Ballot Statement of Camille Townsend for Palo Alto Unified District Board of Education

 

I am a parent, an attorney, and an active volunteer in the Palo Alto school community.  I am married to Ward Hanson, a Stanford faculty member.  We have two daughters, one a Palo Alto freshman and the other a 2002 Palo Alto graduate. Both have benefited from the excellent academics and strong extracurricular programs in our Palo Alto public schools. My priority as a School Board member will be to ensure this excellence for all.

Quality schools reflect deep parental and community commitment. When state budget proposals threatened to take our local property tax school money in early 2003, I initiated a district-wide letter writing campaign and helped mobilize parents to defeat this proposal. We prevailed and the district-wide PTA honored me with the Leadership in Legislative Advocacy award. As a School Board member, I would continue to protect our local budget and monitor State actions, take action when necessary, maintain budget discipline, and work with foundations and parent organizations for support of our schools.

Curriculum and extra-curricular programs must meet the needs of all students, including our challenged, gifted and mainstream students.  Superior districts also maintain a climate of respect and appreciation among parents, teachers, students, and school administrators. In the roles of a PTA President, site council representative and PTA executive board member over a 6-year period, I made these issues a priority and view them as a School Board responsibility.

In my legal practice, I have litigated employment, family, contracts, real estate, and privacy rights matters. I taught Business Law at Purdue University and have directed youth in a wide range of volunteer activities.  These experiences provide me with legal, administrative, negotiation, and inter-personal skills useful in setting school policy. Serving on the School Board is an honor, and I would appreciate your support.

Educational/Professional Experience: 

·          J.D.-Loyola University of Chicago

·         M.S. Administration of Justice-American University, Washington, D.C.

·         B.A.-University of Wisconsin   

·         Attorney - Practice in the areas of employment law, family law, contracts, real estate, and privacy rights  

·         Business Law Faculty, Purdue University, Krannert Graduate School of Management

·         Probation Officer, Alameda County; Juvenile Counselor, Mendocino County

 

Volunteer Experience: 

·         Executive Board member for Palo Alto District-Wide PTA Council

·         Legislation and Leadership Focus – PTA Council

·         Palo Alto High School and Jordan Middle School PTAs

·         PTA President and Site Council Representative, L.M. Nixon Elementary

·         Girl Scout Leader, Volunteer for AYSO, Bobby Sox, Trinity Choir School, West Bay Opera