The founding members of the CUHSD Education Foundation after receiving recognition for their contributions to the Measure AA Campaign.
( Left to right - Nicole Shaddox, Smita Garg, Julie Reynolds-Grabbe, Andrea Ciplickas and Eve Walton )
As Margaret Meade famously said, "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has."
When a small group of thoughtful, committed parents decided they wanted to do something about the condition of our high school facilities, the 'Yes on Measure AA' campaign committee was created and as we all know and celebrate, the district's $275 million bond measure was passed with vast support from the community. The positive impact from the Measure AA facilities program will be felt throughout our community for generations.
However, this team was just getting started. During the campaign they began to wonder why CUHSD did not have an education foundation like so many school districts in Santa Clara County.
When they found out that the district did indeed want to start an education foundation, they knew what their next mission was meant to be.
Since the November 2016 Election Day, this small group of thoughtful, committed citizens have been working on creating an education foundation for CUHSD. On January 19, 2017, the CUHSD board unanimously passed a resolution to commission a committee to create an education foundation. The committee launched the CUHSD Education Foundation in August 2017!
When a small group of thoughtful, committed parents decided they wanted to do something about the condition of our high school facilities, the 'Yes on Measure AA' campaign committee was created and as we all know and celebrate, the district's $275 million bond measure was passed with vast support from the community. The positive impact from the Measure AA facilities program will be felt throughout our community for generations.
However, this team was just getting started. During the campaign they began to wonder why CUHSD did not have an education foundation like so many school districts in Santa Clara County.
When they found out that the district did indeed want to start an education foundation, they knew what their next mission was meant to be.
Since the November 2016 Election Day, this small group of thoughtful, committed citizens have been working on creating an education foundation for CUHSD. On January 19, 2017, the CUHSD board unanimously passed a resolution to commission a committee to create an education foundation. The committee launched the CUHSD Education Foundation in August 2017!
- MEET OUR FOUNDERS -
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DR. SMITA GARG, Ed. D. - Prospect ParentSmita's motto in life is to "Dare to dream the impossible and then get down to working on it!" as Walt Disney once said, "All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them". Students must feel free to soar and know that their dreams can come true with hard work and consistent support of invested adults and mentors. Those who have found success in life with unconditional love and support, are more willing to mentor others and serve the community when it is their turn. For Smita, that hope forms the basis of her work at the foundation and lies at the heart of it.
Learn more about Smita!
Smita is an educator and life-long volunteer with over 25 years of experience with local and international non-profit organizations dedicated to children's education. She has created successful community-wide programs for students and helped with fund-raising efforts in her roles as National Design Lead for Care for Children that supports education of over 50,000 kids in poorest parts of India; Vice President for Prospect High Music Boosters Club that supports a growing Music program; and former Vice President and Director (Enrichment Summer Program) for Moreland Education Foundation. In 2016, Smita was Hospitality Lead for Measure G and Prospect High School Site Volunteer Coordinator for Measure AA Bond Campaigns. Both measures passed successfully.
Smita is an out-of-box creative thinker, an avid Artist, Musician, and Advocate for quality Arts Education in schools. She was recently appointed Arts Commissioner for the city of San Jose. She comes armed with a Bachelor's Degree in Applied Art (BFA) from College of Art, New Delhi, Graduate Degree in Arts Education from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a Doctorate in Education (Ed.D.) also from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. At the University of Illinois, Smita was the first recipient of the prestigious Maria Pia Gratton International Award. Smita's research work has been internationally presented and widely published. Locally, Smita has supported many Arts in Education initiatives but most importantly for her, she has loved serving as volunteer Art Teacher for close to 12 years at her daughters' elementary school. Smita's oldest daughter is now a senior at Prospect High School and her younger daughter just started 5th grade. In her role as Chairperson of the CUHSD Education Foundation, Smita is very excited to serve all 8000 students attending Campbell Union High School District sites equitably. Creating and establishing this foundation with an outstanding team of talented, forward-looking community members has been incredible. This team came together during Measure AA Bond Campaign and and has continued to stay dedicated to helping all students in the district succeed. |
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ANDREA CIPLICKAS - Former Branham ParentAndrea has dedicated her life to helping individuals and building communities. Looking to the future, she is excited to synthesize her experience as an educator, mother, volunteer, and businesswoman to help the CUHSD Educational Foundation reach its full potential.
Learn more about Andrea!
Andrea is a CUHSD veteran, having been heavily involved in the community since even before her son Jonas and her daughter Tori began their studies at Branham. Looking for ways to make a difference in both the lives of her children and the school community, she was first involved as a member of the Branham High School Music Boosters where she served two terms as treasurer, one term as president, and helped to coordinate volunteer, food service and production efforts. She has also served as a member of the Home and School Club, a board member of the School Site Council, and was the School Site Volunteer Coordinator for the Measure AA Bond Campaign.
Andrea grew up in New Jersey and attended University of Pittsburgh, studying Sociology and Black Studies. Following that, she immersed herself in the Pittsburgh community, teaching pre-school and running parent support groups through the local mental health agency. After moving to the Bay Area, she worked as teacher and director at the Saratoga Parent Nursery School. More recently, she has been active in her local community volunteering at Bagby Elementary School and working as a reading aid for ESL students. While at Bagby she also co-founded a small education-technology startup, Weave Games, leveraging technology to increase student engagement through whole-class videogames. |
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JULIE REYNOLDS-GRABBE - Prospect ParentJulie’s driving force is to make a difference. She often will represent the under-represented and help facilitate mutually beneficial solutions to complex problems. She also believes in equity and approaches all things in her life with a growth mindset. She treasures the life-long connections she has made with Andrea, Eve, Nicole and Smita through this process and is honored to be part of the founding team!
Learn more about Julie!
Julie is a California native and has spent most of her 25 year career in technology. She found her passion for people and technology while at Sonoma State University where she earned a B.S. in Business Administration with an Information Technology emphasis. She has worked previously at Apple, NASA Ames Research Center, Apple again, and Stanford University.
Julie is the proud Mom of two kids, a daughter who is a 9th grader at Prospect and a 5th grade son at Easterbrook Discovery School (EDS) in the Moreland School District. In addition, Julie was elected in 2012 as a Trustee for the Moreland School District (MSD) which feeds into CUHSD. She has also held many leadership roles over the years, including being a founding and board member of the Easterbrook Neighborhood Association, a member, vice chair and former chair of the San Jose District 1 Leadership Group, a former member of the MSD Community Board Advisory Committee (CBAC), a volunteer for Moreland Educational Foundation (MEF), a former member of EDS’ PTO, and an Advisory board member for San Jose's Walk n' Roll program. In the past 3 years Julie has obtained a Masters in Governance, graduated from the Community Advocates Leadership Academy (CALA) and become a Master Gardener for Santa Clara County. She often DJs dances and events for free in her community. She became involved with the creation of the CUHSD Ed Foundation while she worked on the Yes on Measure AA Campaign in 2016 and wanted to see the great energy and synergy transform from the successful bond campaign into something that had great potential to help all students in CUHSD. Julie’s driving force is to make a difference. She often will represent the under-represented and help facilitate mutually beneficial solutions to complex problems. She also believes in equity and approaches all things in her life with a growth mindset. She treasures the life-long connections she has made with Andrea, Eve, Nicole and Smita through this process and is honored to be part of the founding team! |
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NICOLE SHADDOX - Former Westmont Parent“Volunteering for the school district that my family has been part of for the past 50+ years, has been an honor and a gift. I look forward to helping to build a strong, lasting foundation that promotes community and truly impacts, inspires, and supports the whole student. I believe wholeheartedly in supporting, empowering, and inspiring youth. It gives them the tools to succeed in life, in turn helping them become responsible citizens of their community and the world. Every child should be given the opportunities and tools needed to change the world. As a mother, an advocate and member of society supporting today’s youth, I hope that my actions will help bring a better tomorrow. It is our responsibility as adults to empower our youth. I believe that this is what the foundation will do for our community of students.”
Learn more about Nicole!
Nicole Shaddox is one of the founding members of the CUHSD Education Foundation. She has been a dedicated volunteer for the past decade. She was an active volunteer at her daughter's elementary and middle schools. When her daughter entered high school at Westmont she decided to become very involved in supporting the Westmont community and CUHSD. In the last four years she has been part of the Westmont PTSA board, the last two years as president and grad night chair. She was on Westmont’s School Site Council. She is also part of the LCAP and Financial Advisory committees at CUHSD. In 2016, she co-chaired the CUHSD Measure AA campaign.
Nicole's passion for volunteering comes from the loyalty of being part of a 3rd generation Westmont and 4th generation CUHSD family. Her dedication to advocating and volunteering on behalf of today’s youth does not stop at there, she is also part of organizations that support and advocates for foster and LBGTQ youth. Also, she is part of organizations that support youth in need of mental health and special education serveries. Her daughter, Samantha, graduated from Westmont HS in June 2017. Nicole was honored by being awarded Westmont’s and CUHSD volunteer of the year in 2017. |
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EVE WALTON - Former Branham Parent"Volunteering to help students and the community brings me great joy. I love the camaraderie and sense of accomplishment I feel working together with like minded people on a common cause like the education foundation."
Learn more about EVE!
Eve has many years of experience working in the high tech sector as a technical recruiter, human resource manager and program manager. A UCLA Art History graduate, she finds motivation and satisfaction working together with people on a common cause and believes that effective communication is a cornerstone of organizational success.
In 2016, she was motivated by the district's aging school campuses and then wide spread lack of air conditioning to volunteer as the Co-Chairperson and Campaign Manager for Measure AA where she helped to lead a large team of volunteers in the successful passage of a facilities improvement bond benefiting the Campbell Union High School District (CUHSD). She is a founding member of the CUHSD Education Foundation. |
- OUR FOUNDATION NAME -
We had a overwhelming response to our request for community input on our foundation name! We had almost 100 names entered and over 400 votes for the final name: CUHSD Education Foundation (CUHSDEF).
Several participants suggested the name, a winner was pulled out of a hat and was awarded a gift card. The winning person was Prospect Student, Emily Huie. Congratulations Emily!
A sincere thank you to everyone who participated in the naming contest. We couldn't have done it without you!
Several participants suggested the name, a winner was pulled out of a hat and was awarded a gift card. The winning person was Prospect Student, Emily Huie. Congratulations Emily!
A sincere thank you to everyone who participated in the naming contest. We couldn't have done it without you!
