Garden Grove Unified School District trustee Kim Oanh Nguyen-Lam, a.k.a. the school board member who doesn’t embarass the Vietnamese-American community with insane protests and red-baiting, is launching her re-election bid tomorrow Saturday.
The public event will be held at Garden Grove Park (where the Tet Festival is) at 2 p.m., and joining her will be U.S. Rep. Loretta Sanchez and newly declared candidate for Garden Grove City Council T. Linh Ho.
Apparently the Bolsavik is on Dr. Nguyen-Lam’s Viet media distribution list, so he got the Vietnamese flyer. Click on the picture to see in full.
The Bolsavik is once again right on in that KimOanh Nguyen-Lam is a leader the community can take pride in. As you know, she has been a tireless advocate for improving the academic climate for students and parents of all backgounds. This past year, she led the GGUSD in partnering with other districts in training nearly 200 teachers in a special screening of Ham Tran’s “Journey from the Fall.” Dr. Nguyen-Lam also helped create a powerful curriculum that supports the feature film.
As you state, she is different than other so called leaders in that she refuses to fall into the name calling and red baiting, mud-slinging spitting contest that has denigrated the entire community. Let’s hope that she can continue to stay above the fray this election cycle.
Dear Straight Talker:
You must have forgotten the mud slinging and spitting contest she led out in front of the Westminster School District when it was announced that she was to receive a contract and then it was later retracted. She led protests in front of the District Office, and filed suits in court against the Board Members and the School District. It has apparently not damaged her reputation as she claimed in her lawsuits as she is still on the GG school board, she still has her job at Long Beach and she is still making a name for herself as a community “leader”.
Many in her community thought it was a disgrace that she led such a battle for a position she was not going to get. And that she did so in such a public manner as an attempt to disgrace the school district and it’s board members was not something a true “leader” does.
I once had a chance to talk to Prof. Kim-Oanh. She’s very nice person and has very good points on some Educational methods. Regardless all of the political issues, I think she’s somehow good for the position. Very enthusiastic person for Education.
American Woman, while it’s true the Westminster School District debacle was pretty bad, Dr. KimOanh Nguyen-Lam felt compelled to get involved only after many community leaders approached her and felt that it was a matter of community respect. At least one board member who voted to rescind the contract offer (after she had given notice to CSULB) did so because of fear that Vietnamese were getting too powerful and Dr. Nguyen Lam would shed light on an old boy system in the WSD. Judging from the turnout and rally supporting her (over 500 parents and community members), I would say that that was quite a show of support.
When you say, “that she did so in such a public manner as an attempt to disgrace the school district and it’s board members was not something a true “leader” does;” I ask you what would a true leader have done? The school board brought disrespect upon themselves (and the district) by behaving in such a disgraceful manner. Even Sylvia Mendez (Mendez v. Westminster) came back to the district after over 60 years to show her support of Dr. Nguyen Lam. As Sylvia said, this was about the children of Westminster and KimOanh would have placed their interests first. That’s what real educational leaders do.
To those who don’t understand what American Woman and Straight Talker are talking about, it was like this:
Back in 2006, the Westminster School District (which only covers K-8) was looking for a Superintendent. After going through all the required steps, the Board voted to hire Dr. KimOanh Nguyen-Lam. A press release was duly sent out.
That news, however, touched the nerve of certain segments of the Vietnamese GOP’ers. Allegedly Cuong Cao (Vietnamese: Cao Sinh Cuong — now the head of the Westminster California Republican Assembly) went around lobbying to have the offer rescinded. A number of elected officials weighed in to pressure the Board members.
Eventually, several members of the Westminster school board relented, changed their minds, and voted to take back the offer.
Even before the vote, however, when it was known that the item would be on the agenda, the community came out en masse to protest. To no avail; the offer was taken back.
(It may be an OC thing — last year, UCI’s chancellor also embarrassed himself by trying to rescind an offer made to the dean of its future law school.)
It should be noted that Westminster School District Board Member Sergio Contreras was the only dissenting vote and fought hard for keeping KimOanh Nguyen Lam. He deserves credit for standing up for her and the VN community.
Straight Talker,
Your logic is crooked as can be. “Dr.” Kim Oanh (check out her credentials) attempted to play politics with the school district and failed miserably. She got her head handed to her and nobody sheds a tear. She ran a slate of candidates who ALL lost. She filed a law suit against the school district, which looks like a legal witch hunt. Who’s money is the district to spend other than the kids and taxpayers? Where’s the children’s interest in this lawsuit? Give us all a break on this shameless charade.
What has this lady done during her four years on the GG School Board other than to complain and moan? The proof is not in the pudding with “Dr.” KO. What’s her track record? She rarely participates or shows up at any of the Viet functions. Don’t even bother to ask her to speak up, much less fight, for human rights and Viet democracy. What has she really accomplished?
The Viet community ain’t buying your crap about “standing up” for her. Where’s the outcry and the support? Perhaps you should ask the candidates she put up and failed in the last election. Where’s Tahnee Phan? Remember her? What a joke and a hypocrite you and “Dr.” KO are. Now, she wants another four years? For what?