Who is Ava?

Teacher:

  • 20 years teaching in elementary, preschool, and high school science and health.

  • Bilingual credentialed in Spanish and taught dual immersion.

  • Speaks Mandarin Chinese.

  • Mentored Associated Student Body Leadership Students 2011 - 2022.

  • Mentored student teachers from 2012 - 2020.

Education: Bachelor of Arts in Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology and Masters of Arts in Education, University of California Santa Cruz.

Santa Clara County Hsinchu Sister County Commissioner since appointment in April 2019.

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My parents.

They both have college degrees, but when they immigrated from Taiwan, Dad learned a new profession as a cook and Mom worked processing checks at a bank.

On the weekends before sunrise we went to the flea market. We, as the entire extended family sold new toys and sunglasses to make ends meet.

Finally after seven years, my parents opened up their own restraunt business. Through their 12+ hour days and food, came grit and love.

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Nai Nai

My heroine.

Grandmother’s former students would call, send cards and visit us often from all over the world. Her patience and compassion is the core why she was an excellent teacher. She was my Nai Nai.

She was also a community organizer herself, finding ways to help stay at home moms make a living by sewing clothes for manufacturing company that wanted her clothing designs.

Now, it’s my turn to serve my community.

Policy Experience

Political Involvement Committee Vice Chair at the California Teachers Association (CTA) State Council, and assembly member at National Education Association (NEA) Representative Assembly. 

Advocacy…

For Parents - English Learners Advisory Committee Coordinator (2011 - 2016), empowered parent leadership and provided community and school resources and translations in Chinese, English, Spanish, and Vietnamese.

Educational Policy

  • California Teachers Association State Council Representative since 2018. (State-wide teacher congress)

  • National Education Association Representative since 2016. (Nationwide teacher congress)

2012 - 2014 School Site Council Member & Secretary

2018 Campaigned for Tony Thurmond, California Superintendent of Instruction

2019

  • Ava went to Sacramento to advocate for educational accountability and transparency for Assembly Bills 1505 and 1507, which did get written into law.

  • Ava collected signatures to get Prop 15, - the Schools and Community First initiative - to qualify for the November 2020 ballot. Prop 15 increased corporate taxes that would provide additional funds for public education.

2021, 2022

  • One of three Asian Pacific Asian Teacher representatives for the California Teacher’s Association at the Asian Pacific Asian Institute of Congressional Studies ( APAICS)