Meet Thida

Why High School Matters to Me

I moved to Davis, California when I was nine. My parents placed me in a very small private school in sixth grade, where I struggled socially and was physically bullied. I finally convinced them to let me attend public school at Davis High.

At Davis High School, my world opened up. For the first time, I had groups of friends. I took AP classes, participated in theatre, and had teachers who encouraged me and believed in me. Some students mocked my movements, my mother’s cooking, and my intelligence. One physics teacher told me, “You don’t belong in my class.” I took the class anyway.

As a half-Burmese student, I also remember the fear and uncertainty after a Vietnamese student was killed by another student. I rarely talked about what I was experiencing, even with caring adults around me.

I graduated at 16. Looking back, my high school experience was both full of opportunity and, at times challenging. Students today tell me similar stories. That is one reason this work matters so deeply to me.

College, Career, and Mountain View

I graduated from Bryn Mawr College with a degree in Political Science. While I was there, I helped connect the college to the Internet and wrote shell scripts to automate student computer accounts, launching my career in technology. I later earned an MBA from UC Berkeley Haas.

I moved to Mountain View in 1999. In 2001, my husband and I bought a home in Shoreline West, where we still live today. We love the neighborhood’s socio-economic diversity and its walkability. Most days, you can find me walking with my service dog, Jeeves.

Community Advocacy

Over the past two decades, I’ve served my community in many different ways, but each began with the same question: “How can I help solve this problem?”

My first experience with local government came after my younger child, Torin, fell through a play structure at a City park. Torin was unhurt, but I worried another child might not be so lucky. I contacted the City, learned about the Parks and Recreation Commission, was selected in 2009, and served a full eight-year term.

I later served as President of the Shoreline West Association of Neighbors (SWAN) during two years of the COVID-19 pandemic and currently serve as Vice President of Communications, helping connect neighbors with one another and with the City.

When my children entered school, I began tutoring struggling readers, many of whom achieved English proficiency. I was elected by fellow parents to my school’s Site Council, where we developed the school’s mission and vision and worked to reduce barriers for low-income families. I later served in PTA leadership and on MVWSD committees that planned future school facilities and attendance boundaries, including what is now Jose Antonio Vargas Elementary.

I also served on the Northwest Region Board of Canine Companions, helped people with disabilities cope with the loss of an assistance dog and supported families raising children with disabilities.

In 2012, William Ware was killed by a high-speed driver while sitting at a bus stop in my neighborhood, I cofounded Great Streets, an advocacy group supporting safer streets for people walking, biking, and rolling.

In 2017, I was elected as Vice-Chair of the City of Mountain View’s Environmental Sustainability Task Force. We recommended 36 actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and I helped coordinate the team’s policy recommendations.

Throughout my environmental advocacy, I worked with MVLA students who cared deeply about the planet they will inherit. These students came from many backgrounds. I was especially aware that low-income communities often bear more of the burden from pollution and toxic waste, including Mountain View’s manufacturing legacy. I was deeply impressed by the students’ passion, thoughtfulness, and sense of responsibility.

Why I Ran for School Board

In 2021, several parents and students approached me about MVLA. While they all agreed MVLA has a lot to offer, they wanted change. Some students faced intense academic pressure and mental health challenges. Others felt overlooked or disconnected. Some Latino students took AP classes and felt they didn’t belong. Some students with disabilities struggled to access the support they needed. 

As I listened to students and families, I realized these concerns were widespread and compounded by COVID. I met with then-Superintendent Nellie Meyer. I found a district committed to continuous improvement and open to doing better for every student.

I ran for the MVLA Board because I believe every student deserves to feel connected, supported, and able to access an excellent education.

Thanks to voters like you, I earned a seat on the Board, where we’ve achieved proven results for students. My fellow Trustees elected me Board President and selected me to represent MVLA in negotiating Shoreline Fund agreements with the City of Mountain View.

Nellie Meyer retired and we hired a new Superintendent Eric Volta two years ago. In working closely with him this year as Board President, and hearing from our community, I heard from you that we need to continue to build on what we started.