Now that the school closure vote has been cast, Foley intends to harness her energies into improving neighborhood schools. She has already toured the campuses of schools in Willow Glen and has met with parents and staff to listen to their concerns.

"Walking onto schools, I remember things from the past—the fun I had, the committees I was on, the things I didn't like," she says. "It's so much fun to keep that memory fresh in my mind."

But Foley recognizes that serving on the school board requires hard work, and her primary goal, she says, is to engage the community in working with students and educators.

"The Willow Glen community is unique," she says. "It is dynamic and involved. We have such an involved exterior community, and we need to incorporate them, and get them invested in the success of the schools."

But as far as getting parents involved in their children's education is concerned, Foley is impressed by what she sees.

"There is a strong core group of parents who want to make Willow Glen schools the most popular in the district," she says. "In particular, they want to attract neighborhood kids."

And Foley recognizes that Willow Glen Middle and High schools, in particular, have one especially attractive asset—a diverse student population.

"They are microcosms of San Jose," she says. "We need to use that as a strength. It's a positive thing to have kids from all walks of life."

As the middle school tries to recruit new students, Foley says the recent closure of Steinbeck Middle School might bring Willow Glen students back to their neighborhood school.

"We are in unique situation right now because of the closure of Steinbeck," she says. "The choice process in the middle schools has decreased. Kids from Steinbeck are returning to their neighborhood schools, and the likelihood of getting into John Muir or Castillero Middle schools is limited."

And although the current process of schools closures may be over, Foley acknowledges that she faced some intense emotions and tough decisions, even before she was elected to the school board.

During her campaign, Foley had to contend with a difficult choice: Whether or not to continue running for school board when she discovered her daughter's elementary school, Hacienda Environment and Science Magnet, was being considered for closure.

"While I was running, I heard Hacienda was on the list," Foley says. "I considered removing myself [from the campaign]. Many people were focused on where my daughter went to school during the campaign."

But it was for this very reason—being the mother of a public school student—that she believed she would make an effective board member, Foley says.

"I couldn't be on the school board if I didn't have a child," she says. "I would have no knowledge of public schools. I would still care, but I have to live it to understand it."

Despite the controversy over her daughter's school, Foley unseated incumbent Carol Myers and won a position on the board.

On Dec. 9, 2004, her first evening as one of the school board's newest trustees, the board was confronted with a vote on the closure of Steinbeck Middle School.

And from there, tension flared. Some parents of the elementary schools slated for closure accused Foley of having a conflict of interest because her daughter attends Hacienda. And Foley began to wonder if she should recuse herself from the vote to mend her relationship with the community.

"It was a difficult decision," she says. "From one day to the next it was consuming me. One day I would say I wouldn't remove myself, the next day I would say that I would. Even the night that I did it, I changed my thinking every few minutes. It was very emotional. I wanted to weigh in and have an opinion."

Although she remembers choking up as she announced her intention of recusing herself from the vote, Foley says she made the right decision.

"Several people came forward and told me they respected my integrity," she says. "People were paying attention to how difficult it was for me."

Randol Elementary School parent and Willow Glen resident Darlene D'Amico-Sorci says she empathized with Foley's situation, and applauds her for the choice she made.

"It was hard for her," she says. "It was a difficult decision, and a lose-lose situation. But she did the right thing."

Foley, in turn, says her heart went out to the distraught parents who attended board meetings to advocate for their school. And her ability to sympathize with others, Foley says, makes her an effective board member.

"One of a woman's strengths is that we can show emotions," she says. "I think that is one of the things I bring to the board. I saw the mothers cry, and I felt it in my soul. I would be fighting tooth and nail to save my school, too."

Foley plans to continue to reach out to parents, students and school staff as they relocate to different campuses.

"It's a tremendous sigh of relief," she says. "Now I will be focused on helping [San Jose Unified trustee] Leslie Reynolds and the Allen and Randol communities come together peacefully. Now we can focus on positive things."

Foley says one of her top priorities will be advocating for the special-day classes program at Randol, as parents and teachers fight to remain with the rest of the school community.

"I am concerned about the special-day classes program and keeping the kids and teachers together," Foley says.

Willow Glen resident Diane Seadler, whose daughter is in special-day classes at Randol, says she has faith that Foley will continue to support the program's parents, students and teachers.

"I think she is a strong board member," Seadler says. "I have so much confidence in her."

And parents aren't the only ones who believe in Foley's commitment to the schools. San Jose Unified School District Superintendent Don Iglesias says Foley is a valuable asset to the board.

"It was a tough time to come in as a board member," he says. "But I'm really excited about Pam. She brings a strong background in business, which is helpful, particularly with the budget situation we have. She has passion as a mom and is truly one of the folks from the neighborhood. She does her homework, and she cares passionately."

While investing time and energy into the school board, Foley also juggles the responsibilities of work and family life. She is president of E. F. Foley Company, a mortgage business, and mother to 8-year-old Katelyn.

Even with a hectic schedule, Foley says she has learned to balance the often-conflicting demands of career and family.

"When I'm home, I'm very good at focusing on being at home," she says. "When I'm at work or in a meeting, I focus on that. The attention is there, and my mind doesn't wander. I'm very good at separating those components."