Harmony “Jay” McMillin for Cambrian School District Governing Board

Meet Jay, Community Advocate

A Cambrian neighbor, parent, and education advocate dedicated to strengthening our schools and listening to families.

Declining enrollment, aging infrastructure, and several fiscal challenges are facing the Cambrian School District. Letting go of qualified teachers and school closures negatively impact us all. 

As a parent of children in the Cambrian School District, the Board’s decisions are not just numbers to me – they affect my family and the families we interact with every day. As the parent of three young children, I bring insight into the realities of raising a family currently in this community, this economic climate, and these ever-changing times. Parenting children looks different now than it ever did, and it is important to have representatives on the Governing Board who have skin in the game. 

With over a decade of experience facilitating non-profit Parenting Education groups in the Bay Area, one of my greatest strengths is listening to the needs of the community with understanding and compassion. I firmly believe in empowering parents with information and providing equitable access to community resources for everyone. I have shown this through my commitment to maintaining free community lending libraries and holding free monthly meetings through my work with Bay Area Babywearing.

Working as a Behavior Therapist across several school districts has given me insight into how districts operate and how funding cuts can be leveraged to minimize impact on students and teachers. It has also given me practice in advocating for parents and students who may have support needs that differ from the rest of the population. I firmly believe that everyone deserves access to free Public Education that serves their individual needs. 

Volunteering at the schools, in my children’s classrooms and at school events, has given me a firsthand understanding of the challenges facing Teachers, Students, and Administrators of this generation. Classrooms look different than they ever have before, and our teachers are facing difficulties completely new to them in their careers. We need leadership that is not only well-versed in the current research surrounding things like access to technology for our youth, but also understands the lived realities of having children this age and balancing that desire to keep them safe alongside the fears of them falling behind in this era where technology is so prevalent.

In this role, I will work to give more avenues for community input before decisions are made. I will increase communication with families in the district and advocate for those who feel their concerns are not being heard. I hope to provide more opportunities for families to participate in the discussions being held by improving language access to Governing Board meetings, having Office Hours that occur outside the workday for most families, and exploring avenues for input beyond the traditional ways of attending School Board meetings and making public comment. As a parent, I spoke up at Board Meetings and Office Hours asking for more transparency, accountability, and communication from the Governing Board about important issues such as the looming budget deficit, possibility of school closures, and letting go of several qualified teachers across the district. I will continue to advocate for this transparency and accountability, and put the needs of the students and families at the forefront in all of my decisions on the Governing Board. 

In my free time, I am heavily community-invested. I am a proud Girl Scout Leader for my two daughters, teach community workshops for Baby Carrying, am a member of the SJ4All Community Advisory Board, and volunteer with the Branham High School Royal Alliance. My work revolves around advocating for the needs of children and families, and I am looking forward to carrying this spirit into my role on the Governing Board.