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Photograph by Jacqueline Ramseyer
Karen Kane-Foempe recently chaired the push in Campbell for passage of Measure H in the March primary election. Along with her local activism, Kane-Foempe is also a substitute teacher at Capri Elementary School.
Public Citizen
PTA president dedicated to CUSD
By Moryt Milo
In three short years, Karen Kane-Foempe has volunteered hundreds of hours in the Campbell Union School District as Parent Teacher Association president for Capri Elementary School and as chairwoman for Measure H.
She successfully spearheaded the district-wide drive to pass the March bond measure, which will allow CUSD elementary and middle school to fund building repairs.
"She devoted many hours to coordinating with volunteers, interacting with business and community leaders and keeping voters informed about the measure," CUSD spokeswoman Marla Olszewski said.
Kane-Foempe agreed to undertake the job of coordinating the Measure H campaign after Capri Elementary School Principal Debbie Garcia suggested she would be good at it and "threw her hat into the ring."
"The cause was right, and for a good reason," Kane-Foempe said. "I also thought I'd learn something from the experience, and I did, working with hundreds of intelligent and enthusiastic volunteers."
She also credits Campbell business Tiny Tots, 138 Railway Ave., with helping make the campaign a success.
"We needed a place to work for six weeks, four nights a week, and every other Sunday afternoon to make phone calls," she said. "Tiny Tots was willing to help us because [the business] saw it as a good cause, and it was part of [its] overall [proactive] community philosophy."
Kane-Foempe said the campaign was an example of a successful community effort that stretched beyond Capri school's borders.
Besides working on Measure H, Kane-Foempe serves as a Capri Elementary School substitute teacher, volunteers in many PTA duties, works on the school's parent-advisory committee and teaches catechism classes at St. Lucy's Church, located at 2350 Winchester Blvd.
Yet, three years ago, when Kane-Foempe returned to the United States from Germany, with her young daughter, Katja, and her husband, one of her biggest challenges was choosing a school for her child to attend.
"The number of possibilities [in the United States] were overwhelming," she said. "In Germany there were no options. My daughter attended the local village school. Here you can choose from [multiple] public, private or religious schools. I wanted my child to be in a neighborhood school and have friends from her neighborhood who went to the same school."
Kane-Foempe toured Capri and was happy with what she saw. It began her steady involvement with the school and the Campbell Union School District.
"I took my daughter with me throughout the campaign and she did her homework while I worked the phones," Kane-Foempe said. "She saw adults working hard to benefit kids and their willingness to do it. I hope it turns into a great lesson and something that she remembers in the future."
Know someone who deserves to be in the paper? Nominate a Public Citizen! Send the name of a noteworthy neighbor to Editor, The Campbell Reporter, 1095 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126; fax to 408.200.1013; or email ssanchez@svcn.com.
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Campbell, California
