First Sri Lankan-American elected official:

Al Jabbar creates history in USA

Anaheim, California - History was made recently when Al Jabbar became the nation's first-and only Sri Lankan-American to win elected office.

Jabbar trounced his opponents to gain a seat on the Board of Trustees of the Anaheim Union High School District. He had been unanimously appointed to the board in January 2013 to fill a vacant spot.

Jabbar said he is humbled by his victory, and is eager to continue tackling the challenges facing the AUHSD, which serves almost 32,000 7-12 students in the communities of Anaheim, Cypress, Buena Park, La Palma, and Stanton.

"I am extremely grateful to the voters for allowing me to continue to serve them," Jabbar said. "I am also incredibly proud of the fact that I am representing the greater Sri Lankan community with this victory.

I take seriously the responsibility that comes with being the first elected official of Sri Lankan heritage. I hope my American success story inspires others to dream big, accomplish their goals, and give back to the community."

"Al is a public servant in the finest sense of the word," said fellow board member Annemarie Randle-Trejo.

"He is very hard working and charismatic, with an easy way of relating to people. His parents absolutely love him, and I can see why. The Anaheim Union High School District is very lucky to have him as a board member."

AUHSD superintendent Michael Matsuda echoed Ms. Randle-Trejo's praise.

"Al really gets where we need to go as a school district to ensure that our students are college and career ready," Matsuda said. "The issues that come before a school board can be very complex, and Al is not afraid to roll his sleeves up and tackle them.I am very much looking forward to working alongside him in the years to come."

During his time on the board, Jabbar sought to be a voice for parents, especially those whose second language is English.

He helped oversee the full implementation of the Common Core State Standards, the restoration of programs and personnel eliminated in recent years due to the economic crisis, and the passage of Measure H, a $249 million bond measure. Jabbar said he will continue to work to raise college eligibility rates among students, and promote a 21st century curriculum outside the basic math and English courses.

Jabbar's interest in public service began while he was a student at Cypress College earning an associate's degree in business. He served as the school's student advocate and student body president, in addition to acting as student trustee on the North Orange County Community College Board.

Jabbar then went on to receive his bachelor's degree in marketing from California State University, Fullerton, where he served as vice president of the school's American Marketing Association. He also has a master's degree in public administration from California State University, Long Beach.

A resident of Anaheim for more than 15 years, Jabbar has been an active presence in the community. He has served as a cultural arts commissioner for the city of Anaheim for seven years.

His community involvement also includes working with neighbourhoods to make them safe and free of violence. To that end, he helped organize a general Community Forum and a Community Police Forum in Anaheim.

He assisted the West Anaheim Neighbourhood Development (WAND) committee in organizing events such as the traditional Christmas Tree Lighting, where he served as master of ceremonies, and the annual community barbecue, where he was again master of ceremonies.

Additionally, Jabbar helped WAND inform residents of development issues. He also worked with community groups in the South Anaheim District to make neighbourhoods safe and clean, while heading up two non-profit organizations that raise funds for community projects and scholarships for needy students.

Jabbar works as a program supervisor for Correctional Health Services at the Health Care Agency of Orange County, and is a past board member of the Orange County Employee Association.

He and his wife, Sameeha, have a 4-year-old daughter, Aasiya, and an infant son, Arham.

The Anaheim Union High School District (AUHSD) was established in 1898 and is composed of the cities of Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, La Palma, and Stanton. AUHSD is a leader in providing students at 19 junior and high and high school campuses with a high-caliber education and the skills needed to excel in higher education and future careers. Its mission is to build 21st Century learning skills for students to act as problem solvers and critical thinkers.