Candidate for
Board of Education Member; City of Piedmont

My Background

I am from two very different cultures and know a lot about the value and challenges of cultural diversity: my mother was from the American South and my father was born, raised and still lives in Bahrain.

Both my parents were from very humble beginnings and recognized early that a strong educational foundation and a commitment to learning were key to opportunity and success: My father did not begin formal schooling until he was almost 10 years old, but went on to become the first Bahraini medical doctor, the first Minister of Health when the British left Bahrain in 1971, then Minister of Education and, most recently, ambassador to France.

I am primarily a product of the public education system. Growing up in Bahrain, I went to a US Department of Defense school that was available to non-DOD dependents. It certainly reflected the American public school experience at the time and I really loved it and thrived in it. After my parents' divorce in 1975, my mother and I moved to Los Angeles, primarily because, at the time, California public schools were considered some of the best in the country. I graduated from a very large LA high school just as Prop 13 passed. I did my undergraduate studies at UCLA, majoring in Psychology, and received my MBA from USC.

My Professional Work

I have almost 24 years of experience in higher education. I've spent the last 13 years at the University of California, Office of the President, first in financial management and reporting and, most recently, managing a shared services center for financial operations support. Before that, I was at KPMG for 10 years providing consulting services to non-profit organizations, primarily top-tier research universities. In general, my work experience includes project management; financial analysis and reporting; and extensive knowledge of compliance, control and accountability issues.

Public Service and My Volunteer Work

I learned about the value of public service from my father. He spent his whole career in service to his country and to his region. His life was about what was possible and was doable. Even today, he still demonstrates a sustained belief in and commitment to serving the public good.

I have been privileged to work in the Piedmont schools volunteer community for over thirteen years, finding immense personal satisfaction by participating in big and small ways:

• President (2010-2012) and member (2006-2012) of the Piedmont Educational Foundation (PEF);
• President (2004-2005) and member (2001-2008) of the Beach Parents' Organization (BPO);
• Treasurer at PEF (2007-2010) and BPO (2006-2008), and current treasurer at the Piedmont High School Parents' Club (beginning in 2011);
• Member of the District's Budget Advisory Committee (current, beginning in 2004);
• Member of the Piedmont High School Wellness Center Advisory Board (current, beginning in 2011);
• Member of the Piedmont High School Boosters board (2010-2013);
• Facilitator for the Piedmont Parent Network (current, beginning in 2012);
• Facilitator for the Parent Educator Program at Beach (2003-2005);
• Member of the grants committees for PEF and for parents' clubs (2006-2009);
• Member of the seismic bond measure campaign (2006) and three of the most recent school parcel tax measure campaigns
• Classroom volunteer, room parent and team parent, (on-going, beginning in 1999).

• Excellent knowledge of how things work in our district--who the participants are, how the funding works, how the support organizations and volunteers work cooperatively with the schools to maintain our academic excellence;
• A strong knowledge of the budget and financial contexts in which schools operate, as well as reporting, compliance and accountability issues;
• An ability to assess situations, deliberate, and make timely decisions, while considering different viewpoints and perspectives;
• An ability to work well with diverse constituencies and a desire to work with the governance team to act on behalf of the needs of all students;
• A skill set that includes being well organized and the ability to set priorities to meet objectives through the efficient use of time, materials and resources;
• A competent, methodical, thoughtful, and measured approach; and
• High expectations for myself and others.