Who is Nicole Naditz?

I am a lifelong Californian, lifelong Democrat, and career educator who has worked in education since 1993. In 2018, after almost 25 years teaching, I became a curriculum administrator, directly supporting teachers in the important work they do for students and using my role to promote equitable educational practices and outcomes. Over the years, I have been humbled and honored to be recognized multiple times locally, regionally, statewide and nationally for my work in education as a teacher, and twice regionally as a curriculum administrator.  My husband and I have been married since 1990 and we have one adult daughter. We have lived in Roseville since 2019 and our daughter lives in Auburn.  I volunteer with multiple professional organizations for teachers, as well as a local figure skating club.  

My Platform

There are so many issues that I am passionate about, but here are just some of my top advocacy issues:

Education

I know the importance of local elections, such as school board elections, in shaping the educational opportunities and experiences of students, and their views of the world and their place in it--not only through instructional strategies, but also who is included/represented (and NOT included/represented) in adopted curriculum materials and library collections. I know that education should be a doorway to opportunity for all learners not only to fulfilling careers today, but to careers we have yet to envision. We must keep working to ensure public schools remain a top priority for not just funding, but the critical support on multiple levels needed to offer educational programs and approaches that are inclusive, accessible, student-centered and culturally responsive. 

Healthcare

I am a recent cancer survivor who (even before my diagnosis) knew the critical need to ensure healthcare for all, without interference from non-medical professionals in the for-profit insurance industry deciding which treatments people can or cannot have.  Access to to high-quality, affordable healthcare is a fundamental human right and should not be a function of one's economic status. Furthermore, women have the right to bodily autonomy and to make healthcare decisions for themselves in private consultation with their care team without fear of complications or death due to laws restricting their access to healthcare, or criminal prosecution over their healthcare decisions. California must continue to be a leader in this work and a safe space for women to get the healthcare they need.

LGBTQ+ rights

I have many friends and former students who are members of the LGBTQ+ community,  and my own adult daughter transitioned just a few years ago. I see first-hand what happens when our LGBTQ+ neighbors feel safe and valued, and when they don't or aren't.  I am committed to doing what I can to ensure all members of the LGBTQ+ community enjoy the same rights cisgender, heterosexual people like myself enjoy: the right to exist in all aspects of their daily lives as their authentic selves, with dignity and respect ... and free from fear of harm. 

Systemic Racism

My mother-in-law, who lives with us, immigrated from Peru in the 1960s and I sadly know many ways explicit and implicit racism have directly impacted her life and her opportunities. As a lifelong student of history, I also know that for too many, this continues today, not only in the ways we have sadly come to expect, but also through misuse of AI technologies in lending, university acceptance, and employment. As someone who trains teachers and other educational staff on the use and implications of generative artificial intelligence, I firmly believe that we have an obligation to advocate for ongoing examination and thoughtful oversight of technologies like generative AI that have great potential for good, but also for harm. Otherwise, we risk exacerbating systemic racism and injustice rather than disrupting them. 

Environmental Stewardship

With extremes in temperature (and extreme wind events) becoming more common, more severe storms hitting communities, and fauna, flora and marine life suffering from extinctions that impact biodiversity, thus disrupting the delicate balance that sustains the cycle of life on the planet, it is critical that we protect our air and water and the diverse ecosystems in our state. Healthy ecosystems and low (preferably no) pollution ensure more fruitful crops to feed our communities, clean air and water to take into our bodies, and protect the amazing and varied beauty of California and the world.  Thoughtfully examining opportunities to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and holding corporations accountable when they produce excessive amounts of pollution and waste, as well as how and where they dispose of their waste, are part of the work we must all do together. This includes ensuring that those who live in neighborhoods where lower incomes and economic uncertainty are more prevalent are not disproportionately impacted by dangerous environmental practices. Air and water pollution rates in low-income communities  are higher than those in wealthier communities due to historic discrimination that puts polluting industries in or bordering their neighborhoods, leading to increased serious short- and long-term health impacts for these communities (see, for example this 2024 report from the EPA).

With these and other priorities in mind reminding me that we are not perfect, I  still believe in our democracy. At the same time, I believe we can and must continue to examine how we can wield the enormous power and responsibility of our governmental institutions, from local to federal, in support of a just and equitable society for the benefit of every one.

Advocacy Experience

If elected to represent all Democratic voters in Assembly District 5, I will leverage not only my professional experience (which includes presenting, keynote addresses, and writing, plus my experience in various roles multiple professional organizations and one volunteer club), but also opportunities I have had to advocate both in Sacramento and in Washington, D.C. I have spoken at a legislative briefing on Capitol Hill and have participated in multiple state and national legislative advocacy days, where I spoke to elected officials and/or their staffers on behalf of professional organizations for teachers and for administrators.

I am honored to have the opportunity to represent you. I invite you to reach out to me using either method on the left of this page if you have questions or concerns.