Over my many years in Palo Alto, I’ve often asked people why they moved here. Practically all say the same thing: our excellent public schools. Even as an East Bay high schooler, I was envious of Paly and Gunn’s top-tier academic reputation. I thought then that if I ever had kids, I’d like for them to grow up in Palo Alto.  As luck would have it, I enrolled at Stanford and have been in the community ever since.

Along the way, I spent time in Germany as a Fulbright scholar, where I met my wife, Katja. Some time later, I became the technical co-founder and inventor of Shazam—name that tune!
​
When it came time to choose where to put down our roots, it was without question Palo Alto. It is a wonderfully diverse community: I am the son of Taiwanese immigrants, and Katja brings her French and German heritage to the mix. Our friends and neighbors are from all over the globe, speaking many languages, and bringing different cultures and values, all seeking a better life.
​
We sent our three amazing children to Ohlone, JLS Connections, and Paly.  We experienced the best of this district. We volunteered at the Ohlone farm, sifting dirt and feeding chickens (and yes, I survived a bee sting inside my nose!). Our kids thrived through project-based learning at JLS, and finally at Paly, where legendary teachers did not disappoint in classes from glass blowing to AP US History.
​
But in recent years, the district we fell in love with lost its way. Instead of celebrating success, the district took several steps backward—canceling Honors Biology and eliminating advanced math classes until extensive community advocacy and a change in district leadership finally allowed math to be restored.
​
I am deeply proud of my work in math advocacy—from coaching MathCounts and advocating for PAUSD students, to helping to restore math opportunities in San Francisco public schools and co-founding Save Math Ed. But my concerns extend far beyond any single subject. I believe a true cultural reset must begin with empathy: students and parents should be treated as partners, not adversaries, and teachers should never fear speaking up for their students.

​

I am running for School Board to bring a collaborative, transparent leadership style back to our district. Our community deserves a board focused on what actually works for students, ensuring competitive pay and safety for teachers, ending wasteful litigation, and ensuring our policies are guided by rigorous evidence.