Education Equals Opportunity
In order to create a system of great schools in our county, San Joaquin A+ collaborates with local families, education, and workforce partners to set a vision for how our community can prepare students to be successful and responsible citizens.
Our Purpose & Vision
Together we can help students in San Joaquin County achieve quality educational outcomes, and in doing so, create a brighter future for our region.
What We Do
San Joaquin A+ is a group of educators, business leaders, active citizens and philanthropists. Collectively, the organization has supported education since 1996 and has almost a quarter century of experience and commitment to Stockton and SJ County.
We are encouraged by the momentum we see at leadership levels across our region, and are engaging in a renewed effort to improve schools for our young people.
Our primary goals include:

Exceed the Need
Bring More Great Educators and School Leaders to San Joaquin County.

Inform Our Community
Provide Transparent and Valuable Information About School Quality.

Fuel the Workforce
Prepare Young People with the Knowledge and Skills to Earn a Family-Sustaining Income.
How You Can Help
Here are a few ways you can work with us to create a better future for the youth in our community.
- Keep doing what you are doing: Make the pledge to continue to serve the children and families of San Joaquin County.
- Participate in working groups, visits, and discussions to create a shared vision for quality education in SJ County.
- Raise your hand for partnership or grantee opportunities when they arise, by becoming a friend of San Joaquin A+ and subscribing to our mailing list (below).
Subscribe for email updates to learn how to get involved through partnerships, grantee opportunities, and more.
Who We Are
Our Board Members include:

Don Shalvey
CEO, San Joaquin A+

Jose Rodriguez
President & CEO, El Concilio

Kathy Lagorio Janssen
Chief Executive Officer, Lagorio Companies

Jane Butterfield

Susan Grupe Depolo
Local Education Advocate & Former Executive Director, San Joaquin A+

Donald Wiley
President & CEO, St. Joseph’s Medical Center of Stockton

Kevin Shafer
Founding Partner, The City Fund
Updates
LANGE LUNTAO: Incumbent Board Member, Area 4
Current SUSD Board Member, Executive Director of the Reinvent Stockton Foundation[1] Lange Luntao was born and raised in Stockton, where [...]
VALENTINO SILVA: Board Candidate, Area 3
Special Education Technician, Community Activist[1] Valentino Silva was born and raised in Stockton,[2] growing up on the city’s east and [...]
VIOLA A. SHACKELFORD: Board Candidate, Area 1
Nutrition Educator, Edible Schoolyard Project Shackelford is a lifelong Stockton resident, a nutrition educator with the Edible Schoolyard Project, an [...]
LAVICHIA JONES: Board Candidate, Area 3
Financial Coach & Community Activist[1] Lavichia Jones is a native of Stockton, where she attended Lincoln High School[2] and graduated [...]
ALICIA RICO: Board Candidate, Area 3
Independent Businesswoman & Community Volunteer Alicia Rico has lived in Eastside Stockton for over 30 years[1] and is the mother [...]
GABRIEL CASILLAS: Board Candidate, Area 4
Parish Administrator & Youth Minister[1] Gabriel Casillas is a Stockton native and husband[2] who works as a parish administrator and [...]