Letter to the Community

By Stephen Pulido

After many years of service to our Pleasanton educational community, I have decided to take on a new challenge and have declared my candidacy for one of the three open seats on the Pleasanton School Board. I hope I can count on your support in my quest to take educational excellence in Pleasanton to a new level.

I have lived in Pleasanton for over twenty-three years. My wife, Kellie, and I have been married nineteen years. We have two children in the Pleasanton schools. Our daughter, Kearsten, is a senior in high school, and our son, Christopher, is in seventh grade. I have been a Family Law Attorney for twenty-five years which has allowed me to gain valuable insight into the dynamics of families and the needs of our children.

I have been actively involved in our Pleasanton schools, both at the school site level and the district level. I've served as an original member of our district's Strategic Planning Team since 1997 and recently was reappointed to the new Strategic Planning Team. I also currently serve on the Budget Advisory committee, the Academics Standards Committee and was a member of the Committee for Quality Schools which led the successful fight for Measure B, the 78 million dollar bond measure, in 1997. I served on the Fairland's School Site Council for eight years, the last four as Chairman.

I have had the privilege of working closely with our students, teachers, parents. administrators, and district employees. I know our district. I know our community. In 2002, I was recognized as an "Outstanding Friend of Education" by the Association of California Administrators. Our school district faces many challenges in the years to come.

Our school board must rise above the current budget crisis and make the tough and informed decisions that allow every student in Pleasanton to reach his or her potential. All who graduate from our schools must be equipped with the necessary skills to compete in our global economy. We must meet the needs of ALL our students and provide the choices and programs that prepare our students to move on to the next chapter in their lives, whether that be a college education, trade school or other endeavor.

We must light the fire within our students to become lifelong learners. I'm ready to step up to the plate and to do all within my power to advocate for the educational needs of our students. Join with me in taking the educational excellence of our students to the next level.

VOTE FOR PULIDO ON NOVEMBER 4TH.

Sincerely, Steve Pulido