Press Release

Metropolitan Education District 760 Hillsdale Ave San Jose, CA 95136 March 5, 2010

Contact: Michelle Alaimo Communication Specialist (408) 723-6464 malaimo@metroed.net

MetroED Board Member Cynthia Chang Named Assembly District 24 Woman of the Year

MetroED and Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District Board Member Cynthia Chang has been named Woman of the Year for Assembly District 24 and will be honored on March 8 on the floor of the California State Assembly.

"I am honored and humbled as this recognition is not just for me personally, but also a reflection of the great work of all the volunteers that I have had the privilege of working with over the years to benefit the community," Chang said. "One thing I learned through the process is to always have a positive attitude, plan well and work collaboratively with others to make the best out of the situation."

Assembly Member Jim Beall, Jr., nominated Chang for the honor because of her "outstanding record of public service over the past two decades."

Chang has been a resident of Saratoga for nearly 25 years and was the first Asian American elected official in Saratoga. She has served as a school board member since 1994—first for Saratoga Union School District and now for both the Metropolitan Education District and the Los Gatos-Saratoga Joint Union High School District.

In addition to being a school board member, Chang has been an active member of the League of Women Voters, Saratoga Rotary Club, Chinese Historical & Cultural Project, and the Hakone Garden Foundation and other non-profit organizations. Assembly Member Beall said that Chang’s lengthy record of civic and community involvement exemplifies the spirit of the Woman of the Year award.

Yearly, each assembly member picks one woman from their district to honor as part of the Women of the Year recognition at the March Assembly meeting, during Women's History month.

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MetroED is the largest career-oriented educational organization in Santa Clara County, comprised of high school and adult occupational, academic and community programs.

MetroED annually provides 30,000 diverse students with the skills to help them be productive, income-earning and tax-paying contributors to Silicon Valley.