How You or Someone You Know Can Run for School Board

This session is recorded. Register for the recordings package.

Nearly all charter leaders have experienced the frustration of appearing before a school board with a new or renewal charter petition and being treated unfairly by school board members who either do not understand charter schools or who would prefer they not exist.

This breakout is designed to teach you how you or someone in your school community can run for school board so that the board is composed of individuals who genuinely support school choice. It is being led by three individuals who have successfully run for school board in their respective communities. We will cover filing for office, fundraising, campaign finance reporting, voter outreach, and more.

When/Where:
,
Meeting Room 3

Format
Breakout Session

Strands
Strand 8 - Running for local school board

Eligible for
CEU
Governance Training Certificate

Recorded Package

Presented by

Jason Sample

Superintendent/CEO
Gateway Community Charters

Jerry Simmons

Partner/Attorney at Law
Young, Minney & Corr, LLP

Jerry Simmons has represented charter schools in every aspect of their operations for more than fifteen years. Through drafting charter petitions, memorandums of understanding for business and special education services, facilities use agreements, private leases, property purchases, and development of school policies covering every facet of charter school operations. Jerry has also assisted charter schools with employment and labor law matters, board governance and training, zoning and building code compliance, defense of audit findings in annual and extraordinary audits, and compliance with the Brown Act, Political Reform Act, Public Records Act, and Family Educational Records Protection Act.

Joanne Ahola

Senior Director of Operations
California Montessori Project

Joanne is the Senior Director of Operations for the California Montessori Project. She oversees HR, Payroll, Student Services, Accounts Payable and Data Management. Prior to CMP, Joanne served over 7-years with the California Charter Schools Association. As the Managing Director, Northern California Local Advocacy, she was responsible for working closely with teams of charter school operators, community partners, district and county elected officials. Joanne also served as the Director, Political Engagement, where she was responsible for developing and supporting a network of Political Action Committees across California. Joanne was elected to the Sacramento County Board of Education in 2016.

Sabrina Bow

Executive Director
Encore Jr./Sr. High School for the Performing and Visual Arts

Dr. Sabrina Bow has served students and families in Title I charter schools since 2005. She brings systems thinking and a "business + education" lens to school operations. Her leadership style is grounded in candor, humor, and humility. In 2020, Dr. Bow was elected to the Governing Board of the Azusa Unified School District on which she currently serves as Vice President. She is also a Commissioner for the Azusa Library, and a proud parent of two Azusa Unified students. A first generation college graduate (Go Anteaters!), Dr. Bow holds an MBA from USC and an Ed.D. from UCLA.