“NOW MORE THAN EVER, we need dedicated public school educators on school boards,” says Victoria Chon, Fremont Unified District Teachers Association president and member of the Santa Clara County Board of Education.

Running for reelection this fall, Chon’s race is one of more than 2,000 school board elections statewide that will have significant impacts on our students and communities. The importance of these races to our public schools cannot be overstated — educators in Chino, Orange and Temecula (see page 26) organized and mobilized for the past two years to defend their students after decisions at the 2022 ballot box put extremists on their school boards.

CTA President David Goldberg commends members who serve as elected officials and those taking the leap for the first time this year. He says it’s up to all members to put in the work to elect fellow educators and union siblings to school boards and win for our students, families, communities and our very democracy.

“People trust us — showing up on their doorstep matters to them. Every one of us has a role to play,” Goldberg says. “We have to take these school board races seriously. Our opposition does. We all need to get stronger together. We cannot let them win.”

Meet a few of the CTA members running for election this fall and join the movement to win on election day. Visit cta.org/election to read about other members running for office and how you can be a part of our winning team on Election Day.

Victoria Chon

Fremont Unified District Teachers Association
Running for: Santa Clara County Board of Education

Why are you running for reelection?
As attacks on public education only escalate, it is crucial that we have elected officials who bring the experience of the classroom and prioritize the well-being of students first. I first ran for my County Board in 2020 at the peak of the pandemic because I was driven to do more for public education, to support my students and to improve the working conditions of educators. That commitment is unwavering
today and with increased experience as an educator and as a trustee, I am eager to continue this important work.

What are your top priorities?
• I want every student to receive a fair and equitable public school education. As a public school educator, local union president and trustee, I believe it is crucial that every student receives the education they deserve.
• County boards have a unique role in charter school oversight and it is my responsibility as a trustee to ensure that every charter school is held accountable, so we can effectively support every student and educator.
• All students deserve to have a safe and equitable educational environment. The County Board is a cornerstone in special education for our local school districts. I want to ensure that we continually support all our special education students with the highest quality education. In addition, the county supports many of our justice-involved youth and it is vital that we continue to support their learning and futures.
• In a county with a BIPOC majority — and despite a significant American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) population few AAPI elected officials — it is of utmost importance that I be a strong representative for my AAPI community.

Why is it so important to have educators on school boards?
We possess first-hand knowledge and experience of the classroom. Educators directly feel the impact of boardroom decisions that affect our students and their learning conditions, which are our working conditions. As strong advocates for our students, being a part of one of the highest spaces that makes decisions for our students is essential for the future of our students.

What does it mean to you to be part of the movement to protect and defend our public schools?
I am proud of my roles as an educator, a CTA member, president of my local association and as a school board trustee. Balancing these roles and responsibilities empowers the efforts of making public education better. I am honored and privileged to be a part of the group of individuals who hold both titles of educator and school board trustee.

How important is the November election?
VOTE! Every vote matters, it is vital that we vote and that we get others to vote.

For more information and updates, see our Election 2024 webpage at cta.org/election.

For a personalized list of CTA’s recommended candidates appearing on your ballot, visit cta.yourvoter.guide.