Los Gatos Weekly-Times

High school, elementary boards attract candidates

By Shari Kaplan

On Nov. 5, three candidates will run for two seats in the Los Gatos Union School District, while four candidates will vie for two seats in the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District.

LGUSD candidates

Dorothy "Dot" Rouse, whose sons went through local schools during the family's 28 years in Los Gatos, retired this June after many years as a teacher at Van Meter school. She says she sees a school board post as a community service.

"I also see it as an extension of what I've done," says Rouse, who holds a bachelor's degree in education and a teaching credential. "I still like working with kids and I think education is important. I'd like to be in on decisions affecting kids."

Among the areas that interest her are computers and technology--how the district can integrate them into the classroom, and how students and teachers can learn to better use them.

Gail Schwartz has lived in Los Gatos for a decade and has two children at Los Gatos High. She volunteered at their elementary schools and has served on school site councils and district committees.

"I'm a very good planner, and I know how to create long-term goals," Schwartz says. "With a comprehensive plan and the right kind of energy, we can be No. 1."

Schwartz is interested in how technology and education are coming together.

Schwartz has 16 years of experience in education, including teaching and administrative work in all school levels statewide.

Incumbent Stephen Parsons has two children at Van Meter school and a younger child at home.

"I'm not an activist, but I do have feelings on things," Parsons says. "One of the things weighing heavily on the board is the issue of technology in the classroom. I want to make sure we integrate technology in a wise way."

An electrical engineer and 10-year resident of Los Gatos, Parsons has degrees in electronic engineering and computer science.

"I look forward to going and listening to community comments. I'm also interested in the financial aspects of things. Board meetings are good interaction for citizens who have kids in our schools," he says.

High school district candidates

Lynne Bauer, a flight attendant, says she wants to be on the board to give something back to the community after the successful way the school system helped her autistic son, now mainstreamed at Los Gatos High.

"It was the schools that made the difference. I've been intensely involved with schools since he was 3 because I knew that would help him," says Bauer, a classroom volunteer who assisted in library and resource programs and served on PTSAs.

She is currently a member of Los Gatos High's PTSA and chairwoman of the Educator of the Year committee. One issue important to her is ensuring that students who need extra guidance or instruction don't get "lost in the shuffle."

Cassandra Huston was born and raised in Saratoga and has been involved in education through her three daughters, two of whom are still in the school system.

An insurance administrator, Huston has taught sixth grade and special education. In addition to a term on the Saratoga Union School District board, Huston has been on school site councils, PTSAs and was a room mother.

"This seemed to be a good time in my life to run for the board. There are a lot of issues I'm interested in. I like the school board level of involvement because they're the ones who set the policy," says Huston, who holds a bachelor's degree in English and a teaching credential.

She says students should continue to be a school's No. 1 priority.

Jackie Schmidt-Posner and family settled in Los Gatos because they were impressed with the district's high schools for their daughter, now a junior at Saratoga High. Schmidt-Posner has experience on school site councils at Santa Clara schools and various district committees.

"Supporting good public schools is important to me. In the coming years, there's going to be some turnover and change in the district," she says. "The challenge to me is how to keep the quality of the district.

Schmidt-Posner holds a bachelor's degree in sociology, a master's in student personnel and a doctorate in educational administration and policy analysis. She works as a student development coordinator at Stanford's Haas Center for Public Service, getting students involved with community service activities.

Lorrie Wernick, a 20-year Los Gatos resident, has a child at Los Gatos High and two waiting in the wings. She calls education her "passion and joy," having been involved in schools for more than 20 years as a teacher, principal and currently a vice principal for a Milpitas middle school.

She has also trained teachers and administrators statewide in the implementation of science and technology.

"I've chosen to run because I'm a professional educator with a high level of experience and knowledge, with which I can make valuable contributions to my community," says Wernick, who holds dual bachelor's degrees in speech pathology/audiology and humanities, a master's in education and several credentials.

"We must continue to move forward with technology, to attract the best possible teachers and to make sure our programs match the careers of our information society.