I moved to Simi Valley in 1967 with my family. I was the youngest of 5 children. My father was a small business owner and came to Simi Valley to run a Chevron gas station. My mother worked as a bank teller at Bank of America on L.A. Ave and Yosemite for many years. My parents still live in their same Simi Valley home from 1967, my dad is 84 and mom just turned 81.
In 1969 I started kindergarten at White Oak Elementary School the year it opened. From there I went on to Valley View JHS and then on to Simi High School where I graduated in 1982.
From 1982 through 1987 I attended Cal State Northridge and received a Bachelors Degree in History. I then worked on a teaching credential at CSUN and in 1990 I received my teaching credential in Social Studies.
During this time I also joined the United States Marine Corp Active Reserve in order to give back to my country. I was in the Marine Corp Active Reserve from 1984 to 1990. Also from 1988 to 1990 I worked as a substitute teacher in Simi and as the boys basketball coach at Valley View.
In 1990 I married my wife Felicia (Vernaci) Kidd. We have been married for over 20 years now. Felicia has lived in Simi Valley since 1964 and she attended Crestview, Hillside and Royal High School. She is a Registered Nurse who has worked with cancer patients for the past 24 years. We have two children, Adam and Jessica. Adam is a sophmore at Moorpark College and Jessica is a Senior at Royal High School. They both attended Hollow Hills and Hillside and then Royal High.
From 1990 until 2005 I worked as a social studies teacher at Valley View. While there I continued coaching basketball as well as being a department chair, Quiz Bowl coach, peer mediation coordinator and member of the School Site Council. From 2002 to 2005 I was also elected by my fellow educators to be the President of the local association. Also in 2005 I received an Honorary Service Award from the Simi Valley PTA for my work on behalf of the children of Simi Valley, it was a great honor for me.
In 2005 I was offered a job as a staff person for the state teachers association. I now work consulting with educators and assisting them in long term strategic planning. I also do trainings for educators in areas like the Brown Act and School Site Councils and in reading school district budgets. I am not a member of the local teachers association or state teachers association and I do not work for the local teachers association. I am also not management and not a part of governance.