1.  Why do you think you should be elected or re-elected?

With 2 recent graduates and a Junior currently attending Eastern, I am very aware of what it takes to make a successful student.  Furthermore, I have been a technology consultant for over 20 years and one of the key skill sets needed for my role is to be familiar with the latest technology, to be able to listen, and at the same time ask the questions nobody wants to hear or are afraid to bring up.  At recent Eastern meetings that I have attended, it has become very apparent to me that new ideas are not making it to the board and when information is brought up, there is nobody asking the tough challenging questions. In my opinion, it is the responsibility of a Board Member to actively find out the current issues that the parents, teachers and the community are concerned about and represent these concerns to make sure they are being addressed.  At the same time, a Board Member should be looking for new ideas to discuss with constituents and propose them to the Board. During my campaign, I have spoken to many people who have brought forward very relevant issues on improving Eastern that fall on deaf ears or incredibly leaders of the school are not aware of because somehow the info is not shared internally. With my background, I feel I have the qualifications that are needed on making sure the pulse of the community is heard and the tough questions are asked.

2. What distinguishes you as a candidate?

My father who is 92 and a WW2 veteran instilled in me at a very early age the importance of education.  He would share stories with me about the opportunity education provides and the importance that everyone gets educated.  In 1983, my father took me to China to show me a country first hand how education was about to revolutionize it. When I visited China, it was a country stuck in time.  Bicycles were the main form of transportation and almost everyone dressed the same. Fast forward 35 years later, the China I saw no longer exists because their leaders realized to become a modern society you needed a plan for education.  My family has always practiced what it preaches and followed through on the importance of education, as I have a brother who is a Professor, my sister and I both have masters degrees, my oldest daughter is working on her PHD and middle daughter working on her BS.  Between my global experience, views that everyone should have an education and with my background in modern technology consulting, I know what it takes to focus Eastern on the modern skill sets that need to be made available to all of its students.

3. What connection do you have with education and high school students?

As a parent of 2 recent graduates and a Junior at Eastern,  I have had connections with Eastern for almost 10 years. You can say I am very aware of the modern issues high school students face such as college affordability, getting an education that prepares you for the future, anxiety, safety, and bullying among others.  In addition I have a brother who is a professor where we frequently discuss what skill sets high schools should be focused on to prepare students for the future..

4. What is your educational philosophy?

My education philosophy is very simple, preparing ALL students for the modern skill sets needed to be successful.  If you want to pursue a trade, join the armed forces, go to college, or try to get into a top university; clear opportunity paths need to be made available for all students

5. What do you think makes Eastern a special place?

There are many good things that go on at Eastern everyday including, GT, Model UN, Clubs, Sports Teams, Band, Fashion, Drama and others, but what makes them truly special are the students involved.  I am always amazed by seeing the students run a model UN conference by themselves, winning sports tournaments, putting on award winning shows and more!. I am firm believer that if you want to keep it a special place, you have to continue to focus on making the changes needed to keep it competitive for the future, and those changes would be to help the students reach their full potential.