The Academy

Training candidates before they run ensures they are prepared for the commitment of the role and have the appropriate time to develop skills and knowledge to become highly effective school board members. Through the cohort model, we will create a tight-knit network of board members across the state who can mentor, support, and learn from each other's successes and failures, better preparing them for districts with system-wide needs.

Apply to be in the next cohort or nominate someone from your community!
Deadline to apply is March 6th 2023

How We Select Candidates

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2022 Cohort

Apply to be in the next cohort or nominate someone from your community!
Deadline to apply is March 6th 2023

Julian Cuevas 35, Dixon
  • Candidate for Dixon Unified School District
  • Current Director of Policy & Governmental Affairs, Inland Empire Community Foundation, fmr Gov Relations for CDE etc
  • “Dixon is my hometown. I moved back with the intention of serving and lifting my community. Dixon is the kind of town where students graduate from high school and try to get as far from town as possible. But it's time we came back.” 
  • Issues: School safety, transportation, outreach to latinx families, trust and communication with school officials
Candidate for Dixon Unified School District
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Current Director of Policy & Governmental Affairs, Inland Empire Community Foundation, fmr Gov Relations for CDE etc
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“Dixon is my hometown. I moved back with the intention of serving and lifting my community. Dixon is the kind of town where students graduate from high school and try to get as far from town as possible. But it's time we came back.” 

Issues: School safety, transportation, outreach to latinx families, trust and communication with school officials
Melissa Ramirez-Medina, 33, Oakland
School Site Council and LPAC/LCAP member Registered Nurse, fmr Planned Parenthood“Educational justice is meeting the physical, social and emotional needs of every student and their family, so that the student can have equitable access to engage with a high quality education.” Issues:Oakland School ClosuresEducation Finance and Charters Recruitment and Retaining HQE Budget TransparencyWrap around services
  • School Site Council and LPAC/LCAP member
  • Registered Nurse, fmr Planned Parenthood
  • “Educational justice is meeting the physical, social and emotional needs of every student and their family, so that the student can have equitable access to engage with a high quality education.”
  • Issues: Oakland School Closures, Education Finance and Charters, Recruitment and Retaining HQE Budget Transparency, Wrap around services
Rebecca Barrett 33,
Contra Costa Community College Board 
  • Elected in 2018, Ward 3
  • Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa, Development Director, Office of Rep. Mark DeSaulnier
  • Deputy District Director, Principal Advisor, CA Department of Education
  • “The thing that probably brings me the greatest feeling of reward is when I contribute something to a meeting that I feel is something that someone of my generation or life experience can contribute. ”
  • Issues: First generation college student retention, Campus safety, Leadership and governance stability
Elected in 2018, Ward 3Boys & Girls Clubs of Contra Costa, Development Director, Office of Rep. Mark DeSaulnierDeputy District Director, Principal Advisor, CA Department of Education“The thing that probably brings me the greatest feeling of reward is when I contribute something to a meeting that I feel is something that someone of my generation or life experience can contribute. ” Issues:First generation college student retentionCampus safetyLeadership and governance stability
Mo Kashmiri 44, Sacramento 
  • Recent candidate for Sacramento COE
  • Former teachers union rep at Fresno Unified, classified rep for SCUSD & Dixon unified.
  • “I engage my community through political organizing through my neighborhood organizations, PTA's, and other social justice groups such as Social Justice Now.” 
  • Issues: Adequate Staffing for all schools, Developing a culture of collaboration over conflict, Making sure we are greening our schools by 2030 so our kids can have a livable future, Ensuring equity in our educational system
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Victor Phu, 30, East Side Union HSD
  • CORE Districts, Panorama Education, SFUSD African American Initiative Office
  • “As a board member, I might have priorities and issues that I want to address, but when it comes to the solutions--I want to work collaboratively with stakeholders to figure out what works for the community.”
  • Issues: School safety, transportation, outreach to latinx families, trust and communication with school officials
CORE Districts, Panorama Education, SFUSD African American Initiative Office “As a board member, I might have priorities and issues that I want to address, but when it comes to the solutions--I want to work collaboratively with stakeholders to figure out what works for the community.” Issues:School suspensionDual enrollment MTSSWorthwhile Edtech
Cindy Quiralte, 35, Natomas Unified
  • Family Engagement Coordinator at California Department of Education,
  • Community Organizer, Communities for a New California
  • Civic Engagement Staff, Mi Familia Vota
  • Civic Engagement Staff, Mi Familia Vota
Family Engagement Coordinator at California Department of Education, Community Organizer, Communities for a New California Civic Engagement Staff, Mi Familia Vota