VOTE411 Voter Guide

My top 3 priorities for the upcoming term include: (1) Ensure NVUSD remains financially stable by making budgetary decisions that are informed by data to address the challenges of declining enrollment and to ensure efficient district spending; (2) Enhance and maintain educational programs that meet the current and future needs and interests of students, such as robust middle school sports and expanding Career and Technical Educational programming; and (3) Continue to provide resources to schools that foster a sense of belonging and connectedness as that is key to the well-being and safety of all students, faculty and staff, especially as schools inevitably deal with external pressures that jeopardize campus safety.

As the current Trustee of NVUSD Area 2, I bring a deep, personal connection to our schools as a mother of two students currently attending NVUSD schools in American Canyon. I am also the only trustee to ever have a student at American Canyon High School. Prior to joining the NVUSD school board, I volunteered extensively at my children’s schools, including serving on the Canyon Oaks Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Board, starting Canyon Oaks PTO’s after-school STEM enrichment program, and coaching students in robotics competitions at both Canyon Oaks Elementary School and American Canyon Middle School. I completed the California School Board Association Masters in Governance program within the first 5 months of taking office and took NVUSD leadership and equity training alongside NVUSD teachers and staff to enhance and inform my governance practices. I also played a key role in developing the new NVUSD strategic plan, ensuring that it reflects our community's needs and aspirations. My own educational journey included attending California public schools from elementary school through graduate school. I am currently a senior research scientist at Stanford University where I mentor undergraduate, graduate/medical students, and postdoctoral fellows, which gives me an additional perspective on how to prepare college-bound students.

My 3 priorities will be to get Back to the Basics, keep parents informed, and maintain buildings without borrowing more money. According to the 2023 California School Dashboard, NVUSD is graduating over 92% of students, but overall students are 25 points below standard in English, 73 points below standard in math, and fewer than half are prepared for college or a career. That means we are graduating students who are not really ready to succeed in the real world. I will focus on teaching math and English and making sure students are prepared to succeed in college or a ready to learn a valuable trade. I've heard of a student who skipped school for 2 weeks and the parents were not notified. The parents are the people who care most about their children's safety, discipline and well-being. Good parents leave an inheritance for their children, but borrowing money through bonds is stealing from our children and grandchildren. I will find a better way to pay for maintenance.

I have a long history of service, leadership, and excellence. I've been a volunteer fireman. I served as a Combat Medic in the Army National Guard. I deployed to Iraq while serving in the US Air Force. I am a trusted Registered Nurse with a degree in science and a heart for caring. I have managed a clinic with a budget of $3.5 million. I currently serve on the board of Napa Public Access Cable Television and have a documented history of voting for financial responsibility. I beat around 10,000 others to be on Season 2 of the television show MasterChef USA.

I am an absolute expert at leading teams of people to improve processes and make organizations more efficient. I am an expert at meetings and agendas. While I don't have teaching credentials, I have a long history of teaching. Since my teen years, I have taught in faith groups for most of my life. I routinely teach government, civics, and politics on public-access television. I am a frequent guest on radio shows, podcasts, and live events teaching people to participate in government.

I have had 2 children attend Napa Valley Unified School District schools, so I have personal experience as a parent of a student in the district.