Already having been to one training, new Escalon Unified School District board members Amy Bavaro and Martha Coelho are eagerly anticipating a trip to San Francisco for a new school board members conference.
Bavaro was the winner in a three-way race for a seat in Trustee Area 3, topping incumbent Diane Alcorn and fellow challenger Mark George.
"We went to a workshop last week at the county office of education," Bavaro said. "I'm reading everything I am handed. I'm excited. I know it's going to be hard but I am up for the challenge."
With a student at El Portal and one at Van Allen, Bavaro said she is a 'known' quantity in the district and she feels that was key in being able to win the seat.
"Everyone knows me and sees me, I'm very involved with Van Allen and El Portal, I'm a club leader for Van Allen 4-H, my kids do sports," Bavaro noted. "I do whatever I can, volunteer in the schools, help in the library."
The new board member said being in the schools, she sees what teachers need and feels she has knowledge of what it takes to succeed in the classroom.
She is a bookkeeper for a local construction company, citing that experience as also being valuable.
Martha Coelho won the seat in Trustee Area 4, defeating incumbent Janai Stanton in the Nov. 6 election. She has five children, with three in school and twins at home. Her children are at Van Allen and Dent, with the youngest in the Pre-Kindergarten program at Dent. She also runs her own day care business and said that background in both child care and business, are a good combination and something she feels will help her in her new role.
"It's exciting. I'm excited and just looking forward to it," Coelho said. "It's a new beginning in my life and I think it's going to be good for my kids."
Having five children and knowing they all will be part of the Escalon education system, said Coelho, is what motivated her to run for office. That will also be her focus on the board.
"For all the children, I just want to make sure the decisions that are made are for the well-being of the children," Coelho said.
The two new board members will be sworn in at the Tuesday, Dec. 11 school board meeting, which will be hosted at Dent Elementary.
Bavaro was the winner in a three-way race for a seat in Trustee Area 3, topping incumbent Diane Alcorn and fellow challenger Mark George.
"We went to a workshop last week at the county office of education," Bavaro said. "I'm reading everything I am handed. I'm excited. I know it's going to be hard but I am up for the challenge."
With a student at El Portal and one at Van Allen, Bavaro said she is a 'known' quantity in the district and she feels that was key in being able to win the seat.
"Everyone knows me and sees me, I'm very involved with Van Allen and El Portal, I'm a club leader for Van Allen 4-H, my kids do sports," Bavaro noted. "I do whatever I can, volunteer in the schools, help in the library."
The new board member said being in the schools, she sees what teachers need and feels she has knowledge of what it takes to succeed in the classroom.
She is a bookkeeper for a local construction company, citing that experience as also being valuable.
Martha Coelho won the seat in Trustee Area 4, defeating incumbent Janai Stanton in the Nov. 6 election. She has five children, with three in school and twins at home. Her children are at Van Allen and Dent, with the youngest in the Pre-Kindergarten program at Dent. She also runs her own day care business and said that background in both child care and business, are a good combination and something she feels will help her in her new role.
"It's exciting. I'm excited and just looking forward to it," Coelho said. "It's a new beginning in my life and I think it's going to be good for my kids."
Having five children and knowing they all will be part of the Escalon education system, said Coelho, is what motivated her to run for office. That will also be her focus on the board.
"For all the children, I just want to make sure the decisions that are made are for the well-being of the children," Coelho said.
The two new board members will be sworn in at the Tuesday, Dec. 11 school board meeting, which will be hosted at Dent Elementary.
