Officials (1)
- San Rafael City Schools Trustee Linda Jackson
Political Beliefs
Political Philosophy
All students benefit when all students thrive!
I ask for your vote and support. Let’s come together to improve the health and happiness of young people. Too many students are hurting. All students are deserving of Marin County’s abundance.
It is time to repair the inequities that have harmed our students for too long. Race and wealth should not predict a student’s future. I have been working to empower young people and the Latinx community since I graduated from San Rafael High School in 2007. I love my students and their families.
As your trustee, I will help create solutions to problems faced by students with learning challenges, opportunity gaps, and poverty. Let’s build a network of alumni and leaders from the communities most impacted by these crises. We need more early childhood education, counseling, enrichment programs, and better school food. We’ve got to increase literacy, teach life skills, empower and prepare minority students for success after high school.
