MIDDLETOWN, Calif. — Hidden Valley Lake residents Chris Ochs and Annette Lee announced that they are running for the Middletown Unified School Board in this November’s election.
As a team, they believe they have a strong set of complementary skills that can help successfully navigate and overcome the challenges faced by Middletown Unified and move it forward in a positive direction, benefitting its students, staff and community.
Chris Ochs is a 14-year resident of Hidden Valley Lake, current MUSD board member, and director of facilities, maintenance, operations, and transportation for Calistoga Joint Unified School District.
Ochs’ expertise has already been an invaluable asset to MUSD as the district begins to aggressively invest in much-needed facility improvement projects using Measure H bond dollars.
Ochs is known in the community as a down-to-earth, accessible and very involved parent. He plans to continue to be available and accessible to all district members as a sounding board and to take parent viewpoints into account when making decisions as a board member.
He also is a long-time MUSD volunteer who has actively been involved in multiple PTO projects including the installation of Coyote Valley Elementary’s playground equipment.
“Students, teachers, and staff need a modern, safe, and clean environment to learn and teach in. I know that I can be a valuable contributor to accomplish this work at MUSD, and I will approach this duty with an open mind and the expertise needed to help MUSD
succeed,” said Ochs.
For years MUSD has been challenged by a lack of stability, and Ochs believes that he and Lee can provide the strong and knowledgeable leadership necessary to help the District get back on course and attract and retain high-quality, compassionate educators.
“Most importantly, Annette and I agree that we must prioritize the educational and social-emotional needs of our children to guarantee they become strong, knowledgeable and confident members of society,” said Ochs.
Annette Lee is a graduate of Middletown High School, whose family has lived in Hidden Valley Lake for 38 years.
After spending a decade in Silicon Valley working in high tech and supply chain management, Lee decided to shift gears and dedicate herself to public education. And what better place to give back than the place where she grew up.
“Shane and I wanted to move back to my hometown to become educators and raise our children,” said Lee.
Since moving back to Hidden Valley Lake in 2006, Lee has worked alongside her parents, Bonnie and Jay Albertson, and her husband Shane Lee in the field of education.
Currently the interim dean of Woodland Community College’s Lake County Campus, or LCC, Lee has also served Lake County schools as a dance and business teacher for Lower Lake High School and as a Professor of Business for Woodland Community College LCC.
She has also served as the executive dean of centers for Woodland Community College.
Lee has successfully co-authored multiple grants for the college and will help MUSD access more funding as well.
She has a doctorate in educational administration, a master’s degree in business administration, a K-12 teaching credential and is certified in K-12 school business management.
Lee has worked with children of all ages and wants to see South Lake County’s children have access to every opportunity for success.
“MUSD was once a destination school district and I think we can be that again. Together I believe Chris and I can help the MUSD community create a healthy, positive learning and working environment to retain and attract the best teachers, staff, and administrators. We will work hard to ensure MUSD provides the very best education and learning environment for our children,” said Lee.
Lee and Ochs have both given many hours of volunteer time and in-kind donations in support of the schools and have been regularly attending board meetings since 2021.
Annette and Shane Lee have two children currently attending MUSD schools. Heather and Chris Ochs are parents of two MUSD students as well.
As board members and as parents themselves, Lee and Ochs said they will streamline access for parents to MUSD board meetings and will work hard to support and promote parent involvement, better academic achievement for the kids, and make MUSD a reason that families move to and stay in Lake County.
For more information, please visit www.ochsleemusd.com.