Miembre de Junta — Rincon Valley Union School District

Mike and his wife, Kerri, love living in Rincon Valley and are very involved in the community.  They are raising their two daughters, Leilah (7) and Brenna (5), and both children are in the Rincon Valley Union School District (RVUSD) attending Sequoia and Madrone Elementary Schools.  We have been thoroughly impressed with the school district for our children. 

Mike is running for Governing Boardmember of RVUSD because he wants to continue the excellence, be a collaborative team player and think outside the box.  It is important to me to have a parent, with children in the district, elected to the School Board, because as of now, there is only one (and that Boardmember is resigning).

Mike is an active member of our community, dedicating his time and energy on boards and committees of several youth organizations and non-profits.  Mike chooses to get involved with youth organizations and projects that will advance our next generation of citizens.  He spends the majority of his volunteer time with youth organizations because he knows that this generation will be our leaders of tomorrow.

He has been recognized as a top Forty Under 40 Awards (2011).  He has served on the Board of Directors of the Santa Rosa Chamber of Commerce, Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County, Tomorrows Leaders Today, Social Advocates for Youth and Santa Rosa Young Professionals Network (YPN).  Mike and Kerri are members of the Madrone PTA and Sequoia Parent Club.

Mike graduated from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo with a Bachelors Degree in Landscape Architecture with a concentration in Parks and Recreation.  Mike owns his own business in Santa Rosa.

I graduated from Forham Univerisity with a BS and received my MBA from St. John's University. I have worked in Cancer Research for my entire professional career and managed a Clinical Research Program at Cornell University/NY Hospital.  When I got married and moved to California I worked for Sutter Hospitals for over 10 years running a Clincial Trials Program.  I have lived in the Rincon Valley Union School District Community for 17 years. I am currentlly serving on the Board of Education and I have been a Board Member for over 5 years.   I have been married 25 years and have three children all of whom attended Matanzas Elementary School.  I have spend hundreds of hours volunteering for organizations that focus on education.  I am a docent at the Bouverie Preserve and participate in an outdoor education program for elementary school children.  I co-chair a program for Foster Youth that focuses on helping Foster Youth succeed in college.  I am a founding member of the Impact 100 Redwood Circle which is an organization making significant contributions to those in need in Sonoma County.  I became a School Board Member to use my leadership skills, my management strengths and passion for education to work for something that is truly important to me. 

I am an advocate for public education and believe in providing all students an exemplary academic education and the foundation to become productive citizens of their community.  I believe a quality school program pursues excellence through a differentiated curriculum focusing on rigor, relevance and relationships.  I believe in equity for all students and giving every student what he or she needs, surrounding each child with the resources that they need. To accomplish this for all students, school districts need to have a clear and shared focus, high standards and expectations for all students.  Students need a strong connection to family and community.  The critical piece to a quality elementary and middle school program is to have a strong and effective goverance team.  I am dedicated to each and every student and will work tirelessly for every student and the Rincon Valley School Community.  I have demonsrated my leadership skills over the past five years and I know what is required to move this district forward.  I am willing to put the time in to understand our very compex education system as it is continually changing.  I would be honored to continue to serve this outstanding school district.