VOTE411 Voter Guide

People over Programs Ventura County schools do not need another top-down program. They need leadership that invests in people. Through oversight of district budgets and Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs)- the strategic plans districts use to set priorities and allocate resources. I will ensure funding supports strategies proven to improve student outcomes. This approach allows teachers to focus on what they do best: teaching their content, raising achievement, and supporting students’ well-being. I will also emphasize strong pathways to college, careers, and skilled trades, so students are prepared for life after graduation. By focusing on people first, we ensure investments reach students in a meaningful way.

Data-Driven and Transparent Families and educators deserve clear, timely information about how schools are performing. I will promote the use of up-to-date data, including local assessments, attendance and graduation trends, school climate surveys, and family input, to guide decisions. Transparency is not just about reporting numbers; it is about honest communication and giving the community a real voice in shaping their schools. By using multiple sources of evidence and sharing information openly, we can help districts make informed choices and ensure that every child receives a quality education.

Fiscal Responsibility With declining enrollment and rising costs, fiscal responsibility is essential. I will provide strong oversight to ensure every public dollar is invested in strategies that directly improve outcomes. This includes supporting districts to operate more efficiently, reduce waste, and prioritize evidence-based programs. Fiscal responsibility is not just about saving money, it is about running smarter systems so that every investment strengthens classrooms, empowers educators, and helps students achieve their full potential. By aligning budgets with proven strategies, we can maximize impact across Ventura County.

I have spent my career in education, from Title I classrooms serving students with the greatest needs to leading one of Ventura County’s most respected schools as a principal. I have taught, coached, mentored, and led at every level of K-12 education, so I understand what classrooms need, what principals face, and what it takes to build a school culture where every student can thrive. I also have experience at the district and state levels, working on policy, budgets, and instructional systems. This work gives me a clear understanding of how decisions made at the county office affect every classroom in Ventura County. I hold two master’s degrees, one in education and one in educational administration, and have dedicated my career to improving outcomes for all students. The County Superintendent is a unique role, requiring fiscal oversight, support for district leadership, and advocacy for students and families across a diverse county. I have sat at every table in this system, from student support planning meetings to district and county boardrooms, and I know what responsible, effective county-level leadership looks like. I am running because Ventura County deserves a superintendent who has done the work, knows the system, and will fight to ensure every student receives a high-quality education.

The most pressing challenge facing Ventura County schools is addressing long-standing and growing achievement gaps that leave too many students without the quality education they deserve. Districts face constant pressure to adopt new programs, tools, and technology without clear evidence they improve learning. Meeting this moment requires a County Superintendent who can respond to urgent needs while building systems that work for the long term.

My priority is grounding instructional decisions in what we know works. Decades of research identify evidence-based practices that improve student outcomes. I will use the superintendent’s role in Local Control Accountability Plans (LCAPs) and budget oversight to ensure district investments are intentional, evidence-based, and focused squarely on student achievement.

Curriculum and technology decisions are clear examples. When districts adopt literacy and math programs, those choices should be grounded in evidence, not driven by sales pitches or trends. The same applies to digital tools in the classroom. Technology can be powerful when used with purpose, but too often schools invest in devices and platforms that add screen time without improving learning. I will advocate for curriculum and technology investments that are tied to instructional goals and backed by research, not adopted simply because they are new or marketed well.

This approach addresses immediate needs while creating a long-term culture of disciplined decision-making. Every investment, in curriculum, staffing, or technology, will be intentional and measurable, ensuring Ventura County resources directly improve outcomes for students.

I was raised in Camarillo, educated in local schools, and have spent my career giving back to the communities that shaped me. I understand Ventura County’s families, students, and educators in a way that only comes from having lived it. This is home, and that matters deeply to me.

I am not running to build a resume or advance an agenda. I am running because the County Superintendent has a responsibility that extends beyond schools. Education is the foundation of a thriving community. When our schools are strong, Ventura County is strong. A great education opens doors. It means a young person who grows up here can stay here, find a good career, start a business, buy a home, and raise a family right in the community that shaped them. That is the promise of public education, and it is worth fighting for.

I will put students and educators first. I will be honest, accessible, and accountable to every community in Ventura County. The decisions made at the county level affect real kids in real classrooms every single day.

I am asking for your vote because I have done the work, I know the system, and I will fight to make it work for every student and every family in this county.

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My top three priorities center on students, systems, and sustainability:

1. Strengthening Student Outcomes and Well-Being Every decision must start with students. I will prioritize academic achievement alongside whole-child supports, expanding access to mental health services, strengthening early literacy, and ensuring college and career pathways are meaningful and accessible to all students. This includes closing opportunity gaps so that every student, regardless of background, has what they need to thrive.

2. Supporting and Retaining a High-Quality Educator Workforce Great schools depend on great educators. I will focus on teacher recruitment, preparation, and retention, especially in high-need areas. This means investing in mentorship, professional learning, and leadership pipelines, while also addressing burnout and working conditions so educators feel supported and valued.

3. Accountability, Transparency, and Fiscal Responsibility Families and communities deserve trust in their public institutions. I will ensure strong oversight of district budgets and programs, promote transparent decision-making, and use data to guide continuous improvement. At the same time, I will advocate for sustainable funding and responsible resource allocation that directly benefits students.

These priorities reflect a commitment to equity, collaboration, and results, ensuring our county’s schools are responsive, resilient, and future-focused.

My leadership is rooted in experience, integrity, and commitment to our students and families. Ventura County public schools are my home; I attended Redwood MS, Westlake High School, and my three children attended public schools in Camarillo. I will complete my USC EdD in May 2026.

For 12 years, you have trusted me to serve as an elected Oxnard Union High School District Trustee representing Camarillo, Greater Oxnard, Port Hueneme, and Santa Rosa Valley, improving graduation rates, expanding student opportunities, and strengthening public education while overseeing a $300 million budget, more than half a billion dollars in school bonds, and 1,600 employees with transparency, accountability, and fiscal responsibility.

For 30+ years, I have served the community as a public school teacher, education leader, and elected trustee, strengthening our schools and expanding opportunities for students. I have taught in Ventura County since 1999, building a career focused on student-achievement. As Superintendent, I will deliver transparency and accountability, build a stronger workforce, improve special education services, end excessive executive pay, provide solutions to our housing crisis, and ensure students are career-ready and college-prepared.

As the California Department of Education Director of Teacher Recruitment, I lead statewide programs that recruit, retain, and mentor high-quality educators, improve workforce-development, and support student-success.

Let’s put students first. I ask for your vote. SherforSchools.com.

Endorsed by: State Superintendent Tony Thurmond, State Treasurer Fiona Ma, Oxnard Federation of Teachers & School Employees, California Federation of Teachers, Central Coast Labor Council, IBEW 952, VC Democratic Party, VC Supervisor Kathy Long, Oxnard Mayor Luis McArthur, Oxnard Mayor Pro Tem Gabe Teran, Port Hueneme Mayor Martha McQueen, Fillmore Mayor Albert Mendez, Ojai Mayor Pro Tem Rachel Lang, Thousand Oaks City Council Tie Gutierrez

One example is addressing the growing challenge of affordable workforce housing for educators and school staff, an issue that directly impacts recruitment, retention, and ultimately student success. This is work I am already engaged in through my role as the Director of Teacher Recruitment at the California Department of Education, where I collaborate across agencies and systems to strengthen the educator workforce.

In the short term, I would use the office to convene districts, county agencies, and local partners to identify immediate supports, such as housing stipends, expanded partnerships with local developers, and the use of existing public land for temporary or transitional housing solutions. Building on my current work at CDE, I understand how to navigate state-level resources and would actively advocate for targeted funding and policy flexibility to help districts respond to urgent staffing shortages tied to housing costs.

In the long term, I would position the County Office of Education as a leader and connector in developing sustainable workforce housing solutions. This includes facilitating regional partnerships with cities, counties, and nonprofit developers to create dedicated educator housing, leveraging surplus land, and advancing innovative public-private partnerships. My experience at CDE has reinforced the importance of aligning these efforts with broader economic and workforce development strategies, ensuring that educators, and other essential school staff, can afford to live in the communities they serve.

By addressing immediate pressures while building a coordinated, forward-looking housing strategy, we can stabilize our workforce today and create the conditions for a stronger, more sustainable education system for the future.

This is a defining moment for public education in Ventura County. It has been 30 years since this election was last contested and nearly a century since a woman has held this position. That history underscores both the urgency and the opportunity before us, to lead in a way that reflects the communities we serve and the future we want to build.

I believe deeply that public education is the underpinning of our democracy. It is where opportunity begins, where civic responsibility is nurtured, and where the promise of our nation is made real for every child. Just as importantly, teachers and school communities make every other profession possible, and they deserve leadership that not only understands their work, but actively champions and invests in it.

At the center of my candidacy is a clear and unwavering belief: every child deserves the opportunity for a powerful, self-determined future. That means confronting inequities, strengthening systems of support, and ensuring that every student, no matter their background, has access to high-quality education and the resources they need to succeed.

This campaign is about more than one election. It’s about honoring progress, breaking barriers, and ensuring that our schools, and our leadership, reflect the strength, diversity, and potential of the communities we serve.