This is an archive of a past election.
See http://www.smartvoter.org/ca/sm/ for current information.
San Mateo County, CA November 3, 2015 Election
Smart Voter Full Biography for Gilbert Wai

Candidate for
Board Member; Hillsborough City School District; 2 Year Term

[photo]
This information is provided by the candidate

PRIORITIES

I am honored to be your HCSD Trustee since June 2014, where my priorities are maintaining our schools' excellence, innovating in a financial sustainable way, and remaining engaged with our parents and community.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

In the time that I have been a Trustee, I have initiated expense analysis and adjustment efforts to ensure a sound budget. This year's balanced budget reflects that work. Both Fitch and Standard & Poor's recently affirmed our district's strong finances by awarding us a AAA rating, the highest rating and one that is rarely given. I have advocated for concrete, measurable objectives for HCSD Forward, the district's strategic vision. HCSD Forward now reports on annual goals and progress towards those goals.

In the past year, we have fully implemented the Common Core State Standards and the assessments which are a part of that. Our district's outstanding test scores, released in September, reflect my ongoing commitment to a quality education for all our children. In technology, we provided all of our Crocker students with individual computers. We have also trained and supported our teachers as they integrated technology into their instruction. For world language and culture, we launched a brand new Mandarin program at Crocker and an updated Spanish program for our elementary schools. With facilities, we completed and moved into a new classroom wing at West School, using cost-effective new eco-friendly building technology.

CORPORATE EXPERIENCE AND INNOVATION ACHIEVEMENTS

I have over 15 years of executive experience at high growth technology startups, leading groups with over 150 staff and budgets exceeding $15 million. I have led innovative engineering teams which have been granted patents in video streaming and robotics technology, while our products have received industry awards. While I was engineering vice president, two of my startups completed their initial public offerings and one was acquired by Agilent Technologies. The investors included leading venture capital firms such as Mayfield Fund, Sutter Hill Ventures, Trinity Ventures, Greylock, and Granite VC.

COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE

After my wife passed away in 2007, I made a conscious decision to immerse myself in the school volunteer community, to support my children through a difficult time in their lives. As a volunteer, I have been Chair of the West School Site Council, President of the West School Parent Group, Strategic Planning Chair and board member of the Hillsborough Schools Foundation, and member of the 2012 HCSD Citizens' Financial Review Commission, which recommended continuing the town Parcel Tax.

My perspective is informed from being an 18-year resident of Hillsborough and proud parent of two Crocker graduates. I represent the Trustees at all Roundtable Communications and Hillsborough Schools Foundation board meetings. I also volunteer at our schools, including helping with drop off weekly at all three of our elementary schools. Because I value education for students at all levels, I am on the board of two education foundations, the San Mateo High School Foundation and the Point Loma Nazarene University Foundation.

I seek your vote to continue representing you on the school board. A great education led to a better life for me and I want the same for our children.

Candidate Page || Feedback to Candidate || This Contest
November 2015 Home (Ballot Lookup) || About Smart Voter


The League of Women Voters does not support or oppose any candidate or political party.
Created from information supplied by the candidate: October 14, 2015 17:29
Smart Voter   <http://www.smartvoter.org/>
Copyright © League of Women Voters of California Education Fund   http://ca.lwv.org