Candidato para Miembre de Junta

I am a parent to three boys in Redondo schools and I am married to a USC professor. Since we came to live in Redondo Beach in 2005, I have been throughly involved in our community as a volunteer and as a leader. Having enjoyed being a docent for many years, I was Chair of South Bay Hands on Art for a two year term, providing parent-led art education to 10,000 students in public and private schools. I have been a leader in the PTA, serving on the Alta Vista Board for five years, currently as President, and I have been recognised with an Honorary Service Award.

As a founder of South Bay Down Syndrome Association (now Club 21 South Bay), I united families on their shared journey in raising a child with Down syndrome. The difficulties that families faced in accessing inclusive education led me to organise a local conference called Making Inclusion Better, attended by over 100 parents, teachers and administrators. That event launched me into advocacy for systemic change in special education and I began to study the structural and funding incentives that go into special education decision-making. As a board member with CalTASH I have learned a great deal from working with educationalists, service providers and other parent advocates in the field of disability. In August I was accepted at USC/CHLA's UCEDD CA-LEND program, a leadership program in the field of Neurodiversity, as a Parent to Parent Family Support Fellow, learning about developmental disabilities and working with professionals in child and maternal health to ensure a family-centered perspective.

Before having a family, I was a university educator in Political Studies and Philosophy in the UK and for the Civic Education Project in Eastern Europe, teaching students about democracy and human rights. I completed a two year in-service educator credential in Learning and Teaching. I have a BA from Oxford University in Politics, Philosophy and Economics, an MA in Legal and Political Theory from University College London and a PHD from the University of Manchester in Government.

I believe that public education is an essential part of a democracy, providing all children with an opportunity to fulful their potential and contribute to our community. Our schools reflect our community and teach, not only academic skills, but also how we get along.

Learning is a social activity. Children learn not only at desks in classrooms but when they are playing tag and on swings and making and even breaking friendships. They learn as much from each other as they do from the adults that structure their school day.

Inclusion is not a program or a teaching strategy but a right. No child should feel unwelcome in our schools because of race, gender, sexuality, religion, poverty or disability. Inclusion is an active process, not just inviting a student and their family in, but changing our enviroment to accomodate their difference. The challenge is to provide sufficient support that the experience is meaningful and sustainable.

Education in the 21st century needs to be focused on the four C's: Creativity, Communication, Collaboration and Critical Thinking in order to prepare our students for the future.

A strong community is an essential support for families and a major factor in school success. It doesn't happen by accident, only through the hard work of committed volunteers. Active parent engagment in schools must be authentic and two-way to be an anchor for successful schools.

"...as many hands build a house,. So many hearts make a school"