Karen K. Yelsey

Name: Karen K. Yelsey
Age: 59

Birth place: Salisbury, Md.

How long have you lived in the Newport-Mesa district and where do you live exactly? Have lived in Newport Beach (Corona del Mar) for 32 years; married (to Arthur)with 3 children who attended Newport-Mesa Unified School District schools from kindergarten to 12th grade. Son (Josh - 27) graduated from Yale, daughter (Anne -25) graduated from Stanford, and daughter (Rachel-22) graduated from Penn.

Current occupation: school board trustee, previously did marketing for major consumer products companies including Hunt Wesson Foods and Neutrogena Corporation.

Education: bachelor’s degree in political science from Tulane University, Phi Beta Kappa; master’s of business administration from Wharton Business School

Previously elected or appointed positions: elected to the NMUSD Board of Education in November 2006 (four-year term)

Community organizations you belong to: Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce Education Committee, member of numerous Newport-Mesa PTA organizations. In the past, I was to PTA president at Corona del Mar High and Lincoln Elementary schools for two years each, Ddrector of the Spirit Run, School Site Council member at several schools, member of CdM High School Foundation, and much more volunteer work at Newport-Mesa schools.

Why are you running (for challengers) or running again (incumbent) for office? The reason I choose to serve another four-year term is that I have been honored to represent the students, teachers, parents and community of Newport-Mesa over the past four years and feel that I have more to offer the district over the coming four years. During the last four years we have improved test scores, expanded and improved integration of technology, opened the district’s first magnet school in math, science and technology, dramatically increased career technical education opportunities, completed major Measure A (renovation of Newport Harbor High School) and Measure F (Jim Scott Stadium) projects, and improved district communications, all while working within the state’s budget cuts to education.
Moving forward, we must continue to focus on student learning, expand opportunities for all students, and continue to budget our resources wisely. We must also continue to maintain oversight to assure that money raised from Measure F is invested efficiently and fairly.

What do you think are the biggest issues facing Newport-Mesa right now? No answer

What is one decision in the last year that you feel the board voted correctly on and why? No answer

What is one decision in the last year that you feel the school board could have made a better decision? No answer