Campaign Priorities

I strongly believe high-quality public schools are an essential resource for everyone in our community. I am committed to fighting for fully funded, world-class public education in Malibu and Santa Monica.  The school district is undergoing a significant amount of change at the moment and it is critical to build trust.  I will proactively engage teachers, administrators, parents and the broader community for feedback on ways to improve our schools, and operate with honesty and transparency on how and why decisions are made. 

I will work to ensure our schools support families, nurture academic growth and prepare every student to thrive in a rapidly changing 21st-century world.

Preparing Students for the Age of AI

I have had long career in technology, particularly on the innovation side of technology and have seen how the demands have our labor force have adapted over time.  I have proudly served on the board of an education non-profit that provides STEM education and pathways to careers in technology for students in under-estimated communities, and I am uniquely qualified to advise the school district on what skills are children need to prepare them for the workforce in the age of AI and beyond.

Supporting Working Families

Support working families with a school board policy that acknowledges the need to provide after care for all families that need it.  LAUSD acknowledges this need and aims to provide a full day of coverage for working families.  While SMMUSD has programs, they don’t have enough space for everyone who needs it and they are very expensive.  We need to recognize that families come in all different forms and we need to adapt from the idea that all families have two parents and one is a stay at home parent.

Preserving Campus Green Spaces

Preserve our open spaces and green spaces at our schools.  SMMUSD controls about 120 acres of land; by comparison, there are about 140 acres that the city maintains as parks.  Many families rely on the school grounds as their primary park.  But the current board is reducing open space and eliminating green spaces.  LAUSD has a goal that 30% of their schools need to have green spaces; SMMUSD is moving in the opposite direction and needs to adopt a similar policy goal.

SMMUSD is facing budget deficits and navigating the historic separation between Santa Monica and Malibu schools. How can we afford to expand after-care and green spaces right now?

FAQs

I am a realist. I know we are operating in a tight fiscal environment, especially with the ongoing transition to separate Santa Monica and Malibu into two independent districts, rising healthcare costs, and the threat of federal education cuts. But budgets are moral documents—they reflect our priorities. Expanding after-care isn't just an "extra"; it’s an economic necessity for working families. We can start by reallocating existing funds, partnering with city parks and local non-profits, and seeking state grants designed for community schools and expanded learning. For our green spaces, adopting a 30% goal doesn't mean spending millions overnight; it means stopping the current bleeding. We need a policy in place so that future bond measures and campus renovations prioritize protecting and expanding our green footprint, rather than paving it over.

You have a daughter in kindergarten at Franklin Elementary. How does having a young child currently in the district impact your approach to the school board?

We need a voice at the table that intimately understands exactly what SMMUSD families are currently navigating.  For example, I walk my kindergartener to Franklin Elementary most mornings. That time we spend together is really special to me as a dad and I know those morning conversations are critical for her educational and social development.  However, taking that walk every day also highlights a crucial, immediate priority for our district: we must invest more in Safe Routes to School. There have been mornings where we have experienced scary near-misses with cars in the crosswalk.  Our schools also have challenges keeping children safe at drop off.  Our administrators, PTA volunteers, and crossing guards deserve medals for the work they do, but they need more support.  This is a school and city partnership that requires complex stakeholder engagement and problem-solving.  I am uniquely qualified to tackle these challenges given my first-hand experience with these issues, coupled with my professional experience mobilizing complex transformation initiatives.

You have a background in tech innovation. How does that translate to being an effective School Board member?

The through-line of my career in technology is problem-solving and bringing people together to work toward a shared goal.  Large companies spend billions of dollars on transformation initiatives to solve customer problems and improve their businesses, and many of these initiatives fail or go way over budget because of poorly defined strategy or because key stakeholders are not aligned.  I have managed budgets the size of SMMUSD’s and I have experience leading heavily fractured and siloed organizations with competing priorities.  To ensure success, I will proactively engage teachers, administrators, parents and the broader community for feedback on ways to improve our schools, and operate with honesty and transparency on how and why decisions are made. 

Given my professional experience through the rise of the internet, social media, mobile devices, cloud, and now AI, I have a clear view of how our modern labor force is rapidly evolving.  I am uniquely qualified to advise our school district on the skills our children need to succeed in the future.  I also proudly serve on the board of a non-profit that provides STEM education to under-estimated communities. I’ve seen the direct link between the skills our schools teach and the opportunities our kids have after graduation. I am running because I want to bring that forward-looking, problem-solving mindset to the board so we can effectively prepare our students for the modern workforce.

When you talk about preparing kids for the "Age of AI," does that just mean more screen time for students?

Absolutely not. Preparing kids for the age of AI actually means focusing heavily on the uniquely human skills that machines can't replicate: critical thinking, strategic decision making, complex problem-solving, ethical and moral reasoning, creativity, empathy, resilience and adaptability. Yes, our students need strong foundational STEM and computer science skills, but they also need to know how to disconnect, focus, and collaborate in person. I fully support efforts to limit digital distractions in the classroom so that when we do use technology, we are using it as a deliberate tool for learning, not a passive crutch.

SMMUSD schools have strong academic reputations. Why make green space one of your top three priorities?

Because our schools don't exist in a vacuum—they are the centers of our community. For many families in Santa Monica, school grounds are their neighborhood park. SMMUSD controls about 120 acres of land, nearly matching the 140 acres the city maintains as parks. When the current board paves over open space, it disproportionately impacts families who don't have backyards of their own. LAUSD recognized this equity issue and set a 30% green space minimum. Our community prides itself on being a progressive, environmentally conscious city; our school district needs to reflect those values, not move in the opposite direction.

What is your stance on the separation of the Santa Monica and Malibu school districts?

I fully support the landmark agreements passed in late 2025 to create two independent school districts. Local control is important, and Malibu and Santa Monica both have unique needs. As we finalize this transition, my priority on the board will be maintaining the highest quality of programs and services for all students, ensuring that our educators and staff are protected and supported, and that both new districts' financial health is secure as they become newly independent entities.