About
Joe Kornder
My name is Joe Kornder. Thank you for electing me to the Santa Clara City Council Seat 5 in the November 2006 election.
I was born and raised in Southern California (mostly San Bernardino). I attended the University of California at Riverside (UCR), earning my BA in Comparative Literature (English and Spanish) in 1960. At Riverside, I played football, basketball, and baseball, sang in the school choir. I put myself through college, working nights and summers.
After a six month stint in the Army, I married Dorothy and we moved to Campbell, where Dorothy had already begun her teaching career at Rosemary School. I enrolled in graduate school at San Jose State and earned my teaching credential. In the summer of 1962 I was hired by then-principal Don Callejon to teach English and Spanish and coach at Buchser High School in Santa Clara. Son Mike was born that same year. Daughter Kelley arrived in 1966.
In 1965 we bought a house on Loyola Drive in Santa Clara. We had to stretch to qualify for that $20,000 house. We are still there.
My 40 year career in the Santa Clara Unified School District has allowed me to work with students and staff at all grade levels. I have loved every minute of it:
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English and Spanish teacher, Buchser High School,
Santa Clara High School, Wilcox High School – 25 years |
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Basketball coach, Buchser High School, Wilcox High School
– 24 years |
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Vice Principal, Peterson Middle School – 3 years |
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Principal, Millikin Elementary School – 5 years |
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Assistant to the Superintendent, District Office –
3 years |
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Associate Superintendent, District Office – 2 years |
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Associate Superintendent, Retired, and Consultant, District
Office – 2 years |
I have been honored in several ways during my career: as part of two programs won the state Golden Bell Award twice, nominated for Teacher of the Year several times, named Administrator of the Year in 1995, given the PTA Honorary Service Award four times at three schools and District level.
Son Mike, his wife Rosario, and daughter Rachel live in San Francisco. Mike’s career is in Parks and Recreation Administration. Daughter Kelley, her husband Tim, and daughter Charlotte live in Ben Lomond. Her career is in establishing and managing corporate philanthropic programs. My wife Dorothy served as President of the original Triton Museum volunteer organization, the Triton Guild, and was the Charter President of the organization that replaced the Guild, the Triton Alliance. For over thirty years she organized and mounted the SCUSD Student Art Exhibit at the Triton. She has been a member of the Santa Clara Women’s Club. She continues to teach elementary school art in SCUSD schools.
Related Experience/Qualifications
My career in education has given me valuable opportunities to
work closely with City staff and the Santa Clara community:
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Leading Millikin Elementary School to the California
Distinguished School award |
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Serving on the Santa Clara Unified School District/City Liaison Committee |
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Negotiating community/school district agreements on design and
use of Santa Clara High School Stadium |
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Coordinating community/school district planning for the Mission
City Centre for the Performing Arts. |
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Planning and developing key elements of the School District’s teacher housing complex (Casa de Maestro) |
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Overseeing preparation for opening the new Don Callejon
School |
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Serving on the District Facility Needs Task Force and Bond
Oversight Committee |
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Leading the School District Facility Needs Study for the District Adult
Education (Ed Options) school |
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Co-chairing the successful Measure J Bond campaign |
In addition, I have had many occasions to work with Santa Clara Police and Fire staff in school related issues and situations, and I have had thousands of opportunities to plan, create, problem solve, and celebrate with parents and community members.
Why Run for City Council
I want to serve on the City Council for the most basic of reasons: I want to serve the City, its residents and its families; I want to give something back. My wife and I have lived in Santa Clara since 1965. I have worked here since 1962. Santa Clara has been a wonderful place for my wife and me and our family - safe, rich in activities and opportunities in support of youth and families, clean, large enough to be diverse and small enough to be comfortable.
As a 40-year educator (teacher, coach, principal, associate superintendent), I am proud to have worked with and for the children and families in the Santa Clara Unified School District. As Councilmember, I will work just as hard, with the same high level of success, integrity, dedication, and compassion, with and for the families, residents, seniors, business men and women of Santa Clara. |
