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.