BACKGROUND

I have lived in Woodland my entire life.  I love this community and have been committed to making our city a place that I feel proud to call home. I am a wife, mother, grandmother, and teacher.  My husband Armando, who was born in Mexico, was a police officer for Woodland and retired from UCD PD.   I am the proud mother of 4 wonderful children Cristina, Enrique, Alexander and Robert. All of them have attended local public schools and my son Enrique was Woodland’s youngest City Mayor & former City Council Member.   I am the grandmother to Ciara Faith Fernandez Smith & Elias David Fernandez. I am the daughter of migrant farmworkers who came to Woodland in the 1940s. My deceased mother Francis Saragoza Macias, a Contadina Cannery worker, came from Nebraska and my 90 year old father Delfino C. Macias, a former truck driver/business owner, born in Brawley, CA came from Mexico.  They were founding members of Yolo County Mexican American Concilio alongside Rick Gonzales, Sr.  As a young girl, we marched with Cesar Chavez and the UFW.  I am grateful to my parents who provided an example of hard work, respect and compassion for others.  With limited education they fought for Social Justice to provide academic and economic opportunities within our community. I am the product of a loving, supportive family that is dedicated to public service. 

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE

I  attended Holy Rosary School in Woodland and Bishop Manogue High School in Sacramento.

I began volunteering at the age of 13 in my youngest brother’s Deaf and Hard Hearing class, learning and translating for my brother in Signed Exact English for my family.  I was his voice and advocate.  In 1976, at 16, my first job was as a sales clerk at R&J Pharmacy, here in Woodland on the corner of First St. & Main St., providing bi-lingual service to customers. 

In 1980, while at CSU Sacramento, I began my career helping the children of Woodland farmworkers through California Mini Corps. After graduating with a B.A. in Liberal Studies & completing the Multiple Subject Teaching Credential Program, I worked for the Madison Migrant Camp & Winters Child Development Center.  

Since 1985, I have been a teacher/ substitute teacher for W.J.U.S.D, serving the students of Woodland.  I began my teaching career as a Bi-lingual First Grade teacher at Maxwell Elementary. Then, I taught my final 22 years at Gibson Elementary with 20 of those years as a Kindergarten teacher. While at Gibson, I was the Student Study Team Chair, 504 Facilitator, G.AT.E. Sign Language & Spanish Enrichment Teacher and English Language Development Teacher. I  retired in 2018 with over 25 years of full-time service with the district. I returned in 2019 as a substitute teacher for WJUSD, working primarily at Tafoya, Beamer & Gibson Elementary Schools.  Most recently, I was a bi-lingual case worker for California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation assisting individuals impacted by COVID-19.

VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES

• Woodland Rec Foundation Secretary
• Holy Rosary Church as a Religious Education(CCD)  teacher, Youth Group Leader & Wedding Coordinator
• G.A.T.E Sign Language & Spanish teacher
• Gibson & PHS Site Council
• WHS Band Boosters & PHS Football Boosters
• California International Marathon & various runs throughout Northern California
• Member of Woodland Educational Association, California Teachers Association, National Educational Association & Delta Kappa Gamma
• Woodland Democratic Club President
• Campaign volunteer for various local, state & national elections 

HONORS

In 2016, I was honored by the Yolo County Mexican American Concilio as Educator of the Year and keynote speaker for Yolo Inter-faith Immigration Network (YIIN) in 2017.

I have been an advocate for the children and families of  Woodland for nearly 40 years and I am honored to serve all the residents of  Woodland as a member of Woodland City Council representing District 4. I genuinely care about Woodland and our community members.  I hope to address your concerns with compassion and honesty.

I am focused on improving Woodland’s future for all our residents. I am available and am eager to serve our historic and diverse community as we continue to work together to address the following issues:

• COVID-19  impacts on educational, economic and  public health services
• Homelessness 
• Public Safety 
• Senior Citizens and Youth Services
• Economic & Academic Opportunities for all residents
• Sustainable Growth & Affordable Housing
• Community Engagement & Transparency