Esmeralda is asking for your support to fight for all of our kids! Hello,
My name is Dr. Esmeralda Diaz. We married and started a family. I left the I.R.S.
I am a 1990 medical school graduate and I practiced for a decade in my native Mexico until I met my husband to be Karl, a Fresno native. My plans changed ( I do plan on returning to the medical field once our daughter Karla is old enough). I chose to focus on being a full time parent and I suspended my career. As our son Wolfgang became pre-school age we moved to Fresno and I began to volunteer at
Balderas Elementary. I began to look at the various kindergarten programs in FUSD and found that Burroughs Elementary had the only all day bilingual program in the district and we actually lived within the boundaries! With first grade around the corner I learned of the Two-Way Immersion programs at FUSD. I had Wolfgang transferred and I began to volunteer at his school. One day the principal approached me and asked if I would serve on the ELAC governance body. I accepted and within a few months I was elected president. Before our first meeting the principal presented me with the agenda. I stated to her that I had read the by-laws and that it was the responsibility of the president of ELAC (English Learner Advisory Committee) to create the agenda. This was the last time that she would write the agenda for a while. She understood and we remained very amicable (working together for the students). During a DELAC meeting (District English Learners Advisory Committee) I was nominated to become the DELAC president. I accepted and was voted in. With this experience I learned about the budget and the various ways money was supposed to be spent. At the same time our son Wolfgang became more independent so I started to work for the Internal Revenue Service. I became certified to work on taxes and to help resolve taxpayer’s problems (I do the family taxes). Three years later we had our daughter Karla. but continued to volunteer at my son’s school. I understood the inefficiencies of the bureaucracy of FUSD. I recognized that it was not well. This is when I decided to run for area 2 trustee. Without much money we put our best effort out and received over eleven thousand votes in the city wide election. We did not win but we received the support of many parents and voters. Since that time I have continued to volunteer in both our children's schools. I am active in parent groups even advocating in Sacramento with the state legislature for help with parent involvement. I also have kept abreast of the current problems facing education through my volunteering at schools, the media, and talking with my husband who is a teacher. Since coming to America with very limited English I have learned the inner workings of the education system, the tax codes, and parenthood. I am ready. Sincerely,
Esmeralda Diaz
