Atascadero Unified School DistrictCandidate for Board Member

I am a mom to three school-age children and have spent the last decade volunteering in Atascadero’s public schools and nonprofit organizations. I’ve served as everything from classroom helper to elementary site council member, and a leader in PTA, PTO, and AHS Band Boosters.  I’m also a product of California public schools, from elementary through UC Berkeley where I earned my Bachelor of Arts.  Below is a brief snapshot my volunteer experience.

Volunteer Experience

San Gabriel PTA  President (2019-present), Kick-A-Thon Chairperson (2018-2019) raising over $34,000 with 67% student participation and over $42,000 with 70% student participation respectively, Treasurer (2016-2017), Vice President (2014-2016), Treasurer (2012-2014), Volunteer and various other Committee Chairs (2010-2014)

Atascadero High School Band and Pageantry Boosters  Treasurer (2019-present)

Committee for Atascadero Public Schools (CAPS)  Auction Committee (2019-present), Auction Chair (2018)

Atascadero Middle School PTO  Treasurer (2018-2019)

Grandmother's House Children's Center  Treasurer (2015-2017) 

From 22 years working in nonprofit organizations and serving on Boards, I know the importance of trust, transparency, accountability, and fiduciary responsibility.  We constantly balance the need to serve our community and achieve our mission while staying financially stable.  Often there isn't enough money to do all the work, so we have to prioritize what programs are necessary, valuable, and effective.  I would like to get input from students, parents, teachers, classified staff, and administrators to help prioritize needs and use facts and data to make the best (but not always perfect) decisions for our school district.  I would like to explore other funding streams like grants to allow our district to better serve our students.  I'm willing to use my experience and knowledge about private nonprofit foundations to research and apply for grants.

I'm a first generation Vietnamese American.  My family immigrated to the US from Vietnam in 1975 as refugees.  Both my parents worked full-time but we were a low-income family.  So I received free and reduced lunch when I attended public school and financial aid to attend college.  I learned that there's no shame in receiving help, but that it's definitely better to give than to receive.  It's why I chose a career in working in nonprofit oganizations so that I could serve and give back to my community and extend a helping hand to others.

In my humble opinion, there is no greater institution in our country than our public school system that provides a free, well-rounded, standards-based education to every child.  Our public schools are not perfect and have big challenges ahead, the first and foremost of which is dealing with Covid-19.  I always strive to help make organizations better than when I found them and I think my track record demonstrates this.  I am a passionate advocate for children and deeply committed to public education.  I would be honored to have the chance to help the Atascadero Unified School District and serve as your School Board Trustee.