Bio

It is an honor to serve as your trustee. In my first term, I worked hard to create safe, supported paths to success for all students, to ensure our district remained fiscally resilient, and to provide the resources and support our educators need and deserve. CVUSD is a high-performing district—in the top 3% in the nation. As a member of the governing board, I will keep the focus on the good governance principles that made this outstanding accomplishment possible.

My involvement in the community as a core volunteer with Safe Passage Youth Foundation and Adelante Comunidad Conejo, two trusted nonprofits that serve our students and families, informs my work as Trustee. I serve on the California School Board Association’s Delegate Assembly and am a Vice President of the Ventura County School Board Association.

Professionally, I am the California Deputy Director for the National Wildlife Federation, currently building the world’s largest wildlife crossing here in the Conejo Valley. A graduate of Brown University, my career includes starting and running a successful business and leadership roles in technology and educational publishing.

The child of educators and the parent of a typical learner and a student with an IEP, I understand that inclusion benefits all. I am pleased to work collaboratively with my fellow board members, district leadership, teachers, staff, students, families, and engaged community members in continuing efforts to honor the promise of each individual student and to pursue excellence and equity every day in our district.

2024 Campaign Endorsements

Unified Association of Conejo Teachers

Conejo Together

Ventura County Women’s Political Council

State of California Elected Officials
Henry Stern
California State Senator | CA 27th Senate District

Jacqui Irwin
California State Assembly | CA 44th Assembly District

City, County, and State Officials
Linda Parks
Ventura County Board of Supervisors | Supervisor, District 2, retired

Joel Price
Thousand Oaks City Council Member 2012-2018

Dianne Badoud McKay
Ventura County Community College District Trustee, Area 2

CVUSD School Board Member
Betsy Connolly
Trustee, Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Education, retired

CVUSD School Board Member
Bill Gorback
Trustee, Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Education 2018-current

Former CVUSD School Board Member
Pat Phelps
Trustee, Conejo Valley Unified School District Board of Education 1998-2018

2024 Campaign Community Members

Narda Fargotstein, Past President of AAUW
Jerry Ludlow, Healthcare Data Analyst
Angie Wheeler, NPHS, Sequoia, and Maple mom
Deborah Klein Lopez, City Councilmember, Agoura Hills
Michelle Fishman, Physician Assistant
Jenny Kreitman, Occupational therapist
Ben Atkins, Engineer
Kyle Yasui, NPHS C/o 2019
Todd Walker, Community Therapist
Kinsie Flame, Owner, Moms of Conejo Valley
Katie Pfeiffer Polen, Mental Health Professional
Brian Polen, Law Enforcement Officer
Celeste Russi, Stay at home mom
Sharon Beck, Social Worker
Katie Nystrom, 5th grade teacher
Carrie Howard, M.Ed., CVUSD substitute teacher, wife, mom
Mandy Thomas, stay at home mom
Mary Anne Van Zuyle, Founder of Conejo Together
Bryan Sweet, Dad of 2 CVUSD students
Jennifer Rodman-Plost, Paraeducator at CVUSD
Wendy Goldstein, Community member and proud CVUSD parent
Sarah Casey, Mom of two CVUSD kids
Shannon Diffner, CVUSD Parent, Editor
Lauren Shaffer, Parent
Heather Lindstrom, Engaged community member
Autum Sasala, Stay at home mom
Brian Pletcher, Activist, volunteer,
Stephanie Ettling, Associate Marriage & Family Therapist
Ellen Murphy, Attorney and CVUSD parent
Patti Reis, Educator and mom
Denise Benic, Stay at home mom
Rena Robles, Stay at home mom
Susan Levy, Teacher
Jean Kammerer, Resident of Newbury Park concerned about quality education.
Ed Benic, VP Media Services
Barbara Andrews, Retired teacher
Taira Lanagan Bermudez, Elementary parents and behavior analyst
Patricia Tavormina, Proud mom of CVUSD graduates
Shannon Atkins, Active School Volunteer
Eddie Nash, WHS Student
Paula Nathan, Educational advocate
Brooke Nind, WHS student
Marcine Solarez, Grandma, retired NPHS teacher
Pam Burns, Executive Assistant/CVUSD Parent/PFA Board Member
Lisa Powell, Social worker/CVUSD Parent
Danielle Welch, Stay at home mom
Peggy Buckles, Retired
Gina M. Kaplan, PhD Scientist
Gina Muscatel, Foster Youth Advocate, Mom, Activist
Molly Hayden, Avid Supporter of LG
Tricia Carter, SAHM/CEO
Vickie Ideta Allison, Mom of HS age student
Soizic Johnson, stay at home mom
Alana Bond, NPHS Teacher
Michelle Saremi, Mom, wife, educator, life-long learner
Zane Saremi, Microbiologist
Marilyn Crane, Speech pathologist
Marcia Klein, Vice President, Research and Development
Gordon Crane, Architectural engineer
Sharron Baird, Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitator, founder Conejo Free Clinic Kenneth Green, MD, PhD, Physician, Virologist
Marcy Duben, mom of 2 and former teacher
Julie Lewis, PhD, parent, school employee, and editor
Cynthia Muscatel, Writer, Former teacher, grandmother
Bonnie Shubb, NP homeowner who values public education
Lynda Karl, Family Resource Center Staff
Elizabeth Allen, Single Mom, Campus Safety Assistant
Curt Edmonds, Manager of statistical programming
Joo Cho, Parent Volunteer and Librarian
Bette Empol, Elected, Ventura County Democratic Central Committee
Pat Casey, Retired
Karen Claybaugh, Retired
Paul Smith, Publisher and proud CVUSD parent
Katie Yant, Stay at home mom
Robert, Executive Director for Data Management Systems (retired)
Russi-Van Etten Family, Mom, Student, Medical Writer
Ken and Sally Hibbitts, Retired Public School Educators
Mike Michaud, Sales manager
Lisa Anthony, 2nd Grade Teacher at Sycamore Canyon School for 18 years, CVUSD parent, and Dos Vientos resident
Conny Kammerichs-Berke, CVUSD parent
Jill Elsemore, Campus Safety Assistant & SAHM
Clint Elsemore, VP, Finance
Jill McArthur, Mom to NPHS 9th grader
Jenelle Hogue, CVUSD teacher
Donna & Jack Doman, Retired CVUSD employees
Montsi Magaña, CVUSD parent
Marni San Jose, Teacher
Nick Guerin, Teacher
Julie Holland, Mother of 4 CVUSD students
Darlene Lakeman, Bookkeeper
Alexis Jafroodi, Stay at home mom
Kara Buss, Real Estate Loan Officer
Christine Humphrey, Francophile and Francophone
Diane Rudas, WHS Teacher
Carol Kammerer, CVUSD parent & school volunteer, taxpayer
Laurie Wright Garry, Professor of Religious Studies, MSMU
Heather Gibson, Clinical Psychologist
Carl Johnson, Director, Engineering (software)
Wren Schwind, Caregiver to son
David Rakowski, Retired - Technical Support Specialist
Julie Herder, CVUSD Teacher
Jennifer Sugden, PFA Co-President at Maple Elementary
Mary Hickling, Resident and Parent
Juliet Woythal, Excellent Student
Michael Nese, School Psychologist
Mike Safier, Commercial Airline Pilot
Kristina Lopez, Parent and Founder, STEMs Grow
Lucia Lang, CVUSD Parent
Rizvana Leslie, Stay at home mom
Dr. Paula Pompa-Craven, Clinical Psychologist, Mom
Brady Craven, Student, UCSB
Lisa McGinnis, Executive Assistant/Office Manager
Anette Power, Mother of 2 CVUSD students
Renne Gobuty, Mom of two CVUSD graduate students
Zoe Southwell, Parent of CVUSD students, business owner
Andrea Oliver, Mom, wife, nurse
Irene Patterson High School Office Manager-TOHS retired
Nora Barber, Mom, animal lover, Lauren Gill supporter
Cathy Buckley, Caregiver for special needs child
Heather Cota, Full Time Working Mother
Valarie Neel, Retired teacher, children’s librarian, grandparent
Matt Neal, Senior Director, Regulatory Affairs Operations, Atara Biotherapeutics Alison Friedman, CVUSD teacher and mom
Jennifer Smiley, Educator

Abigail Cluster, Stay at home mom
Lisa Friedman, Conejo Valley Parent
Brian Gaffney, Conejo Valley Parent
Sally and Ken Hibbitts, Retired Public Education Teachers
Serena Couch, CVUSD parent
C.J. Keavney, President - DWCCV
Lori Peters, Executive Director, One Spark Academy
Colleen Briner-Schmidt, 30+ year Teacher/Educator
Lora Novak, CVUSD high school English teacher and department chair
Kathleen Peterson, Admin at CPIS (Investigative Services)
Stacie Lagattuta, Independent Contractor Aesthetician
Michelle Beller, Photographer
Liz Hoskinson, Preschool Teacher and community member
Erika Dahle Petras, LMFT, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
Shauna Robinson, Parent
Mandy Pollak, Stay at home mom
Jessica Gehle, Parent
Jon Cummings, Community organizer
Dawn Stines, Office Manager at C.V.H.S.
Beth Pearcey Neal, Area 5 Parent, small business owner
Lainie S. Donnell, MA, ET/P, Educational Therapist
Sharon Debidour, Loan Officer
Krista Koch, I endorse Lauren Gill, Full time mom
Brigette Brazier, Stay home mom
Georgene Pantelas, Bankruptcy Lawyer
Kathleen Bonn, Retired CVUSD teacher
Lori Frankfort, Business Manager
Cynthia Thomas, Administrative Coordinator-Library Foundation
Russell Thomas, Heavy Equipment Operator
Scott Van Atta, Graphic Designer
Stormy Tripp, Office Manager at JnK Services
Kyle Rohrbach, Producer/Youth & Government Advisor
Leanne Tapper, stay at home mom, part-time clerical sub for CVUSD
Monica Boedigheimer, NPHS alumna
Aaron Van Etten, Medical Writer
Leanne Meyers, Marketing Consultant
Don White, Risk Manager
Anne Pearcey, Middle school art teacher
Gwen Cummings, Former CVUSD Parent
Gina M. Kaplan, PhD, Scientist
Deidre Parmenter, Mom, Grandma, Vendor Performance Manager
Lori Stouch-Luck, special education teacher
Quinn Moss, WHS Alum
Jolina Elia, Self employed graphic designee
Rachael Pugh, Stay at home mom
Heather Skelly, Uber CVUSD volunteer
Mike Skelly, Airline Broker
Rebecca Calverley, Software analyst for Pleasant Holidays
Dori Fotsch, Mom
Liz Armstrong, Nurse Practitioner, mom, volunteer
Gina Myra Stevens, Parent
Britta Bass, Stay at home mom
Glenn Garry, Sales and Marketing
Dr. Laurie Garry
Professor Kay Tallman, Retired accountant whose son went to CVUSD schools
Steven Kammerer, Citizen of Newbury Park. Support public education.
Janie Ahlberg, Mom
Steve Johnson, NPHS Teacher
Pernille Moeller, Administrative Assistant
Nicole Johnson, Stay at home Mom / PFA President
Jessica Rotter, VP Communications, Westlake Hills Elementary PFA/ Mother
Erika Howell, Stay at home mom
Bodee Lee, VP Sales, Citizen, Parent
Patricia Pond, Attorney
Cyndi Horwitz, Marriage and Family Therapist
Danielle Linklater, School psychologist
Michael Pond, Project Manager -M2Multimedia
Jessica Zertuche, PFA President of a CVUSD elementary school
Charles Chia, Parent of 3 CVUSD students
John Gehle, Father of two CVUSD students
Elaine, Retired Social Worker
Eric M. Johnson, SVP, Finance
Eamon Smith, Moorpark College student, NPHS alum
Rory Smith, Student/Actor/Activist
Carol Woythal, Sommelier
Taryn Massey, Child welfare supervisor
David Brant, Finance Manager and proud father of a 2020 graduate of TOHS
Trish Kellogg, Retired teacher CVUSD
Laurie Wright Garry, Professor of Religious Studies, MSMU
Tina Hoover, VP Licensing
Teri Sweet, Mom of 2 CVUSD students
Gail Casey, Retired educational audiologist with VCOE
Pauline Campbell, Stay at home mom
Danielle and Brett Welch, Mom and copywriter
David Becker, Retired Educator
Desiree Goble, Mother, Veteran, Wife, Defense Contractor
Sarah Newton, Stay at home mom
Julie Bernard, Owner of Art Makes U Smart
Jessica Kane, Small Business Owner, Mommy of Kiddos with Special Needs
Lindsay Jones, WHS teacher
Russi-Van Etten Family, Mom, Student, Medical Writer
Jenn Boyd, WHS science teacher
Chris Romero, WHS Teacher
Veronica Darrah, Teacher
Leeanne Shearer, Hair stylist + mama
Andrea Rogers, IT Executive
Ricki Mikkelsen, Attorney, community activist
Don Mikkelsen, Retired physicist, computer programmer
Ricki Mikkelsen, Attorney, community activist
Sierra Smart-Sleeman, Banyan/Sequoia/NPHS Alumni, Area 5 Parent/PFA Member, Volunteer, Donor, Working Mom and Sometimes Blogger
Cynthia McDuffee, Client Service Coordinator (Veterinary)
Trish Kellogg, Retired teacher CVUSD
Jackuelynne Raft, cosmetologist
Chloe Nash, WHS alum
Amanda Thomas, Stay at home mom
Sonia Corlew, English Teacher, CVUSD
Jeanette Zollinger, Substitute Teacher
Katelin Zhou, Westlake High School Alumni
Christine Turman, Teacher CVUSD
Sarah Epstein, SAHM & Postpartum Doula
Karen Olson Guetschoff, Retired teacher, Program Manager
Becky Dirickson, Stay at home mom
Kriss Hurdle, Co-owner Newbury Park Martial Arts Center
Deborah Horan, Medical Professional and Mom (Sequoia and NPHS)
Tracy Tubb, CVUSD Teacher
Siobhan Nimedez, Marketing Manager + Mom
Vissy Wright, Regional Clinical Director, Autism Services
Jacqueline Levesque, CVUSD Employee
Rick Jones, Corporate Learning Leader
Aleta Smith, Retired
Anjli Warner, Biotech Commercial Operations
Stacy Alvarado, Mom
Amanda Boddie, Oncology certified Registered Nurse
Gabriella Moreno, Student
Kristen Moreno, Teacher
Chase Ebner, SJSU Student
Karrie DeMarco, LVUSD Teacher