Mary Patterson

This page was current at the end of the official's last term in office covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Mary Patterson

Nonpartisan

Prior offices

Morgan Hill Unified Board of Education Trustee Area 6

Successor: Rebecca Munson

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Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

Stanford University

Graduate

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Personal

Profession

Nonprofit director

Contact

Campaign website

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Mary Patterson was a member of the Morgan Hill Unified Board of Education in California, representing Trustee Area 6. She left office on December 13, 2024.

Patterson ran for re-election to the Morgan Hill Unified Board of Education to represent Trustee Area 6 in California. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

Patterson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Mary Patterson's career experience includes working as a nonprofit director. She earned a bachelor's degree from Stanford University and a graduate degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Elections

2024

See also: Morgan Hill Unified School District, California, elections (2024)

General election

General election for Morgan Hill Unified Board of Education Trustee Area 6

Rebecca Munson defeated incumbent Mary Patterson in the general election for Morgan Hill Unified Board of Education Trustee Area 6 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Rebecca Munson (Nonpartisan)	58.4	2,246
		Mary Patterson (Nonpartisan)	41.6	1,598

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 3,844
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Patterson in this election.

2020

See also: Morgan Hill Unified School District, California, elections (2020)

General election

The general election was canceled. Mary Patterson (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Mary Patterson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Patterson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I am an incumbent running for re-election to the Morgan Hill Unified School District (MHUSD) Board. I am running for a 3rd term because I care deeply about public education and I am committed to preserving progressive values of inclusion and social justice. I was born into these values and have advocated vigorously on the school board and throughout my life.

After obtaining a Master’s in Public Health, I began my career in children’s health and welfare, where I have spent 30 years in professional roles serving our community’s most vulnerable children. Currently, I am the Director of Programs at Child Advocates of Silicon Valley, where I run the county’s CASA program (Court Appointed Special Advocate). This agency works with the child welfare system and the Court to recruit, train and coach adult volunteers who match to a foster youth and serve as their mentor and advocate. Additionally, I teach sexual health classes for young people and their parents through Stanford Children’s Health. This set of professional experiences is what I have brought to bear in my deliberations and advocacy for the past 8 years on the MHUSD Board. Importantly, the 16 years I spent as a parent in the District, in various leadership roles also lends to my expertise.

I have and will continue to work alongside District staff, parents and students to accomplish the following: access to resources for low-income families, inclusion of student voices in decision-making, and strong fiscal management

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Improved academic achievement is a priority. We need effective and well-trained teachers and staff in and around the classrooms to continue to boost academic success. Parent engagement is crucial to this success, as are programs to support the social and emotional needs of students.
• School districts need to operate within their budget. Community advisory boards can help guide the district to prioritize spending measures, increase revenue, and cut expenses when required.
• Student voices and staff input are critical. Inclusion of students' opinions and values and those of district staff is crucial to establishing direction and guidance for the affairs of the school district.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

- Preservation of a public education system that is adequately funded and serves all children and youth equitably.
- Promotion of the rights of vulnerable populations to their personal safety, a basic income, healthcare, and a a high-quality public education.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was a cashier and shelf stocker at a small, family-owned drug store in North Bend, Oregon. The store was located on Highway 101 where it wound through the town. I knew the store owner / pharmacist from church. I was 16 years old when I began the job and stayed for over a year, working weekends during the school year. I enjoyed working the cash register, balancing receipts and cash at the end of the day, greeting customers, and keeping the shelves stocked and tidy. During my third day on the job, we were held up at gunpoint. The thieves took the cash and the pharmaceuticals quickly and left, causing no physical harm to me or the pharmacist. I was shocked from the experience, but returned to work the next weekend. With support of my parents and my employer, that episode helped me build grit and determination.

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

A school board trustee must gain a solid understanding of constituent needs. The job requires us to seek input, listen and learn from students, parents, school staff and community members at large. Secondly, to perform well, the trustee must understand the law, and state and school district policies. This requires research and a willingness to learn. Thirdly, the trustee must be clear in setting the Superintendent's goals, understanding progress toward those goals, and evaluating the leader's performance. From all of these inputs, the trustee takes the information and uses it wisely and justly to set direction for the district.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

2020

Mary Patterson did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

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Candidate

Morgan Hill Unified Board of Education Trustee Area 6

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