WHY I’M RUNNING
I am running because I already have the experience to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions when needed, collaborate productively, and help guide Claremont USD toward a stable, student-centered future.
Photographer: Matt Lara, 2023, https://www.mattlaraphotography.com/
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(I’m here)
I choose to run for the Claremont Unified School District Board of Education because this community has shaped my life, and I want to give back to the community through experienced, thoughtful public service. I grew up in Claremont and am a proud graduate of Claremont High School; my husband and I raised our three children here, all of whom graduated from Claremont HS.
I taught theatre at Claremont High for 27 years and chaired the visual and performing arts department for 11 years. I have gained a deep, firsthand understanding of, and great appreciation for, all our schools as a student, a parent, and a longtime educator. As a public-school educator, I also understand how board policies translate into real classroom impact. I’ve spent decades balancing program vision with fiscal constraints—always centering on student outcomes while supporting educators and staff.
I’m seeking a seat on the school board now that I’ve concluded my career at Claremont High School. After decades in education, combined with over a decade of national nonprofit board governance and executive leadership as president of the Educational Theatre Association, I bring extensive experience in policy development, financial oversight, collaborative problem-solving, and long-range strategic planning.
I believe that experienced, policy-driven leadership matters, and I am dedicated to ensuring that decisions are informed by research and the expertise of our staff, with input from our families, guided by policy, and always centered on what is best for students and families—today and for the next generation.
I bring 41 years of public education experience, including 27 years in Claremont classrooms, combined with over a decade of executive-level nonprofit governance of a multi-million-dollar educational organization. I have led with transparency, accountability, collaboration, and centered student outcomes.
If elected, I will apply this combination of national-level governance experience and deep local educational knowledge to ensure Claremont USD is:
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Addressing declining enrollment by establishing Claremont USD as a destination district.
Developing strong labor-city partnerships by working with educators, unions, and city officials as collaborators.
Preparing students for the future through thoughtful, responsible integration of AI and technology into education.
Exploring environmentally sustainable options for school grounds and facilities.
Prioritizing student well-being by advancing policies that build connection, reinforce belonging, and strengthen mental health supports—particularly for young men.
I am running because I already have the experience to ask the right questions, challenge assumptions when needed, collaborate productively, and help guide Claremont USD toward a stable, student-centered future.
Being fiscally responsible by asking the right questions to ensure sound, transparent governance.