VOTE411 Voter Guide

1. Refocusing teacher (as well as for administration and board members ) support and training towards: mental and emotional health, diversity, inclusion, trauma informed care and emotional regulation. 2. Increasing financial transparency and accountability so that the community can feel more confident that bond money is being spent in ways that reflect the needs and wishes of the families who pay for it. 3. Repairing the fractures and traumas families and students have experienced due to the many fast and concerning changes to our district (school closures, takeover of the Napa Preschool Program from NCOE, and the lawsuit the board has filed against the NCOE and State Board of Education for their approval of a local charter school using taxpayer dollars). While hard decisions need to be made, the board must also acknowledge and repair the hurt and trauma these decisions cause.

I am a lifelong resident of Napa, where I completed my K-12 education in the public school system. I hold a Master’s degree in Psychology with a focus on trauma-informed care and have over a decade of experience working in nonprofit public mental health within our community. This background has deepened my commitment to the mental and emotional well-being of Napa and especially of our kids. Together with my husband, I am raising three children in Napa: my eldest is a freshman at New Tech High, my middle son, a kindergartener in a special needs classroom at Belaire Elementary, and my youngest will join the school district in 2026. These personal connections strengthen my dedication to NVUSD and our broader community. In recent years, I have attended numerous board meetings, hearings, and events, witnessing the difficult decisions made to safeguard our district from financial instability. However, these decisions have often resulted in significant fractures and a building sense of distrust among families, many of whom feel their concerns are being overlooked. As a mother, mental health advocate, and lifelong resident, I believe it is crucial to infuse more humanity into the board’s approach to ensure decisions are made with compassion and collaboration. While I value the long-term goals set by Dr. Mucetti and the board, I recognize areas where their strategies are falling short. As a board member, I would advocate for the mental and emotional health of not only the teachers and students in my area but the entire community. I am committed to transparency, inclusivity, and openness to community feedback. Despite serving over 16,000 students, our district’s success is ultimately measured by how well we support our most vulnerable students. My goal is to be a voice for every student and ensure that board decisions prioritize their well-being. The 2040 NVUSD Vision includes impressive goals, yet it is vital to integrate thoughtful and community-centered approaches to realize these aspirations effectively. Large-scale decisions often overlook the subtle, yet significant, emotional and mental impacts on our community. This oversight is a primary reason for my candidacy. While strategic and financial objectives are crucial, they must be balanced with compassion and consideration—values I am dedicated to bringing to the board. I am a quick learner, thoughtful, compassionate, and proactive. And I have a strong willingness to listen, learn, and engage. My vision is to foster inclusion, acceptance, and diversity, and to provide robust mental and emotional health support while rebuilding the trust that has been eroded in recent years. By addressing these concerns, we can prevent further disengagement, and ensure families feel seen and supported. I am eager to contribute to NVUSD’s growth and success by collaborating with our families to mend fractures and strengthen the relationship between the school district and our community. Our kids deserve better!

Improving the quality of education provided to all of our students regardless of background or complexity of need. Specifically I am concerned with Special Education and the needs of our Multi-Lingual Learners and I believe these are the most at risk of our student population. Additionally I feel the need to continue our tight fiscal stewardship in order to weather to economic uncertainty we are currently experiencing and will continue to experience in the foreseeable future.

Thank you for allowing me to serve as Trustee for the past 2 years. During this time, I’ve focused on mastering the governance and fiscal skills needed to successfully guide the district. My goal is to improve the quality of the education we provide to our students, regardless of economic background or complexity of need. As a parent of 4 NVUSD students and an alumni of the district myself, I have a vested interest in developing the educational opportunities for all our students. Prior to joining the NVUSD board, I served on multiple non-profits boards including NEWS, Leadership Napa Valley, Active 20-30, Rotary and GradNite. My driving force has been to improve the lives of the children in Napa. As a third generation Napan, I’ve experienced first- hand the disparity that exists in our community between the haves and the have-nots. The playing field needs to be leveled so that all can have an equitable share of our ample resources. That change begins with our educational system; all our students deserve the very best we can offer. I humbly ask for your vote so that I may continue to serve and support our community.