Priorities for GUSD

Building a brighter future for Gilroy Unified through transparency, strategic planning, and a deep commitment to every student's success.

Thoughtful financial stewardship

GUSD must remain financially stable while meeting the needs of students and staff today. Strong reserves protect the district during emergencies, but fiscal caution must be balanced with timely investments in people, programs, and learning environments. Having served in financial leadership roles in Gilroy, I understand that good stewardship requires preparation, transparency, and the discipline to align spending with priorities.

My Commitment

As a Board Member, I will:

Communicate budget decisions in plain language

Ask clear questions about budget assumptions and risks
Support transparent, long-range financial planning
Evaluate reserves to protect the district while serving current needs
Examine spending for measurable benefits to students
Pursue grants and sustainable revenue with partners

Safe, functional, and future-ready facilities

The physical condition of our schools is the foundation of the educational experience. When facilities are well-maintained and modern, students feel valued, staff can focus on teaching, and families take pride in their community. Substandard conditions do more than just hinder learning; they send a message about our priorities that impacts every neighbor in Gilroy.

With my professional background in facility management, I understand how reactive maintenance leads to skyrocketing costs and emergency closures. We need a transparent, long-term plan that moves beyond quick fixes to protect our public investments. By prioritizing strategic upkeep, we ensure our campuses remain safe, welcoming, and high-functioning environments for everyone who steps through their doors.

My Commitment

As a Board member, I will support:
• Clear and publicly understandable facility priorities
• Preventive maintenance and responsible project planning
• Strong oversight, accountability, and transparency for bond-funded work
• Meaningful input from students, staff, families, and neighbors
• Learning spaces that are safe, accessible, functional, and adaptable for the future

Our students and employees deserve the best facilities we can responsibly provide.

Recruit and retain excellent employees

Schools depend on people. Students benefit most when qualified educators and support professionals stay long enough to build strong relationships with families, colleagues, and the community.

GUSD must compete more effectively for teachers and specialized employees, including education specialists, speech-language pathologists, psychologists, para-educators, and other Student Services professionals. Heavy reliance on contractors can make it harder to provide the continuity and connection that students need.

As a Board member, I will advocate for:
• Competitive and sustainable compensation for all employee groups
• A careful review of salary schedules, steps, workload, and hard-to-fill positions
• A consistent, year-round recruitment strategy
• Long-term relationships with colleges and credentialing programs
• Stronger internship, student-teaching, and grow-your-own pathways
• Better support for employees serving students with intensive needs
• Workplace cultures in which employees feel valued, connected, and purposeful

Early in my career, I helped recruit approximately 300 college students each year for a large camp. Our success came from returning to the same campuses, building relationships with faculty and students, and becoming a trusted organization. GUSD needs that same consistent presence. If elected, I would be willing to participate directly in recruitment efforts and help strengthen partnerships with colleges.

We should not continue losing talented GUSD graduates who return to serve their hometown but leave after one or two years because they cannot afford to remain here. Gilroy needs a strategy that allows excellent employees to build sustainable careers in our district.

My Commitment

Smaller, more manageable classes

Reducing class sizes is essential for providing every student with the individual attention they need to thrive. When educators work with smaller groups, they can better identify specific learning gaps and personalize their teaching strategies for maximum impact.

My Commitment

Strategic class-size reduction goals, prioritizing early literacy and foundational math
Allocation of resources to ensure educators have manageable workloads and students get direct support
Transparent tracking of class data to identify and address overcrowding immediately
Creative staffing solutions and space planning that prioritize student-teacher ratios over administrative convenience

Meaningful learning happens when students are seen, heard, and supported in the classroom.

Opportunity and support for every student

Every student in Gilroy Unified deserves the chance to succeed, regardless of their background or starting point. We achieve this by dismantling barriers to equity, expanding access to specialized programs, and ensuring that mental health and academic support services reach those who need them most.

My Commitment

Advocate for equitable resource allocation that prioritizes high-needs schools and students
Expand mental health services and wrap-around supports to foster student well-being
Strengthen family engagement by providing clear communication and accessible pathways for parental involvement
Support diverse learning programs, including dual-immersion, special education, and vocational pathways, to meet every student’s potential