Candidate for
School Board Director; City of Oakland; District 4

These are very tough times to lead public institutions like school districts: board members must make difficult choices between very valuable public services. Nevertheless, I am proud of what we have been able to accomplish as a school board.

My political philosophy is simple: public education is the cornestone of informed, democratic decisionmaking in America. If we invest in it, and make sure it is effective, we will have a strong country, because people will make informed decisions at the polls. But that investment is sorely lacking, leaving California public education near the bottom in terms of per pupil spending.

Despite the fiscal gridlock in Sacramento, and the state control of our schools for six years, I am proud that we are the most improved California urban school district, for six years in a row!!! That's real results!

After three decades as a teacher, principal, professor, and vice chancellor in Oakland, I have demonstrated that effective leadership really matters because it leads to real results. During the eight years that I have served on the board (six in leadership), I helped

• Create the conditions for a return from state receivership to local control
• Secure funds to modernize nearly every school in district four.
• Begin the systemic reform of our high schools by providing multiple pathays and rigorous coursework that ready our students for college and career
• Led the selection of a dynamic superintendent
• Shaped the new strategic framework to ensure that all our students thrive.
• Create a Teach Tomorrow in Oakland program to recruit and prepare local residents to be effective teachers.
• Develop and adopt a responsible, balanced budget, despite the huge cutbacks and sacrifices we asked from our employees
• Craft Measure L, Help Oakland Schools, to provide funding for teachers and support staff at every school.