Dear Neighbors and Friends,

For over twenty years, San Rafael and Marin County have been my cherished home, where I have dedicated myself to uplifting the voices of our youth and underrepresented communities through volunteerism and my work with government agencies and nonprofits. Since October 2023, I have had the honor of serving as an appointed Trustee on the SRCS Board of Education and I am now excited to run for my first full term as a Trustee in District 3 in November 2024. Personally, I am a proud daughter of Filipino immigrants. In the 1980’s, my parents immigrated to the United States from the Philippines – my mother joining the U.S. Army and my father working as an overseas laborer, often apart from my mother. I was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and later raised with my siblings in San Jose, California by my grandparents, who had previously immigrated to the U.S. in the 1970’s. My parents completed their pathways to citizenry and reunited with us all in the late 1980’s, where they both pursued training and education, leading to successful nursing careers.

Because of the untraditional nature of my childhood, my parents and grandparents (my Lolo and Lola) held very formative roles in my upbringing. My Lolo, for his part, was the very first person on his island in the province of Guimaras to graduate high school, going on to set new expectations for his community by graduating college and succeeding in business. Lolo used to tell my siblings that the world can be difficult and present many challenges, but “the one thing it cannot take away from you is your education”. It’s something I took to heart as a child, and still very much believe to this day.

In 2003, I graduated from Santa Teresa High School in South San Jose and moved to Marin County to begin my undergraduate degree at Dominican University of California. A proud Penguin, I graduated undergrad in 2007 and received by MBA from Dominican in 2019. My husband Donald and I married in 2016, and we one day hope to be able to raise a family in this very community.

Professionally, my nonprofit and government career has been fueled by a commitment to foster trust and collaboration within our community. I pride myself as an effective network weaver and dot-connector and aim to inform decisions defined by the perspectives of the people my work impacts. In my professional successes, I also acknowledge my own personal experiences with loss and trauma, housing instability, and periods of reliance on public assistance. This life experience gives me a deep understanding of the challenges faced by many in our community and is something I will never forget.

Should I have the privilege of being elected, I will continue to champion the vital services our schools provide and work to provide academic opportunities that promote the physical, mental, and emotional well-being of everyone within our educational community. Our core SRCS District values of equity, community, and joy will guide my efforts to build meaningful partnerships with families, teachers, and students – especially those who have been historically marginalized.

With your support, I’d love to continue to build a brighter future for San Rafael, together!

Yours in community,

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