As a 33-year elementary school teacher, my career has been dedicated to making a difference in the lives of students and families.  As a parent, I have also had two children graduate from Pleasanton schools.

As a school board member, I will ensure that every decision we make puts students first.  I am dedicated to the field of education and believe that I can make a difference serving you on the school board.

I have also been a proud member of PTA for over 33 years.  Thank you for all of the hard work you do on behalf of students in our community.

My name is Steve Maher and I am seeking re-election to the PleasantonUnified School District (PUSD) Board of Trustees. I have 45+ years of experience as a teacher, administrator and board trustee in PUSD.  During my tenure I taught elementary grades, served as a special education teacher, a vice principal and principal and have served at all except two schools in the district. I coached Women’s Basketball at Foothill.  I hold a BA in Social Science with an emphasis on Asian Politics, a Minor in Biology, and a MS in School Administration.  I am a veteran and served two years active duty as a Hospital Corpsman.  I continue to be fully invested in the district as currently three of my grandchildren attend high school in Pleasanton and my three daughters all work for the district. During my career I have been honored with numerous awards, three of which I am especially proud, “Teacher of the Year”, “Administrator of the Year”, and the “California State PTA Golden Oak Service Award.”  As a testament to my dedication to the students of Pleasanton, the past four years I have donated my entire board stipend ($20,000+) back to at-risk programs, individual classrooms, the foster/kinship program, and student clubs in district schools.

My first successful run for board trustee was initiated and supported by school parents, teachers, and community members.  I bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the Board.  My top priorities are: providing and supporting a robust remote learning opportunity for our students; a well thought-out and planned return to in-person learning that follows county and state health guidelines and ensures safety for all; diligence in ensuring a balanced transparent budget that fairly addresses the shortfalls caused by the pandemic; continued focus on support and accountability in serving at-risk students; supporting a culturally responsive curriculum; and lastly, continued support for the Measure I1 projects.  

I would be honored to be re-elected as a board trustee to serve the students and community of Pleasanton.

I have been in Pleasanton for almost 3 years, and I currently have 3 children enrolled in the school district.  I am a member of the Pleasanton Youth Commission and I am currently involved with my son's local Boy Scout Troop as a co fundraising chairperson.  Prior to COVID, I was also an active volunteer at my children's elementary school. I  started my career as an art educator. I have a double Masters in Education: Curriculum & Technology, and a Masters in Administration. I was an educational consultant for over 10 years working in districts nationwide. I also worked at Pearson Education as an education consultant and manager, where I  s erved as a  “change agent,”  working passionately with key district leaders to implement new and/or to improve educational programs and other initiatives, driven by assessment data, in order to make organizational district improvements.  For the past ten years,  I have working as a content developer and an eLearning course instructor for  Teach & Kids Learn, Inc.,  an eLearning professional development company for educators and administrators. I just recently wrote a high-demand course, “Motivating Reluctant Learners” and I am currently writing another course called "Rising Above Poverty" that explores the impact of poverty with children.  In addition to my education & eLearning experience, I had the opportunity to also serve as an Executive Director for a nonprofit, focused on raising adoption grant funds for orphans with Down syndrome, and I also assisted with the creation of a Board of Directors/and served as President of its Board for another nonprofit. 

I would be honored to serve as a Trustee for the PUSD School Board, while leveraging my education, leadership and eLearning expertise, focused on what is in the best interest for all of our PUSD students. 

As a parent of two school-aged children, I have been an active volunteer for our excellent schools and community. I would like to further my commitment to the community as a board trustee. I will be a strong contributor to the board with my diversified education background, technology experience, and fresh perspectives. My vision is to support PUSD as an outstanding school district via high-quality educational and extracurricular programs while promoting a safe environment for all. As a member of the district’s Superintendent Budget Budget Advisory Council and the Bond Oversight Committee, I have the fiscal knowledge to make sound budget choices and bring transparency to the process. After receiving a MS Degree in Computer Science from Stanford, I have accumulated 20+ years of experience in the high-tech industry leading and collaborating with large, multicultural teams. With this experience, I will make balanced decisions that value critical input from our students, our parents, our teachers and staff. If elected, I will work diligently to advance the education, maintain district health and safety, sustain fiscal soundness, and enhance communication and support for our children, their families, and staff. I would be honored to have your vote. www.chong4pusd.com

Jamie Yee has been a long-time volunteer and current seated PUSD Trustee who was elected in 2008—now running for her fourth term. Nearly 51 years ago, her parents moved her family to Pleasanton from Berkeley, and she attended 3rd through 12th grade in PUSD. After living abroad and working in Silicon Valley for several years moved back to Pleasanton to raise her family.     

Once her kids started Elementary school, she became active in their school and school district activities. Trustee Yee served in many PTA leadership roles before becoming a founding member of the Pleasanton PTA Council, starting the first Wellness Committee and eventually serving as PTA Council President.  In 2007 she was invited to serve on the California State PTA Board of Managers. During her eight years at the State PTA, she served as Vice-Chair of the Health Commission, Chair of the Resolutions Committee, and the Diversity and Inclusion Committee Chair. In other roles, she has served as an Executive Board Member on the Alameda County Tobacco Tax Coalition, several CA State Department of Education committees, including the State Superintendent of Public Education, Tom Torlakson’s Environmental Blue Print Task Force.  

Before being elected to the school board, she was a member of the PUSD Budget Advisory Committee and worked on creating a new school board policy, Managing Food Allergies in Schools.  She was a major contributor to the original PUSD Wellness Policy 

In her professional life, she is employed by the Alameda County Health Care Services Agency, working for nine years at The REACH Ashland Youth Center located in the underserved unincorporated area of the County as the Community and Public Relations Manager. She also managed a CPR program for 7th graders working with all 18 school districts in the County. Recently she was promoted to Alameda County’s Office of the Health Care Services Agency Director as a Program and Policy Analyst.      

As PUSD Trustee, she has served as Board President twice and serves on the PUSD Facilities and Policy Sub-committees and represents the Board on the City of Pleasanton’s Economic Viltaitly Committee. Trustee Yee has two children, Max and Ally, who have attended PUSD schools K through 12th grade.    

Linda Dewlaney has been a member of PTA and an active volunteer since her daughter began kindergarten in Alameda in 1983. She began volunteering for PTA in leadership roles at her son’s elementary school in 1999.  Her PTA experience includes appointed and elected positions at the unit, council, district, and state level. She is an advocate for the arts and physical fitness as integral parts of public education.

Linda is a member of the League of Women Voters of Fremont-Newark-Union City, and serves on the executive board of the Fremont Education Foundation and Soroptimist International of Fremont.  Her daughter is a wardrobe stylist for film and television in Los Angeles, and her son is a Physical Education teacher and high school basketball coach in the Palm Springs area.