Innovate Public Schools is a nonprofit community organization that builds the leadership and capacity of parents and educators across California and nationwide to realize the excellent, equitable public school systems that our children deserve.
We created this voter guide to help you make your vote count for kids this election.
As a nonprofit 501c3, Innovate Public Schools cannot and does not endorse candidates.
Ravenswood City School District’s Board of Trustees oversees three elementary schools and one middle school serving approximately 1,800 students.
Voters can select two candidates.
What does a school board do?
School boards will decide when and how schools reopen. Their top responsibilities include setting the vision and goals of the district, adopting policies in line with those goals, hiring and evaluating the superintendent, approving the annual budget, approving or denying new charter schools and deciding whether existing charter schools can stay open, and being accountable to the public for providing a great public education for all students.
Brownyn Alexander
I have been a public-school teacher for 28 years, 15 at Belle Haven School in Ravenswood where I taught first grade, third grade, and was a Teacher on Special Assignment. I am running for school board because I want to be in-service to more students in my community than I could reach as a classroom teacher or nstructional coach and interventionist. My goals are: Increasing enrollment through marketing the unique programs available here to attract families and implementing universal preschool. Improve fiscal responsibility by ensuring that money is used strategically in service to the students and seek new sources of revenue. Address the inequities that affect historically underserved students including Black, LatinX, English learners, and students with learning differences.
Jenny Varghese Bloom
I am Ravenswood District parent. In EPA, we are blessed with a diverse community that is deep and tight-knit, with neighbors who are family. With your vote, I will use my past experiences teaching preschool and college classes to provide insight into educators' perspectives. My current work counseling high school students to prepare successful college applications helps me understand student needs in our district. With your vote, I will add a dynamic voice to the Ravenswood City School District Board. I am committed to the East Palo Alto community, and I will drive positive change for the benefit of our schools. I promise to be an effective, well-informed, and deeply invested servant for the flourishing of our community.
Zeb Feldman
Coming soon!
Marielena Gaona-Mendoza
My name is Marielena Gaona-Mendoza, I am a mother of four adult children and live in East Palo Alto. I am running for a second term to finish the work that I started. If I win a seat, preparing our students for high school will be one of my top priorities, the second one will be hiring and retaining experienced and full credential teachers. Another priority of mine is to address the technology divide in our district by hiring more savvy tech teachers and providing our teachers with mandatory technology professional development. My third priority is to make sure that our school campus is clean.
Julian Garcia
Coming soon!
Mele Latu
I am a long term resident of East Palo Alto. My dream has always been to find ways to help people. I grew up in programs like The East Palo Alto Jr. Golf Program and College Track. After I graduated and spent some time overseas, I returned to the community to continue to find ways to give back. I worked within Ronald McNair Academy and Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School for 4.5 years engaging with students and families and connecting them to mental health and social services.
I am running for the Ravenswood City School District Governing Board because I care about the quality of education and the experience the young people and families have.
Joel Rivera
My name is Joel Rivera. I became a U.S. citizen to run for school board. I started my career as a laborer on a construction site and worked my way up to superintendent. Currently, I am a construction labor manager. I am married to a 20-year teacher in the Ravenswood District, Jesusita Rivera. We have two beautiful children who we are raising in East Palo Alto, where we have lived for 20 years. If elected, I would like to increase enrollment by providing universal preschool at all sites and provide before school supervision starting at 7:30am. I would also like to improve fiscal responsibility in the district and implement the district’s 5 year strategic plan.
The City of East Palo Alto is home to just under 30,000 people. The five city council members are elected at large to four-year terms.
Voters can select two candidates.
What does the City Council do?
The city council makes many decisions that affect children, their families and the quality of life. They govern the city, working to make sure it’s a safe and livable community. Important responsibilities include zoning, approving what developments can be built, and setting policies on housing like how much is affordable and protections for renters. The council also oversees the police and fire departments and libraries, fixes local streets, maintains parks and community centers, and runs recreational programs for youth and seniors.
Lisa Gauthier
Coming soon!
Stewart Hyland
Coming soon!
Webster Lincoln
I want to bring fresh ideas and positive change to East Palo Alto by running for city council. As a graduate of San José State University, I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology with minors in Biological Science and Chemistry. I currently work as a Data Scientist at Genentech. In addition to work, I’ve been an advocate for programs such as BUILD that teach entrepreneurship to high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them attend college. My goal as a council member is to improve quality of life, health and housing security for all members of our community. I look forward to the honor of serving our community of East Palo Alto.
Antonio Lopez
As a former Ravenswood student (first attending Edison Brentwood Academy, then Ronald McNair), I have an intimate knowledge of what our youth need to succeed. My campaign is centered in uplifting our most vulnerable pockets on this city—from the single mother tenant struggling to pay her water bill, to our homeless students in Costano. For this reason, all members of my field team are high-school and first-generation college students. I am running on affordable housing, safer streets, and youth development. Nothing short of state and federal aid will ensure our community survives one of the worst housing crises we’ve seen in decades. What I offer to the City Council is someone who will work tirelessly be a bridge for success.
Juan Mendez
My name is Juan Mendez, I am a son of immigrants, a recent college graduate from UC Berkeley and a current Planning Commissioner Alternate. I want to improve our traffic, build more affordable housing, create opportunities for youth, and create a progressive climate action plan. My education in Legal Studies and Public Policy has taught me that the policy we set forth in this city must be equitable to everyone in our community. My experience as a commissioner has allowed me to understand what our city needs. Lastly, my work in nonprofits has taught me that we can solve any issue if we work together. Together we will build a city that will serve our children for generations to come.
Larry Moody
Councilman Larry Moody, an Air Force veteran, devoted husband, and father of four sons. He was elected to the City Council in 2012 and has served as Vice-2016-Mayor & Mayor-2017. Following 16 years as a manager in the Hospitality Industry, he came to EPA in 1992 to support local leaders in the war on drugs. He served on the Ravenswood City School Board 2006-10 and Founding Board member of the Ravenswood Educational Foundation. Larry serves on the Peninsula League Executive Committee, and the San Mateo County Task Force on Jobs and Housing. Active on numerous Boards and Associations thru out Silicon Valley representing East Palo Alto.
Priorities: Affordable Housing, Local Job Creation, Open Space and Recreation and Traffic.
Carlos Romero
Coming soon!
This measure would increase the hotel tax which visitors who stay at East Palo Alto hotels and short term rentals pay from the current 12% to 13% on Jan. 1, 2022 and to 14% on Jan. 1, 2023. This is projected to generate $195,000 in 2022 and $390,000 annually starting in 2023 that would be devoted to buying and building affordable housing. You can find more information on the City's elections page.
Voter registration deadline is October 19! Find out the multiple ways to cast your vote in this upcoming election, including voting with a mail-in ballot automatically sent to all registered voters.
Innovate Public Schools endorses two statewide propositions. Learn why Propositions 15 and 16 are critical for advancing educational opportunity in our state.
Get to know your local school board and city council candidates' views and plans for improving education.
Join our mailing list to stay up-to-date on all California education election information.