Thank you Tylor Taylor, CEO of SASCC and publisher of The Outlook Newspaper, and the amazing team at KCAT Public Media for inviting me recently to speak about my candidacy at their "Coffee and Candidates" TV show - a show where they sit down with candidates running for local and state offices, including Assembly members, Board of Trustees members, and candidates for council seats in Los Gatos, Monte Sereno and Saratoga, to engage in thoughtful, nonpartisan one-on-one interviews.

Why I Chose to Live in our Community

Nearly 20 years ago, my family chose the Saratoga/Monte Sereno neighborhood because of its exceptional schools and community. Every year since has reinforced that we made the right decision. My son, who has a developmental disability, received the support he needed to thrive troughout his journey in our public schools and is now a college sophomore at LGSUHSD's Post-Secondary Program at West Valley Community College. My daughter is currently a high school Sophomore at Saratoga High School, giving me firsthand experience with the opportunities and challenges facing students and families today.

In my free time I love listening to music, singing, hiking, reading, traveling (especially to places close to the ocean), trying cuisines from around the world, writing, and enjoy watching theatre, musicals, concerts and movies. But most importantly, I cherish spending time with my family, meditation and being close to Mother Nature. 

Experience

I am a developmental psychologist in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at a local hospital, supporting families facing medical, financial, mental health, and social challenges. I have a Ph.D in Applied Developmental Psychology from the University of Miami. My post doctoral research at SRI International focused on children with developmental disabilities, their families, and the impact of public policy.

Serving our schools has always been my way of giving back to the community that has given my family so much. For many years, I have volunteered as a parent in leadership roles including:

Parent volunteering in my son's special education class at Saratoga Elementary, 2015