She partnered with principals and district leaders to solve problems, helped improve school safety, and worked to bring in new resources that directly benefited students. 

Brenda is a long-time Martinez resident, growing up where her family ran a small farm. Her mother was a teacher and counselor in the Martinez Unified School District; her father was a local contractor. After graduating from Alhambra High School, Brenda attended Diablo Valley College. She transferred to UC Berkeley, earning a degree in Psychology, before returning home to earn her teaching credential from Saint Mary’s College. 

Brenda also spent nearly a decade helping lift up educator voices as a local union leader—working to improve communication, support struggling staff, and ensure the district kept its commitments to teachers, students, and parents. Her efforts helped strengthen collaboration across school sites and build a more stable and supportive school environment.

Today, as a proud parent of MUSD graduates and a community member who’s called Martinez home for over 30 years, Brenda is running for school board to continue serving the district she loves. She knows the challenges facing students, families, and educators—and she brings the deep experience, steady leadership, and unwavering heart that this moment calls for.

Because for Brenda, teaching wasn’t just a career. It was—and still is—her life’s work.