Current School Board Member Cecilia Mendez was raised in Southwest Stockton and is a native of Stockton USD Area 1. In 2016, she was elected to her first term as a member of the Stockton Board of Education, where she currently serves as the Board’s Clerk. Mendez is a community activist with almost 15 years of experience advocating for student and parent rights. She currently serves as a Trustee[1] and is a former President of Stockton District English Learner Advisory Committee (DELAC), where she has volunteered since 1996.[2] Mendez has shared three top priorities in her campaign this year[3]: Safety College and Career Readiness Student Achievement Mendez lives in Stockton and is mother to three children, two of whom have attended Stockton USD schools.   Sources: [1] “District English Learner Advisory Committee,” Stockton USD. [2] “Ceci Mendez,” LinkedIn. [3] Voters Edge Candidate Guide  

Current SUSD Board Member, Executive Director of the Reinvent Stockton Foundation[1] Lange Luntao was born and raised in Stockton, where he graduated from Lincoln High School before attending Harvard University, graduating with honors and receiving a prestigious Fulbright Fellowship to Malaysia. He returned to Stockton to begin his career in public service and become a third generation teacher, serving as field director for the Michael Tubbs for City Council campaign and teaching early college sociology and humanities at Aspire Langston Hughes Academy for four school years.[2] By day, Luntao works as the Executive Director of the Reinvent Stockton Foundation, a non-profit he co-founded with Mayor Michael Tubbs to create opportunity by investing in Stockton’s people and constructing a cradle-to-career continuum of support for Stockton’s children. Luntao is a founding member of the South Stockton Schools Initiative and serves on the boards of Little Manila Rising, Placeholder Arts Collective, Third City Coalition, and the Stockton Urban Revitalization Fellowship.[3] Since 2016, Luntao has served as the youngest person ever elected to the Stockton Unified School District Board of Trustees, and the first out gay man ever elected to office in San Joaquin County.[4] Luntao highlights four priorities the board has focused on during his tenure to build stronger, more equitable schools in the community:[5] College readiness - because every student deserves the chance to enter college prepared [...]

Special Education Technician, Community Activist[1] Valentino Silva was born and raised in Stockton,[2] growing up on the city’s east and south sides. He graduated from SUSD’s Health Careers Academy High School,[3] where he served as junior class president and ASB president. He is currently pursuing legal studies at Humphreys University.[4] By day, Silva is a special education technician. He is also an active community organizer: he serves as a current board member of Stockton Crime Stoppers and previously worked in the field for Susan Eggman’s state senate campaign and Jerry McNerney’s campaign for Congress. Silva says he is running to represent Trustee Area 3 because students deserve to be set up for success after they graduate, and he believes that this can be accomplished in part by supporting teachers and holding the district accountable. Silva has stated that, as a special education behavioral expert, he is able to see the impact of how education can transform lives.[5] Silva’s campaign has identified six issues as top priorities on his website:[6] Engage students and families in school and district decision making. Provide meaningful support to struggling school sites and escalate interventions if they do not improve. Invest in high-quality teacher residencies and other “grow-your” own models. Strengthen teacher monitoring and assistance to ensure every student has access to well prepared, appropriately placed, and effective teachers. Increase funding [...]