Issue link: http://educator.cta.org/i/1544915
Richard Barrera Age: 61 Residence: A first-generation San Diegan whose father was born in Colombia and grandparents came through Ellis Island. Education: Attended San Diego public schools; bachelor 's degree in history from UC San Diego; master 's in public policy from Harvard University. Family: Married, two sons — both graduates of SDUSD schools What friends say: In a Voice of San Diego story in 2016, colleagues said he possesses a near- photographic memory, famously rarely carrying a pencil or taking notes because he remembers everything. After seeing firsthand how public schools shaped the futures of the communities he served, he ran for the San Diego Unified School Board in 2008 with a goal that every child would have access to the same opportunities he had. During his 18 years on the board, student test scores have risen, graduation rates have increased, and the achievement gap has narrowed. Barrera has noted that this success is based on pulling together and listening to the right stakeholders. "What we've built has been a model of a district that listens to the people who are closest to our kids — our educators, our parents, our stu- dents — and we have made significant progress on issues that school districts should be working on," he said in a news story. His coalition-building skills have led to the successful passage of four school bonds totaling $11.5 billion — helping to ensure educators have the resources and support they need, create state-of-the-art campuses and make SDUSD the first district in the state to guarantee transitional kindergarten for every four- year-old. (See SDUSD budget priorities on the next page.) Informed by his experience and what works, Barrera's ambi- tions for SPI are centered on educator-led change, expanded funding and community-based solutions. A statewide vision for fully funded schools Since July 2024, Barrera has also served as a senior policy adviser to current State Superintendent Tony urmond's Initiatives Office, which oversees the Whole Child Division, including school-based health programs and advisory councils for par- ents and students. is role has connected him with statewide education policy and work on issues like chronic absenteeism and affordable housing on school district land. His platform for SPI reflects both his local track record and a broader statewide vision. He supports local control of school districts, the use of formative assessments throughout the aca- demic year, and ethnic studies, among other issues. As SPI, Barrera has stated he will "help local communities organize and pass their own school funding measures while leading a statewide effort to increase education funding and reinvest California's wealth into its public schools." He has also said that he will work with districts on strategic plans to improve student achievement, strengthen teacher support and expand access to critical resources. "e solutions aren't in Sacramento," he said. "ey're in our classrooms, our communities, and the hands of the educators and families who know what our students need. I'm not here to push top-down mandates. I'm here to organize, build coalitions, and fight for the resources and support that schools across the state deserve." In February, Barrera spoke at CTA's Political Academy in Garden Grove. 50 cta.org Our Union C M Y CM MY CY CMY K