I am a Fijian born Indian. I migrated to the USA from the Fiji Islands in 1989. I am married with three grown children who are now all college graduates. I completed my education in the Fiji Islands. After I graduated from the Fiji National University, my first employment was in the Fiji Parliament, Legislature Department as a verbatim reporter.
My work experiences in the United States include the Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Department, Records Unit, and Juvenile Services Division. In 2005, I assumed the role of the County School Attendance Review Board (SARB) Coordinator, which was still under the umbrella of the Juvenile Services Division. This role sparked my interest in working with the at risk youth. My SARB students were able to participate in the diversion programs such as the DARE Program, Work Program and the JUMPSTART (scared straight) programs implemented by the Sheriff.
I continued to serve as the SARB Coordinator when the County SARB program transitioned to the Stanislaus County Office of Education in 2011. A panel of experts including representatives from law enforcement, probation, District Attorney’s Office, Child Protective Services, Public Health and counseling agencies convene on a regular basis to address chronic absenteeism and behavioral problems in students. I also coordinate local and regional trainings on effective strategies in tackling chronic absenteeism in my county for those who are responsible for the at risk youth in their counties. The Judicial system in Stanislaus County supports the education and everyday school attendance of all students. We utilize the Superior Court for our chronically absent students when all efforts have failed. I believe in a total community approach and strong partnerships in tackling barriers to keeping kids in school and provide opportunities for higher education for all students. At the end of each school year, I organize a celebration for students who have improved their attendance and behavior and thereby improving academically.
In the year 2018, we received a recognition (Model SARB Award) from the California Department of Education and the California Association of Supervisors Child Welfare and Attendance (CASCWA) for our collaborative efforts with the community partners in promoting good attendance.
I serve as a board member on the San Joaquin CASCWA, a professional organization focusing on student attendance and promoting opportunities for higher education. This organization awards scholarships to students overcoming adversities and focusing towards college education.
I also serve on the Stanislaus County Juvenile Justice Commission, a board that oversees the operations of the juvenile facilities and temporary custody holdings. This group also promotes higher education for incarcerated youth providing scholarships towards college education.
My husband and I are involved with the Fiji Association and Cultural group in Modesto. We promote cultural diversity in the county by hosting annual events. The focus is to bring the island community together. The Fiji Festival in Modesto, California has become an Annual Summer Event attracting at least 2,500 to 3,000 people each year.