Amanda Morrell announces her candidacy for election to the SVUSD School Board

Press Release

CONTACT: Amanda Morrell, email: Amanda@amandamorrell.com
FOR RELEASE: Immediate

Amanda Morrell announces her candidacy for election to the SVUSD School Board

TRABUCO CANYON – Current School Board member, Amanda Morrell, is seeking election to the
Saddleback Valley Unified School District (SVUSD) Board of Education this coming election on
November 8, 2016. Amanda is an appointed governing board member that has been serving for one and
a half after being selected to fill the vacancy left by Don Sedgwick, now City of Laguna Hills Mayor Pro
Tem.

Amanda Morrell has lived within the district for 27 years with her husband and two sons. Both of her
children have attended SVUSD schools, the eldest having graduated high school in 2015, and the other
having spent seven years in the district before leaving to attend the public charter school, Orange County
School of the Arts. Having both K-12 students, and experiences with traditional and charter school
education models, gives Amanda vital insight, and relevant expertise as a proponent of public schools,
and as an advocate of all students. Amanda is committed to putting the needs of students first.

Prior to her appointment to the SVUSD Board of Education, Amanda served as a Member of the SVUSD
Citizen’s Oversight Committee. She helped manage the $180 million Measure B Facility Bond that funded
the improvement of classrooms, playgrounds, and other school facilities. As a City Parks and Recreation
Commissioner of 6 years Amanda helped develop a 5-year parks strategic master plan and implement
over $8 million in facility improvements at 14 parks. Some highlights of Amanda’s time on the committee
include helping to develop a universally accessible playground so that children of all abilities could play
together at Pittsford Park, increasing the city’s park lands by 25%, and being a hands-on participant in the
design of the 85-acre Lake Forest Sports Park.

Amanda has been volunteering in SVUSD for sixteen years, spending her time helping teachers both in
and out if the classroom, advocating for student resources as a PTA President, and raising funds for
student programs and essential services. Amanda has developed a connection to the arts, technology,
athletics, and her community.

Amanda is also an active member of her community. As a scout leader, vacation bible school co-leader,
team mom for AYSO soccer and Little League, someone who has helped collect food for local food
banks, served the homeless at Mercy House in Santa Ana, helped build homes for Habitat for Humanity,
pulled invasive species out of our parks, picked up trash, and helped at pancake breakfasts at Esperanza
Special Education School or the American Legion Post 862, Amanda believes in servant leadership and
giving back to her community. She leads by example and tries to live by the words of Helen Keller: “I am
only one, but I am still one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. And because I cannot do
everything I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.”

She has received three certificates of Appreciation for Outstanding Service from SVUSD, a Volunteer of
the Year Award from her children’s Elementary School, the Saddleback District Extra Miler Award for
going the “extra mile” to make scouting better in our community, recognition for leadership training, and
completion of four of five California School Boards Masters in Governance program courses on effective
student learning and achievement, setting direction, policy review, school finance, and human resources.
Amanda has a degree in landscape architecture from Purdue University and is employed as a Community
Planner for the Naval Facilities Engineering Command working to improve quality of life and working
environments of those who have chosen to serve our country in the armed forces.

More information can be found on Amanda Morrell’s campaign website at www.amandamorrell.com

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