About Board Member Álvarez
About Board Member Álvarez
Embedded Files
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
Priorities for Anaheim Elementary School District
Culturally and Linguistically Sustaining Teaching & Community Schools
Every child deserves to see themselves, their families, and their communities reflected in their education. I will continue to support teaching practices that recognize and value the cultural backgrounds, languages, and experiences that our students bring to the classroom. I believe our curriculum should help students understand and celebrate the many cultures and traditions that make our community strong throughout the entire school year. As we strengthen our Community Schools, I will support meaningful partnerships with families and community members so that their knowledge, experiences, and voices help shape learning and create stronger connections between our schools and the communities we serve. I will continue to support the work of educators and families to ensure that our schools provide meaningful opportunities for students to develop both academically and culturally. I also believe that language acquisition is an essential part of ensuring that every student can fully participate, succeed in school and thrive.
Supporting Immigrant and Working-Class Families
Our schools are strongest when every family feels welcomed, respected, and supported. I will continue to stand with immigrant and working-class families and support policies that help ensure that every child has the opportunity to succeed regardless of their family circumstances. Families should feel confident that their schools are places where they can seek support, ask questions, and advocate for their children. I will continue to listen to families and work to make sure that their voices are part of the decisions that affect their children and their schools. Meeting the physical, emotional, and educational needs of our students requires recognizing the challenges that families face and working together to provide the support our community needs.
Partnerships With Our Employees
The success of our schools depends on the dedication and expertise of every employee who serves our students. From teachers and instructional assistants to bus drivers, custodians, office staff, technicians, and financial professionals, every employee plays an important role in creating safe and successful schools. I will continue to build strong partnerships with all employee groups and support a work environment where employees feel respected, valued, and heard. Meaningful collaboration with employees and their union leaders leads to better decisions and stronger schools. I will continue to listen to the people who work directly with our students and families and seek their input as we address the needs of our district.
Fiscal Responsibility
Our community entrusts the district with public funds, and those funds must be managed responsibly. I will continue to advocate for careful and thoughtful decisions about the district budget that put student needs at the center while protecting the long term financial stability of our schools. Every dollar should be considered carefully, with a clear understanding of how spending decisions affect students, families, and employees. I will support transparency about how public funds are used and will continue to ask questions, examine priorities, and listen to the community when important financial decisions are being made. Fiscal responsibility means making decisions today that allow our schools to continue serving students effectively for years to come.
Accomplishments
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
2022 -2026
Resolution to Support the Arts and Music in Schools Funding Guarantee and Accountability Act, October 2022
Art ARE Resolution February, 2023
Native American Land Acknowledgement Resolution, April 2023
Resolution to Support for Community Schools, May 2023
Indigenous Peoples Day Resolution, September 2023
Resolution for California State Preschool Program Continued Funding, November 2023
Elected Board President, December 2024
Mental Health Awareness Resolution, April 2024
Resolution for Participation in the Zero Emission
School Bus and Infrastructure, April 2025
Resolution to Strengthening Social-Emotional Learning and Restorative Practices for all Students, August 2025
Resolution in support of Proposition 55, February 2026
Resolution Affirming the Anaheim Elementary School District's Commitment to Literacy, August 2026
Who is Juan Gabriel Álvarez?
Who is Juan Gabriel Álvarez?
Community Volunteer and Advocate
Supporter of Literacy
Champion for Dual Language
Parent in the Distirct
Paid for by Juan Gabriel Álvarez for School Board 2026, FPPC ID# 1495906
1400 N. Harbor Blvd, Suite 550
Fullerton, CA 92835-4135
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