About Board President Álvarez
Juan Álvarez was elected to represent Area 2 of the Anaheim Elementary School district in 2018. He resides in Anaheim with his wife and two children, the youngest of whom is a DLI student at Horace Mann Elementary. Juan knows the value of education and is able to demonstrate his passion for education and teaching as a bilingual junior high math teacher. Juan attributes his understanding of the value of hard work to his parents, who both immigrated from Michoacán, Mexico in the late 1970s. His father, a custodial worker, and his mother, a housekeeper, always demonstrated the value of hard work, dependability, and drive to Juan and his four siblings. From a young age, Juan learned about their struggle and would often accompany his father to his weekend jobs where he learned the transferable employment skills that serve him to this day: planning, communication, responsibility, trustworthiness, dependability, and initiative. Juan’s parents always supported his goals of pursuing higher education. Juan pursued his dreams of higher education at California State University, Fullerton.
Once accepted, he became the first in his family to attend college and obtain a Bachelor’s degree. Proving his commitment to education, Juan followed his Bachelor’s degree with a Master’s degree obtained at California State University, Long Beach. Juan was the first person in his family, immediate and extended, to have two degrees. He never lost sight of his roots as a 1st generation Mexican-American. This motivated him to continue his education and obtain a Bilingual Authorization in Spanish on his teaching credential. He often recalls the struggle that his parents went through to ensure that he and his siblings were able to obtain an education and prove that Latino immigrants were capable of much more than they are given credit for.
Juan is also active in community organizing. He is a founding member of SOMOS Anaheim, a community-based organization that received a distinction from the OC Human Relations for their part in restoring peace and uniting the community after civil unrest in 2012. Additionally, Juan and SOMOS, in collaboration with the City of Anaheim, created and implemented the city’s first Day of the Dead festival, “Día de los Muertos: A night of Community and Culture”. His passion for education and literacy led Juan to found a nonprofit organization, Operation L.E.E. (Literacy Engaging Everyone). With the help of community members and local students, Juan led an effort to create book stations, found citywide, wherein residents can take and/or leave books, increasing access to literature in neighborhoods with few educational resources. Juan just recently ended a term on the City of Anaheim’s Cultural & Heritage Commission where he worked on promoting art and culture within the city.
Priorities for Anaheim Elementary School District
Health and Safety
Board President Álvarez collaborated with other board members in supporting district-wide protocols to ensure minimal exposure of COVID-19 to our families and the Anaheim community over the past two years. He believes that the fundamental physical, physiological and socio-emotional needs of all children should to be addressed and met to the best of our ability in order to set them up for success in school. Board President Álvarez is proud of the work and systems that have been put in place within the Anaheim Elementary School District to ensure that school campuses are safe and nurturing places for our students and their families. He will continue to seek the advice of medical professionals and researchers to build upon the systems that are in place regarding public health concerns. He is confident in the security measures that are in place both around the perimeters of district facilities and at all of the front desks to ensure that the correct people are allowed to enter the school buildings. There is always room for improvement and he is open to any input that comes his way.
Inclusivity and Equity
Our children should grow up seeing and identifying themselves and their ancestral heritages within the curriculum. Along with the rest of the board, Board President Álvarez has led efforts to create the CREST (Culturally Responsive and Ethnic Studies Taskforce) committee within the Anaheim Elementary School District where our educational partners have been working to identify how to make our curriculum more culturally responsive and reflective of all of our families. Board President Álvarez values all people's linguistic and cultural contributions and envisions a curriculum where students learn about diversity and celebrate what we all contribute to society throughout the entire school year rather than on specific months. As Dual Language Immersions programs have been expanded to all 24 Anaheim Elementary sites Board President Álvarez holds true to a commitment to expand the language offerings beyond Spanish and Korean. Language acquisition opens up a world of possibilities for our students and their families.
Transparency and Accountability
Board President Álvarez understands that the public deserves to know what is happening with their tax dollars. It is important that the district continues to be transparent about how it chooses how to spend those dollars. He is committed to supporting carefully thought-out financial decisions that prioritize positive student outcomes. He is also committed to being open to discuss any concerns or matters directly related to the operation of the Anaheim Elementary District. He will actively listen to Anaheim residents and what they feel is best for their schools and their children.
Rewarding and fulfilling work environment
The success of the Anaheim Elementary School District is a direct function of the hard work and dedication of its amazing employees. From instructional assistants to bus drivers, custodians, and teachers to behind-the-scenes financial planners and specialized technicians, every single one of our employees is valuable and plays an integral role in ensuring the safety and success of students. It is a goal of Board President Álvarez to be supportive of employees and help to continue to foster a work environment where employees continue to feel validated and proud of what they do to contribute to the growth of our community.
Accomplishments
2019
Resolution, January 30, 2019, Fred T. Korematsu Day of Civil Liberties and the Constitution
Resolution, February 2019 as Make Kindness Contagious Month.
Approval of the Dual Language Immersion Implementation Plan 2019-2020
Resolution, March 31, 2019, César Chávez Day throughout the Anaheim Elementary School District
Approval of single point of entry and fencing project at various sites
Resolution, Week of November November 15, 2019, as School Psychology Awareness Week
Resolution, In Support of the Schools and Local Communities First Funding Act
2020
Resolution, In support of Read Across America 2020
Resolution, In Support of Proposition 13: Public preschool, K-12, and College Health and Safety Bond Act of 2020
Resolution, February 26, 2020, In support of Culturally Responsive Awareness and Teaching, and to direct the superintendent to develop curriculum and provide professional development to ensure quality instruction in Culturally Responsive Teaching
Resolution, Declaring the month of March as Music in our Schools Month
Resolution, In support for School Library Week, April 20-24, 2020
Resolution, March 13, 2020, Declaring Emergency Conditions Exist at Anaheim Elementary School District schools and offices and authorization to take any and all necessary actions to prepare and respond effectively to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)
Resolution, April 1, 2020, Reduced days of operation or attendance due to emergency conditions
Resolution, Declaring April 28, 2020, as School Bus Drivers’ Appreciation Day.
Approval, May 27, 2020, of the opening of New School 24 (Anaheim Online Academy) to offer Distance Learning to provide educational options for families.
Approval, June 10, 2020. the adoption of the two recommendations from the School Reopening Advisory Committee (SRAC) on the safe reopening of schools for the 2020-21 school year.
Resolution, June 24, 2020, Proclaiming Black Lives Matter throughout the Anaheim Elementary District
Approval, July 16, 2020, to prioritize the safety of students and staff and begin the 2020-21 school year with Distance Learning until further notice.
Resolution, To officially certify that pupils in the schools will have, during the 2020-21 school year, sufficient textbooks and/or instructional materials
Resolution, In support of Mental Health Awareness throughout the Anaheim Elementary School District
Resolution, Delegating authority to take necessary action to protect students and staff from the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
Resolution, Establishing guidelines for face coverings for individuals when they are in school buildings.
Resolution, Declaring October 25, 2020, as Larry Itliong Day throughout the Anaheim Elementary School District
2021
Resolution, Pledging to maintain and grow the AESD arts education programs in the 2021-22 school year and beyond
Resolution, In support of the safety, well-being and condemning hate and violence against Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities.
Resolution, In support of suspending state assessments for the 2020-21 school year.
Resolution, Designating Wednesday, May 12, 2021, as California Day of the Teacher
Resolution, Designating the week of May 16-22, 2021, as Classified School Employee Week
Resolution, Designating the month of October 2021 as National Bullying Prevention Month
Resolution, Acknowledging custodial staff for their hard work, dedication, and daily support for our students and declaring October 1, 2021, as Custodial Workers Appreciation Day
Elected Board President December 15, 2021
Who is Juan Gabriel Álvarez?
Community Volunteer and Advocate
Supporter of Literacy
Champion for Dual Language
Parent in the Distirct
Paid for by Alvarez for School Board 2022, FPPC ID# 1445475
1400 N. Harbor Blvd, Suite 550
Fullerton, CA 92835-4135