About the Blog Author
My name is Charles Cowens. My children went all the way through the public schools of the West Contra Costa (nee Richmond) Unified School District (Kensington Hilltop, Portola Middle, and El Cerrito High — ’07 and ’10). I have been a relatively involved parent at the beyond-your-own-school and school levels.
Here is a picture of me stooping as I speak at a school board meeting. I can never quite adjust the mike properly.
Here’s a link to a collection of news mentions for me in Storify.
Schools Involvement
West Contra Costa Unified unless otherwise noted.
2016-2017
WCCUSD Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, Member
2013–2014
WCCUSD Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, Secretary
2012–2013
WCCUSD Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, Secretary
2011–2012
WCCUSD Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, Member
2010–2011
WCCUSD Citizens Bond Oversight Committee, Member
WCCUSD School Board Candidate
2009–2010
WCCUSD Community Budget Advisory Committee, Chair
Bayside Council of PTAs, VP Communications
2008–2009
32d District PTA (Contra Costa County), VP Leadership
WCCUSD Community Budget Advisory Committee, Chair
Citizens for Positive Education Change, Member
Measure D (Successful Parcel Tax Renewal) Campaign, Volunteer
2007–2008
Bayside Council of PTAs, VP Communications
32d District PTA (Contra Costa County), VP Leadership
WCCUSD Community Budget Advisory Committee, Chair
Measure D (Successful Parcel Tax Renewal) Campaign, Volunteer
Citizens for Positive Education Change, Member
2006–2007
Bayside Council of PTAs, VP Communications
WCCUSD Community Budget Advisory Committee, Chair
Measure G (Failed Parcel Tax) Campaign, Volunteer
Citizens for Positive Education Change, Organizer
2005–2006
Bayside Council of PTAs, President
WCCUSD Community Budget Advisory Committee, Chair
Measure J (Successful Bond) Campaign, Volunteer
WCCUSD Education Fund, Distinguished Citizen Award Winner
2004–2005
Bayside Council of PTAs, President
WCCUSD Community Budget Advisory Committee, Member
2003–2004
Bayside Council of PTAs (WCCUSD and John Swett USD), Executive VP
Measure J (Failed Parcel Tax) Campaign, Member of Drafting Committee and Volunteer
Measure B (Successful Parcel Tax) Campaign, Volunteer
WCCUSD Blue Ribbon High School Reform Committee, Member
2002–2003
Portola PTSA, President
wccusdtalk (Online Discussion Forum), Co-Founder and Moderator
West County Parents [defunct], Organizer
2001–2002
Portola Middle School PTSA, Volunteer Coordinator
Work
I actually have a regular job. I work as a technical writer for a software company. Here’s my LinkedIn profile.