For the past 11 years, I have had the privilege of being a classroom teacher.  In that time, I have seen first-hand the successes and failures of our educational system. I believe that we must renew our commitment to our students by fully funding our schools, reducing class size and making pre-kindergarten available to all of our children.

I believe that literacy programs, career and technical training, technology in the classroom, and access to college are not optional components of a thriving public school system: they are absolute essentials. On the Santa Clara City Council, I have been a leader on these issues: expanding literacy programs in Santa Clara, as our Library Ambassador, and creating a college scholarship program for Santa Clara students to afford to go to college.

Our schools must prepare our students to be competitive in the global economy and our government must help make higher education available to all. In Sacramento, I will continue to work tirelessly to make education the top priority -- and to make our schools the best in the nation.

* Affiliation listed for identification purposes only.