Wednesday, October 15, 2008
This letter is to support Charlotte Ware for the Santa Barbara Board of Education. I am her friend of 14 years and her neighbor for 10. She and I were both wearing suits as we went about our careers. Charlotte was an up and coming engineering executive in the automotive industry and I was an account executive with a Fortune 500 company based in New York. As I continued to wear my suits, I noticed across the cul de sac that Charlotte was wearing her shorts and jeans. Charlotte chose to leave her successful career as an engineer to jump into the elementary school "sandbox" and into volunteer positions at her daughters' schools as she began her new career as an engineer of her daughters' futures with the ultimate goal of a product: two beautiful daughters with character and integrity.
That was the beginning of her involvement in the school system. She moved from the sandbox to school activities where she applied her organizational skills to support students and parents. The last two years she has dedicated to the Dos Pueblos High School PTSA as the president leading a team of 50 dedicated and talented parents on more than 20 committees. Previously, she was president of the Goleta Valley Junior High PTA. Charlotte understands the problems and opportunities our schools face.
Charlotte is committed to new emphasis on communication, collaboration, and community investment. What really distinguishes Charlotte from the other candidates in this race is her direct involvement in local schools. In addition, she has served on the District Advisory Committee in both the Santa Barbara High School District and Goleta Union School District. Particularly in a time of budgetary shortfalls, we need School Board members who know our schools, who listen to the community, who are experienced, and who seek to build community consensus. Charlotte Ware is the candidate for the Santa Barbara School Board who will represent the needs, hopes, and aspirations of all parents and students on the Board of Education.
Please vote for Charlotte Ware. She has always been my "go to" in regard to public school education questions and she can be your "go to" also. -Sheryl Stratman