The Sacramento County ballot includes school board races in five school districts, with a total of 32 candidates competing for seats on the dais.
These local races are crucial, as board members make decisions on funding, curriculum, and policies that shape the educational experience for all students in the district.
School board members, also referred to as trustees, serve one term — 4 years — before having to run for reelection. But there are no specified term limits on the position.
Sacramento County Office of Education Superintendent Dave Gordon reminded voters to prioritize voting on local school board races.
“It's very important for people to understand what school districts do,” he said. “So if you don't have children, I would talk to somebody who does have children in the school system and get their thoughts on how things are going and what would make a good school board member.”
CapRadio sent interview questions to every candidate listed as running on the county ballot. These are their responses to those questions.
Some candidates in the list will not appear on the ballot because they are running uncontested.
Elk Grove Unified School District: 320 square miles with nearly 63,000 students
Area 1: This region covers Florin Elementary, Isabelle Jackson Elementary, Samuel Kennedy Elementary, David Reese Elementary, James Rutter Middle, Florin High, William Daylor High, and Las Flores High.
Susan Davis, Retired school secretary and guardian of a student
Endorsements: Elk Grove Education Association and others
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Anthony J. Perez, Retired educator and civil servant; Incumbent school board trustee
He has held his position on the school board since 2012.
Did not respond to the survey.
Area 3: This region covers Herman Leimbach Elementary, Charles Mack Elementary, Barbara C. Morse Elementary, Prairie Elementary, John Reith Elementary, Union House Elementary, Samuel Jackman Middle, Valley High, Elk Grove Virtual Academy and Rio Cazadero High.
Sean Yang, Mechanical engineer; Incumbent school board trustee
He has held his position on the school board since 2020.
Did not respond to survey
Area 6: This region covers Carroll Elementary, Helen Carr Castello Elementary, Franklin Elementary, Arlene Hein Elementary, Miwok Village Elementary, Zehnder Ranch Elementary, Cosumnes Oaks High, Franklin High, Toby Johnson Middle, Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle and Elk Grove Charter.
Jennifer Ballerini, Retired EGUSD Employee
Endorsements: Democratic Party of Sacramento County, Sacramento Central Labor Council and others
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Jacqueline Ortiz, Parent
Did not respond to the survey.
Area 7: This region includes Arnold Adreani Elementary, Cosumnes River Elementary, Robert J. Fite Elementary, Robert McGarvey Elementary, Sierra Enterprise Elementary, Sunrise Elementary, T.R. Smedbert Middle and Sheldon High.
Carmine S. Forcina, Retired and grandparent; Incumbent school board trustee
Endorsements: Sacramento-Sierra Building Trades Council, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Heidi Moore, Registered nurse and parent
Did not respond to the survey.
Rehana Rehman, Communications, Social Media Manager and parent
Endorsements: Elk Grove Education Association, Sacramento-Sierra Building Trades Council and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Folsom Cordova Unified School District: 89 square miles with around 21,000 students
Area 2: This region covers Vista Del Lago High, Oak Chan Elementary, Russell Ranch Elementary, Empire Oaks Elementary, and Mangini Ranch Elementary.
YK Chalamcherla, Council member, entrepreneur, and parent
Endorsements: Folsom Police Officers Association, Folsom Cordova Unified Teachers Union and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Dianna Laney, Financial consultant and parent
Endorsements: California School Employees Association — FCUSD chapter, Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs Association and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Area 4: This region covers Williamson Elementary, Mitchell Middle, Cordova Lane Center, Riverview STEM Academy, Peter J. Shields Elementary, Rancho Cordova Elementary, Cordova High, Cordova Gardens Elementary, Mills Middle and Cordova Meadows Elementary.
Chris Clark, Program Manager for Youth & Social Justice; Incumbent school trustee
Endorsements: Sheet Metal Workers Union 104, the California State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and others.
Clark was first elected as a school board member in 2016.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Madeline Jean Sanderson, Social worker and parent
Endorsements: Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs' Association, Folsom Police Officers' Association and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Natomas Unified School District: 37 square miles with a little over 11,200 students
Area 2: This region covers Bannon Creek K-8, Discovery High, Jefferson K-8, Larry G. Meeks Virtual Academy and Natomas High.
Ericka Harden, Former parent; Incumbent school board trustee
Did not respond to the survey.
She was first elected to the school board in 2020.
Area 3: This region covers Heredia-Arriaga Elementary, Inderkum High, Natomas Charter STAR Academy, Natomas Charter, Natomas Park Elementary and Westlake Charter High.
Jonathan Cook, Nonprofit housing director
Endorsements: Democratic Party of Sacramento County, Natomas Teachers’ Association and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Sally Trevino Gobea
Did not respond to the survey.
Micah Grant, Communications/Government Relations and parent; Incumbent school board trustee
Endorsements: Founder of California Association of Black School Educators Micah Ali, Co-Founder of Natomas Charter School Ting Sun and others.
Grant was first elected as a school board trustee in 2016.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Area 5: This regions covers NP3 Middle and High Charter, NP3 Elementary Charter, Paso Verde K-8 and Witter Ranch Elementary
Monique F. Langer, Public Affairs and Outreach for the CA Victim Compensation Board and parent
Endorsements: Natomas Teachers Association, Stonewall Democrats of Sacramento and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Sumiti Mehta, Senior Consultant and parent
Endorsements: State senator Angelique Ashby, Congressman Ami Bera and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Sacramento City Unified School District: 70 square miles with a little over 36,700 students
Area 3: This region covers A.M. Winn Public Waldorf TK-8 School, Abraham Lincoln Elementary, Albert Einstein Middle, George Washington Carver School of Arts and Science High, Golden Empire TK-6, Hubert H. Bancroft TK-6, Isador Cohen Elementary TK-6, James W. Marshall Elementary, O.W. Erlewine Elementary, Rosemont High and Sequoia TK-6.
Jose M. Navarro, Systems Software Programmer
Endorsements: include Sacramento City Teachers Association, Democratic Party of Sacramento County and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Rolanda Wilkins, Youth Advocate and Program Director
Endorsements: SCUSD Trustee Area 3 Christina Pritchett, SCUSD Trustee Area 4
Jamee Villa and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Area 4: This region covers Bowling Green Charter Chacon Language & Science Academy Elementary, Bowling Green Charter McCoy Academy Elementary, Camellia Basic Elementary, Earl, Warren TK-6, Elder Creek TK-6, Fern Bacon Middle, Mark Twain TK-6, New Joseph Bonnheim Community Charter Elementary, Nicholas Elementary, Suy:u Elementary, Will, C. Wood Middle, West Campus High, Sacramento Accelerated Academy High and Charles A. Jones Career & Education Center.
Jennin "Jay" Martinez, Small Business Owner and parent
Endorsements: "Sacramento County Office of Education Trustee Paul Keefer, San Juan United School District Trustee Manuel Perez and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Victoria Vasquez, Grants & Public Policy Manager and parent
Endorsements: UA Local 447 Pipefitters and Plumbers Union, The Sacramento Association of Realtors and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
April K. Ybarra, Trainer for the nonprofit Parent Teacher Home Visits and parent
Endorsements: Sacramento City Teachers Association, SEIU 1021 and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Area 5: This region covers Capital City TK-12, César E. Chávez Intermediate 4-6, Edward Kemble TK-3, H.W., Harkness TK-6, John Bidwell TK-6, John D. Sloat TK-6, John Morse Therapeutic Center K-8, John Still TK-8, John Still West K-5, John Still East 6-8, Luther Burbank High, Parkway TK-6, Rosa Parks K-8, Success Academy 4-8, Susan B. Anthony TK-6 and Woodbine TK-6.
Chinua Rhodes, Director of Community Engagement for the City of Sacramento Mayor's office and parent; Incumbent school board trustee
Endorsements: Sacramento Young Dems, Sacramento City Teachers Association and others.
Rhodes was first elected to the school board in 2020.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Area 7: This region covers American Legion High, Ethel I. Baker TK-6, Ethel Phillips TK-6, Fr. Keith B. Kenny K-6, Hollywood Park TK-6, Leonardo da Vinci TK-8, Oak Ridge TK-6 and Pacific TK-6.
Michael W. Benjamin Jr., District official for Sacramento Vice Mayor Caity Maple
Did not respond to the survey.
San Juan Unified School District
Area 1: This region covers Thomas Edison Language Institute K-8, Greer Elementary, Encina Preparatory High, Cottage Avenue Elementary, Howe Avenue Elementary and Dyer-Kelly Elementary.
Abid Stanekzai
Did not respond to the survey.
Area 2: This region covers Arcade Fundamental Middle, Pasadena Avenue Elementary, Mira Loma High, Whitney Avenue Elementary, Winston Churchill Middle, Del Paso Manor Elementary, Mission Avenue Open Elementary and Cameron Ranch Elementary.
Pam Costa, Retired educator and grandparent; Incumbent school board trustee
Endorsements: San Juan Teachers Association, Sacramento Central Labor Council and others.
Costa was first elected to the school board in 2012.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Jennifer Morgan, Community Volunteer and parent
Endorsements: San Juan Parents Association and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Mohammad Sharif, Retired contractor
Did not respond to the survey.
Area 4: This region covers Carmichael Elementary, John Barrett Middle, Schweitzer Elementary, Dewey Fundamental Elementary, Will Rogers Middle, Thomas Kelly Elementary, Del Campo High, Charles Peck Elementary, Coyle Avenue Elementary, Cambridge Heights Elementary, Skycrest Elementary and Kingswood K-8.
Nick Bloise, Educator/taxpayer advocate
Did not respond to the survey.
Martin Ross, Deputy Dir. Workforce Development, Partnerships & External Affairs and former parent
Endorsements:Democratic Party of Sacramento County, Latino Sacramento Democratic Club and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
Catrayel Wood, Budget Manager and parent
Endorsements: San Juan Parents Association, the Sacramento County Deputy Sheriffs' Association and others.
Click here to see the response to our survey.
