I am very Passionate about a strong system of public education, anchored by excellent high schools. I see public education as the best way to bring equitable solutions to the many challenges we face today as a community and a society at large.
I am a parent of past, present, and future students at San Mateo Unified High School District, and am a public high school graduate. My position as the Varsity Boys Lacrosse Coach at Burlingame High School give me a lens into the challenges and issues facing our students today, as well as a better understanding of future needs.
Recently, I served as the Chair of the Citizen’s Action Committee that led the successful effort to raise $385 million to invest in our school district. During this process, I met with local educators, parent groups, and associated constituents throughout the county, bringing together the coalition of support that was necessary for the passage of this measure. I have also served on multiple Citizen’s Oversight Committees, ensuring that money raised from the constituents was efficiently spent.
These investments are necessary, but are not sufficient to provide the great education that our students deserve and our community needs. We need to attract and retain the best teachers and staff, or the rest of the efforts will have been for naught. With the sale of the Crestmore facility, there will be significant capital available to invest in solutions for the high cost of living for our teachers. These funds need to be put to work as effectively as possible to maximize the benefit for our teachers, students and community.
The District will be spending, investing, and allocating over $1 Billion in the next four years. As an experienced financial and business executive, I bring the crucial skills needed to provide support, guidance and oversight to the SMUHSD budgeting and expenditure processes, ensuring that these programs are effectively implemented and administered, with significant public transparency.
I would work to ensure that the District offers a free and appropriate public school education, where every student can have the opportuity to excel and achieve their personal goals. The district has the resources and talent to provide differentiated, equitable and excellent education for all students.
Our current experience highlights the importance of transparency and communication to engage and fully integrate all of knowledge and experience of the members of our educational community. We need to ensure that the community understands the objectives and decisions of the Board of Trustees, and track measurable results versus planned milestones.
