Dear Superintendent Milliken, Board President Koo, and Honorable Trustees,

We, the undersigned, are parents from around the district who are deeply concerned that Nerina Carpenter will no longer be teaching in our schools. As you may know, Mrs. Carpenter has a deep connection with our wonderful school district. She lives in Belmont, her children have attended school here since 2008, and she has served in a variety of volunteer roles over the years. Her family has also vigorously supported School-Force and participated in the local Boy Scouts.

Several years ago, Mrs. Carpenter decided to leave a lucrative career in corporate finance to pursue her dream of teaching. She knew that she would take a massive pay cut, but she wanted to be of service to our children and our future. Mrs. Carpenter knew that she might not be able to get a job here in her home district where she has deep roots, but she was hopeful nonetheless. She was thrilled when she ended up in Redwood Shores teaching at Sandpiper. Though she would have been happy to teach anywhere in the area, the significance of serving her home community was of great importance to her.

Many of us know Mrs. Carpenter personally. She is bright, articulate, cheerful, and great with children. Moreover, as someone who has already had a very successful career in the private sector, she brings a unique viewpoint and rare skills to the classroom. These attributes served her well in the classroom at Sandpiper where she was roundly well-liked by parents and children alike. The joy she experienced was evident, as was her effectiveness.

Though we are deeply troubled by the circumstances of Mrs. Carpenter’s departure and urge the Superintendent and Board to take a very close look at those circumstances, our focus is elsewhere. Our primary purpose in writing this letter is to urge the district to find a place for Mrs. Carpenter to teach here, in our and her community. We constantly hear about a teaching shortage; in fact, parents from the community are being recruited to substitute teach here. Mrs. Carpenter went a step further in doing the work necessary to become a full time teacher. We consistently hear concerns about recruiting and retaining top-notch teachers because of the troubling lack of housing that new teachers can afford in the area. Mrs. Carpenter is already part of our community and has lived here for years.

If the District is serious about attracting and retaining excellent teachers, it will find a place in its ranks for Mrs. Carpenter. If it does not, that decision will speak volumes and cast doubt upon the wisdom of its leadership. Please do not miss this wonderful opportunity.