Candidate for
Member, Democratic Party County Central Committee; County of San Luis Obispo; Supervisorial District 3

Political Experience

Current -- Member San Luis Obispo Democrat Central Committee Communications team. Part of group responsible for Broadside redesign.

Chair of DCC messaging committee.

2004 Sent to Nevada at request AFL-CIO to help with Kerry Campaign in key swing state.

Work on numerous Proposition campaigns including media, precinct, GOTV. Trained speaker by ABC Coalition

Communications Experience

2005 -- Partner, Education Communication Solutions -- Work with 60 school districts statewide to improve their parent communications. Prepare School Accountability Report Cards and Annual Notification to Parents. Research, evaluate and summarize Ed Code as related to parent communications. This project started 10 years ago with 10 school districts and grew by word of mouth.

2004 -- Senior Communications Specialist, California School Employees Association, San Jose, CA In-House Responsibilities: independently research, write and edit articles for four publications; directly handle media relations, participate in website development, marketing and branding; hire and assign freelance photographers. External Responsibilities: conduct communication trainings statewide; interact with other agencies on committees; represent CSEA on the Tri-County Education Coalition; liaison to health care collaborative. Sent to battleground state to aid AFL-CIO Kerry campaign efforts.

1998 - 2004 -- Information and Research Coordinator/Public Information Officer Cabinet position, San Luis Obispo County Office of Education. In-House Responsibilities: point of contact for public, superintendents, teachers, community, and staff of many school districts and county offices; analysis of legislation and educational trends; creation of printed materials, logo design, speech writing, award applications; point of contact for media. Responsible for developing, monitoring and disbursement of department budget exceeding $150,000. Represented office at numerous non-profit agencies including sitting as board member of those agencies including the County Emergency Response Team as the spokesperson for public education. Negotiated and monitored contracts including contract for website redesign. Outside Client Responsibilities: Weekly worked at Lompoc School District office. Public information services provided include; preparation of CSBA Golden Bell applications resulting in recognition of two outstanding district programs; writing an emergency response plan; aid in organization of an independent study program for home schooled students returning to the public education system.

Annual Notification to Parents (ANTP): This project serves 52 districts throughout California. Developed all marketing material, legal research, and design work. Developed and monitored program budget. This is extremely time sensitive material.

Training and education: developed and presented workshops for administrators, teachers and parents. Spoke before civic groups delivering agency message.

1997-1998 -- Education Communication Consultant

• Publicist, California Reading Association, developed newsletter to fill void in communication system. Monitored and analyzed state and national legislation, created weekly legislative report to executive committee, composed letters to legislators outlining association positions. Created and conducted workshops on communications, political advocacy, and goal setting. Organized political action day arranging visits with state legislators.

• San Luis Obispo County Research and Information Consortium. Helped found, organize, and service school district and county office communication consortium. Work included creating tabloids, writing speeches, analyzing legislation, brochures, logo design, organizing news conferences, and meeting with staff, public, and other agencies.

• Writer/Editor, Stanfill Associates. Part of team servicing California Department of Education contract. Work included newsletters, poster design, logo design, and analysis.

1987- 1996 -- Public Information Officer -- Santa Maria-Bonita School District, Santa Maria, CA. Reported directly to Superintendent. Central Administrative Team member.

Teaching Experience

1998 -- Featured lecturer -- Cal Poly State University San Luis Obispo, CA. Created and presented a five-day summer institute on school communications for administrative credential candidates. This credit course focused on crisis communication, school-to-home communication, use of research in communication, media relations, media presence training, building a public engagement program, dealing with difficult people.

1987-1991 -- Journalism Instructor -- Allan Hancock College Santa Maria, CA. Taught beginning and advanced reporting and was adviser to student paper. Created and monitored budget. Students won state and regional awards. Community College Teaching Credential in Journalism and Print Technologies.

1993-present -- Workshop presenter -- conducted staff development training for certificated, classified and management staff of numerous California school districts. Invited speaker at conferences such as:

• Regional AVID training
• California Kindergarten Association
• 4Cs annual retreat
• California Reading Association
• ACSA Classified Educational Leadership Academy
• CSLA two-day school communication training
• Tracy School District management retreat
• Lompoc School District management retreat and Industry Education Council
• CSEA annual Public Relations Workshop

1983-1987-- Education Writer - Copy Editor, Assistant City Editor, Telegram Tribune, San Luis Obispo, CA. Beyond regular assignments, researched and launched new regional publication.

1982-1983 -- Editor - The Federalsburg Times and The County Record, Denton, MD 1981-1982 -- Reporter - Tri County Radio, WCEM-WESP, Cambridge, MD 1977-1978 -- Managing Editor - Goleta Today, Goleta, CA 1976-1977 -- Reporter-Photographer - Atascadero News, Atascadero, CA 1976 -- Associate Editor - Arizona Waterways, Tucson, AZ 1975 -- Reporter-Photographer - Arizona Territorial, Tucson, AZ 1975 -- Editor-Reporter - Tombstone Epitaph, Tombstone, AZ

Professional Associations

Active Member ++ California School Public Relations Association

1992 - 1996 -- President (1994-95), Association of California School Administrators -- Northern Santa Barbara County Charter.

1992 - 1996 -- Association of California School Administrators (ACSA) Representative to State Classified Educational Leadership Committee; Liaison to Legislative Policy Committee 1993, 1994.

Community Service

2002 - 2004 ++ Member; San Luis Obispo County Emergency Response Team + recruited to join the six-member team trained to respond to the media during times of crisis as the liaison for education throughout the county. During San Simeon Earthquake at one point handled more than 10 media calls in half an hour.

1980, 2000 - present ++ 2001 President; 2003-2006 Secretary; Tri County Education Coalition + educational advocates from Ventura, Santa Barbara, and San Luis Obispo. Coalition composed of people from classified, certificated, administrative, and community sources.

2000 - present ++ Secretary, 3rd Vice President; 2nd Vice President; California 24th District PTA + in charge of parent education programs.

1996 - 2000 ++ 1998 - 2000 Regional Commissioner; Board member -- American Youth Soccer Organization + responsible for program serving 2,500 families, $60,000 budget.

2000 - 2002 charter member of San Luis Youth Sports Foundation

2001 - 2006 Ag in the Classroom committee member San Luis Obispo Farm Bureau

1998 - 2004 ++ President; San Luis Obispo Child Abuse Prevention County committee. During tenure as president scope and role of committee and budget greatly expanded.

1991 - 1992 ++ Member; Santa Maria Police Minority Community Committee

1988 - 1996 ++ Public relations adviser; Santa Maria Ad Hoc Gang Prevention Task Force, American GI Forum (Hispanic War Veterans and families), and Blacks Recognizing A Goal.

Education

1976 -- Master of Arts in Journalism University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 1974 -- Bachelor of Arts in English Hobart College, Geneva, NY Successful completion of California Basic Education Skills Test California Community Colleges Credential Training in Interest Based Bargaining (IBB) Training in state-approved crisis response strategies, SEMS

Awards

1995 -- Administrator of the Year -- Association of California School Administrators, (ACSA) Region 13.

1990 and 1993 -- California School Public Relations Association Award -- for feature story press release, district brochure and 28-page tabloid parent handbook.

1983 -- Milton S. Eisenhower Media Award -- American Heart Association -- one award in each state.

1982 -- Maryland-District of Columbia Press Association Award -- for government reporting.

1974 -- Milton H. Turk English Major Award -- Hobart College.

Professional References Rick Simpson, Legislative Aide to Speaker of the House Fabian Nunez 219 State Capitol Sacramento, CA 94249 (916) 319-2047

Tom Guigni Former Executive Director Association of California School Administrators 1777 Adams St. St. Helena, CA 94574 (707) 963-4677

Dr. Kenneth Palmer Cal Poly State University Education Professor Former SLO Superintendent of Schools 2018 Skylark Lane San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 (805) 544-6516

Gordon West C.S.E.A. 6505 Flores Road Atascadero, CA, 93422 (805) 466-2547