Dear Santa Monica and Malibu Voters,

I am a graduate of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. In one way or another, the education I received from the SMMUSD has played an important role in every success I have had.

I remember so many lessons learned, in academics and life: From an elementary teacher who instilled in me a love of history and pushed us all to extend ourselves into the world outside Santa Monica . . . to a high school math teacher who showed me that with patience and time I could learn difficult subjects . . . to my varsity soccer coach who taught me discipline and commitment—and that hard work could actually be enjoyable.

Teaching with the Peace Corps in Romania and raising funds to establish the school’s first computer lab. Working as an aide to special education students. Managing thousands of people at three Democratic conventions. Teaching high school history and government. Speaking Spanish and Romanian. My SMMUSD education was the basis for all of these.

I am running for a seat on the Santa Monica-Malibu Board of Education because I want to make sure that present and future students learn as much (or more) about themselves and their world as I did in school.

Our teachers and staff still can and do make that happen. Our students and their parents are still capable and enthusiastic. But there’s a leadership void at the top. The school board is not doing its job; students and teachers have begun to pay the price.

We need to elect new, strong, responsible leaders who will work hard to protect the district’s incredible array of educational opportunities. I would consider it a privilege to be one of those leaders. Please explore the rest of this site to learn what I plan to do as your representative on the school board. If you like what you see, please vote for me this fall.

Respectfully,

Chris Bley