A personal message from Jennifer

The school board trustee is the only elected position in the United States that represents children.

That statement was told to me at a Masters in Governance training by the California School Boards Association. This is why being a trustee must be a non-partisan position - we have to rise above politics and keep student academic achievement as our focus.

As trustees we represent one group only - children. It is an incredible task in these deeply polarized times because the district of the PUSD is a ‘small size’ city with ‘large size’ complexities.

I have been a member of two unions: International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) and the film editor’s union, Local 700.

I am from a union family. My grandfather was a fully vested member of the oil workers union and my mother was in both the city and state of New York civil employees unions. My husband, Jim was a member of IATSE, too.

My interest in the Pasadena Unified School district began with Eliot Arts Magnet that set me on my journey to the PUSD board. My love for the school, its teachers and my respect for the students naturally linked with my work as a member of the Altadena Town Council. Together with other PUSD parents we reinvigorated the Altadena Town Council Education Committee where we held regular town meetings for potential parents of the PUSD. This experience was a coupling of civics and public education which inspired me to run for the office of school board trustee.

I am a member of Rotary Club of Altadena, Altadena Heritage, Altadena Chamber of Commerce, the Pasadena chapter and San Gabriel Valley chapter of the National Women’s Political Caucus, a board member of the United Nations Association, Pasadena Chapter, Human Rights Coalition, Stonewall Democrats, and a lifetime member of the Girls Scouts of America.

I have observed that people in public schools are deeply engaged with our civic community (city council, commissions, elections, bond measures) and this is a reason why public schools are so essential to our democracy. PUSD can be the pre-eminent school district in the nation. We have all the substantive pieces and now need to place them together in a comprehensive vision for the entire district.

Thank you so much for visiting my campaign website and please take a look at the gallery of images below. These are photos of events and workshops and initiatives I have participated in as a PUSD trustee.

Warm regards,

jhlforpusd@gmail.com

P.S. The video of the wild calla lilies at the top of the page was recorded on Woodbury at the border of Altadena and Pasadena, next to the PUSD warehouse. I’ve always admired this wild bit of nature sandwiched between artifacts of the built world; a cement wall and a chain link fence. It’s a seemingly forgotten part of our community that thrives with life.