WHY I’M RUNNING
Dear Neighbor,
Education changed my family’s trajectory.
My grandparents grew up in rural Georgia, and the G.I. Bill and public investment in education gave them the opportunity to build a different future. My grandmother became a teacher; my grandfather became an agricultural engineer.
Their story taught me something I have never forgotten: economic mobility doesn’t happen by accident. People work hard. Families sacrifice. But opportunity matters. For my grandparents, that opportunity was education.
I became a teacher because I believe in that opportunity. As an elementary school teacher and education policy researcher, I saw firsthand the difference great educators can make and the challenges created when the systems around them are unstable. I also recognized that schools are more than places where children learn. Schools connect students and families to one another and to the broader community. And student success depends on more than any one ingredient: strong teachers, engaged families, community resources, and effective systems all matter.
That is why, when my oldest child entered kindergarten in 2018, I ran for and was elected to the Mountain View Whisman School Board. I became a trustee because I wanted to help make that promise of opportunity real for students here.
Serving our students and community for nearly eight years has been a true honor. I am proud of the progress we have made and grateful to the trustees, educators, families, and community members who have worked alongside me to strengthen our schools.
Since I was first elected, we have made meaningful progress in four areas:
Students: We implemented a new literacy curriculum grounded in the Science of Reading, founded an award winning literacy intervention program, strengthened student mental-health supports, and expanded access to after-school and preschool opportunities.
Teachers: We consistently raised teacher compensation and helped deliver a workforce housing project to support recruitment and retention.
Community: We worked with the City of Mountain View and other community partners to expand access to parks and resources.
Stewardship: We hired a new superintendent, conducted a district-wide systems analysis, and started fiscal and programmatic reforms to focus resources on student learning.
We have accomplished a great deal together, but there is important work left to do. I am running for re-election with four priorities:
Students: Improve outcomes and expand opportunities so all students can thrive.
Teachers: Support teachers with the resources and stability they need to succeed.
Community: Build strong partnerships that connect families with community resources and opportunities.
Stewardship: Use public resources wisely to sustain high-quality education.
After nearly eight years serving our district, I bring experience with the opportunities and challenges before us. I’m asking to continue that work with experienced leadership and a clear focus on students, teachers, community, and stewardship.
I’d be honored to earn your vote this November 3rd.
In partnership,
Devon