Milpitas Unified School District

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” That question continues to wake me up in the middle of the night and guide my way of life, not just as a school board trustee, but as a dad, son, spouse, neighbor, colleague, and a friend.

When I first joined the school board, I thought the work was mostly about policy and budgets. Over time, I’ve learned it’s more about people and the everyday choices we make as individuals when interacting with one another — the moments that rarely make headlines but shape our Culture of We and our community. It’s how we communicate and model respect for one another. It’s how we choose to help when no one else is looking. It’s how we show up for our students, staff, and neighbors in ways big and small.

In Milpitas, we are proud of our diversity and resilience. But we are also honest about our challenges. Many of our families are working multiple jobs. Many have a variety of political views and journeys of faith deep rooted in ancestral tradition. Many are struggling daily with food and housing insecurity, mental health pressures, caregiving responsibilities and social media algorithms that increase anxiety. These struggles are both visible and invisible. WE cannot ignore them.

I will continue to call on all of us — board trustees, district employees, community members, parents, and students—to:

1. Model the behavior you want to see in others. Our young people are watching. If we want them to value respect, integrity, and kindness, we must show it in our interactions, even when it’s difficult.

2. Be aware of the challenges of your neighbors and friends. Awareness leads to empathy, and empathy leads to action. Sometimes just listening, checking in, or offering encouragement can make a difference and more importantly prevent human tragedy. People do desperate things when they feel no one cares and hope is lost.  

3. Be willing to help someone when no one else is looking. True service often happens quietly, without recognition. The student who smiles and says hi to an unknown peer, the administrator/teacher/secretary/counselor who checks in on a new colleague or emails positive news to the parent of a struggling child, the custodian/groundskeeper who goes the extra mile with a high five—these unseen actions build the foundation of trust in our schools.

 We are the strength of Milpitas itself. We are what it means to be part of a caring, connected community, and school district.

As we look ahead, let’s measure OUR success through the lens of gratitude, productive struggles, capacity building strength of our relationships, the resilience of our community, the compassion we model daily in addition to our attendance, test scores, graduation rates and investments of time, talent and treasure.

Call to Action: This month, I challenge you to look for one small way to model kindness in someone else’s challenge. We were not meant to do life alone. Find a way to be the change you want to see in our Culture of We—even when no one is watching. As always, thanks for reading.

In community,


Chris Norwood
President, Milpitas Unified School District Board of Trustees 2024-2025