|
"Our lives begin to end
the day we become silent about things that matter."
~ Martin Luther King Jr.
Mary has been a Ventura resident for
14 years. She and her husband Matthew have three children
- Gavin is 13 and attends Cabrillo Middle School; Clare
is 10 and attends Loma Vista Elementary; and, Henry
is 3 and attends pre-school.
Mary received a B.A. in Business Economics from UCSB.
She then worked in Washington D.C., as an intern to
a State Senator, before entering Loyola Law School in
1986. In 1989, Mary received her J.D., passed the California
Bar exam and began working as a lawyer at a large national
law firm in downtown Los Angeles. After moving to Ventura
in 1991, Mary spent her time raising her children and
volunteering in the schools.
|
"Mary has consistently
brought experience, balance and dedication to each of
the projects we have worked on together. She will be a
fantastic addition to our school board."
- Pat McCart-Malloy, mother of two, VEP Board member,
PAC member, PTA member. |
 |
| Interview by PBS/NOW reporter,
David Brancaccio, for program segment focusing on parent/community
action in protecting children from pesticide drift. |
In 1998, Mary introduced the idea of integrated
pest management (IPM) to Ventura Unified and requested that
they stop the use of hazardous chemicals in the school environment.
As a result, VUSD adopted one of the most comprehensive IPM
policies in California - VUSD’s policy has received
both statewide recognition and awards. In 2000, Mary united
the community to protect elementary school children from pesticide
drift across the street from Mound Elementary School. Her
actions ultimately led to statewide legislation addressing
the need for stricter controls of hazardous chemicals near
schools.
Two years ago, after becoming educated about the budget cuts
facing Ventura Unified and the programs and services set to
be eliminated, Mary helped to form Save Our Schools (SOS)
- a group of parent and community members whose focus is to
educate the community about the state of the budget and to
raise local funds to save programs. To date, SOS has funded
numerous grants and has helped to save programs such as Reading
Safety Net and AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination).
While continuing to become more involved
in the schools as an active classroom helper, volunteer Project
Self Esteem teacher, and PTA/PTO member, Mary used her legal
research training to help non-profit organizations and has
been a Speaker and Workshop Leader at conferences in California.
Along with Assemblymember Pedro Nava, State
Schools Superintendent Jack O’Connell, and County Schools
Superintendent Chuck Weis, Mary was a Speaker at the March
2005, rally at the Ventura Government Center, where over 700
people gathered to demand that our legislators honor their
commitment to public education.
Apart from her work as boardmember of the
Ventura Education Partnership, Mary sits on the VUSD Integrated
Pest Management Committee, the VUSD Arts Advocacy Collaborative
and the VUSD Nutrition and Physical Fitness Task Force.
In her spare time, Mary enjoys surfing, yoga,
watercolor painting, and playing the piano.
|
