School board candidates in El Dorado County races share views on key issues
County BOE, Area 1 short-term
Two candidates
CHARLES WARE
Age: 50
Residence: El Dorado Hills
Title/occupation: Appointed Incumbent
Education:
I hold a Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Health Education Administration, providing me with deep expertise in educational administration, health education, and policy development. My Master of Science (M.S.) in Management equips me with strong management skills, essential for overseeing educational initiatives, budgets, and staff. Additionally, my Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Education gives me a solid foundation in educational theory and practice, ensuring informed decision-making in curriculum, teaching methods, and student success. This academic background is crucial for effectively guiding and managing educational programs at the county level.
Work experience:
With nearly 25 years of experience in education, I have a strong background in advising, counseling, and student and academic success initiatives, crucial for addressing the needs of students in El Dorado County. As Sr. Director of Medical Education at California Northstate University, I lead programs that enhance student success, showcasing my leadership in diverse educational environments. My former roles as academic dean and university administrator provided me with expertise in higher education administration, policy development, and program design, making me well-equipped to influence county-wide educational policies and contribute to the governance of the El Dorado County Office of Education.
Civic engagement:
My civic involvement includes serving as an elected school board trustee, where I demonstrate a strong commitment to education and community service. I provide health consulting services, ensuring continuity of care for residents. I actively participate in panel discussions on education and mental health and contribute to diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives. Additionally, I collaborate with local educational institutions to enhance student success, advocate for policies supporting student growth, and engage in community events and forums. My volunteer work further underscores my dedication to civic responsibility and service, particularly in education and mental health.
What is the key initiative you want to pursue if you are elected?
If re-elected, the key initiative I want to continue pursuing is to enhance educational equity and access for all students in our district. This includes further developing and implementing programs that address disparities in resources, supporting mental health services within schools, and strengthening partnerships with local organizations to provide students with the tools and opportunities they need to succeed. My ongoing goal is to ensure that every student, regardless of their background, continues to have access to a high-quality education and the support necessary to achieve their full potential.
How do you plan to address the achievement/opportunity gap in the district?
I am committed to several key initiatives to foster equity and access for all students. First, I will prioritize expanding early childhood education, recognizing its critical role in closing achievement gaps. I will advocate for increased funding and resources for schools serving low-income and historically marginalized students to ensure they have the support they need. Enhancing mental health and support services within schools is another priority, as these are essential for student well-being and success. Additionally, I will build partnerships with local businesses, colleges and community organizations to provide students with real-world experiences through internships, apprenticeships and dual-enrollment programs. Engaging with parents, teachers and community members will be vital in creating and implementing strategies that address the diverse needs of our student population. My goal is to ensure that every student, regardless of background, has the resources and support necessary to excel academically and to help close the achievement and opportunity gap in our district.
How would you rate the quality of special education in the district, and what changes need to be made to ensure all students with special needs receive a quality education?
The quality of special education in our district has many strengths, but there is always room for improvement to ensure that every student receives the highest-quality education. Our district is fortunate to have dedicated educators and support staff who work tirelessly to meet the needs of students with special needs. However, to enhance our program, we must focus on several key areas: First, ongoing professional development for teachers and staff is essential. By providing training in the latest special education practices and inclusive teaching strategies, we can better equip our educators to support diverse learning needs. Second, fostering stronger partnerships with parents and caregivers is crucial. Their insights and concerns should be fully integrated into their child’s education plan to ensure that each student receives the personalized support they need. Additionally, we must advocate for sufficient budget allocations to support necessary services, such as speech therapy, occupational therapy and psychological support. Ensuring that these resources are available and accessible is vital to meeting the unique needs of our students. While the foundation of our special education program is strong, targeted improvements in individualized support, teacher training, family collaboration, inclusive opportunities and resource allocation are necessary. These enhancements will help ensure that all students with special needs receive a high-quality education that empowers them to reach their full potential.
OTHER CANDIDATE
Candidate who did not respond: Rachel Librach
County BOE, Area 3
Two candidates
KEN FUTERNICK
Age: 71
Residence: Placerville
Title/occupation: Retired Educator
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree, applied behavioral science, UC Davis
- MS, Education, UC Berkeley
- PhD, Education, UC Berkeley
Work experience:
- Teacher, Rescue Union School District, 1976-80
- Professor of Education, CSU Sacramento, 1989-2008
- Director, National School Turnaround Center, WestEd, 2006-14
- Director, EduCorps, CSU’s Teacher Recruitment Program, 2014-20
- Podcast host, Courageous Conversations about our Schools (www.schoolconversations.org) and Teacher Stories (www.teacherstories.org), current
Civic engagement: I co-lead “Bridging Divides-El Dorado,” an initiative that seeks to strengthen El Dorado County through civil discourse.
What is the key initiative you want to pursue if you are elected?
Reducing the high levels of chronic absenteeism among the county’s students.
How do you plan to address the achievement/opportunity gap in the district?
Increase student attendance; ensure families have access to basic supports, including food, housing and health care.
How would you rate the quality of special education in the district, and what changes need to be made to ensure all students with special needs receive a quality education?
I am running for a seat on the County Board of Education and have not seen current data on support for special education students across the county.
OTHER CANDIDATE
Candidate who did not respond: Kevin Young
Buckeye USD
Two seats open among six candidates
MELISSA KEYZER
Age: 47
Residence: El Dorado Hills, CA
Title/occupation: Buckeye Education Foundation Director
Education:
- LL.M., University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, 2008
- J.D., University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law, 2007; Downey Brand Education Law Fellow
- B.A., UC Berkeley, 1999; double major in English and Anthropology
Work experience:
- Buckeye Education Foundation Director, 2018-present
- Stay-at-home mom; school volunteer; occasional substitute teacher, 2009-present
- Adjunct Teaching Assistant, McGeorge Appellate and International Advocacy Class, 2007-08; McGeorge Pipeline Project Mentorship Program Coordinator
- Student Workshop Leader, McGeorge Tutoring Program Coordinator (and tutor), 2006-07
- America Reads (an Americorps Project) Program Coordinator (and K-6 Tutor), 2004-06
- Teacher, Venture Academy Charter School, 2003-04
- Manager, NASA Ames Educator Resource Center, 2001 - 03
- California Special Programs Administrator, U.S. Space Camp, 2000-02
- California Counselor, U.S. Space Camp, 2000
Civic engagement:
I have been actively involved in my community for the past 10 years as a “full-time volunteer.” I have volunteered for the PTA at my children’s school since my oldest son began kindergarten in 2014. I have served on the school’s PTA board in various roles for several of those years. I have been the director of the Buckeye Education Foundation, the nonprofit that serves our school district, since 2018. I also serve on the extended board of the El Dorado Hills Arts Association, helping to administer our annual scholarship program, and co-chairing this year’s Fine Art Festival.
What is the key initiative you want to pursue if you are elected?
In 2017, I reached back into my past working for NASA and wrote an elaborate and extensive application for our school to receive a video call from an astronaut onboard the ISS. I dreamed up and then implemented a year-long series of hands-on activities, lessons, and family engagement events in preparation for our space adventure. And in February of 2018 two of our Buckeye District schools got the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to speak live with a United States astronaut as she floated on the screen before us in the school gym.
As the director of the nonprofit Buckeye Education Foundation, my work for the past several years has been focused on increasing enrichment opportunities for Buckeye District Students. I have implemented programs to increase district-wide participation in art and poetry, and have supported teacher-directed classroom enrichments through our newly initiated teacher/staff grant program. As a campus volunteer, I helped to install and run my children’s elementary school’s STEAM Lab, brining ongoing STEAM enrichment opportunities to our students. If elected to serve on the board, I will continue to seek out and promote enrichment opportunities for all Buckeye District students, helping them to discover and explore the subjects that excite and inspire them the most, to encourage and support a lifetime love of learning.
How do you plan to address the achievement/opportunity gap in the district?
Our district is fortunate to have a strong plan in place, with a team of educators working hard to meet the needs of students that are not performing at the same level as their peers. Based on the annual reports given by each school principal at the Buckeye District board meetings I have regularly attended over the past years, looking at each site’s dashboard data, we are making steady gains in most areas of concern. As a board member I would continue to support the close watch being kept on our identified groups of students that are receiving intervention to help bring them up to grade-level standards. I appreciate that the current board has taken steps to identify and address emerging areas of concern, such as chronic absenteeism, that appear to be compounding factors making academic progress slower for some of our struggling students. In the case of chronic absenteeism, our board took the inventive and appropriate step of hiring on a family engagement and attendance liaison to look more deeply into this issue and to offer support to our families. I applaud this effort and am eager to hear about what results the district has seen by the end of this school year. I intend as a board member to continue to support this type of specific, targeted solution to any problems we encounter as a district, and to see that we as a board remain flexible and willing to innovate and adapt as new challenges emerge.
How would you rate the quality of special education in the district, and what changes need to be made to ensure all students with special needs receive a quality education?
The needs of a school’s special education population are constantly shifting, based on the variety of evolving needs of the individual students being served, and it is the challenging duty of each site to remain agile and flexible, and to adjust to whatever each student’s current situation demands. Having substitute-taught in special ed classrooms on multiple occasions, I have seen how diligently our teachers and staff work to serve each student every day, and some of what their intensely demanding job requires. Understanding the specific demands on each site’s special ed team will be key to making sure they all have the resources they require to make each day a successful day of learning and growth for each student. I believe that our district has an extraordinarily qualified special education team, and it will be my job as a board member to make sure that they are well resourced and continually supported. Special ed parents are usually the strongest advocates for their child’s needs, so maintaining close communication with parents is absolutely critical to ensuring a student’s success. While I as a board member will not be involved directly in any student’s IEP process, and I have full faith in our IEP teams to build in all necessary communication between all directly involved parties, I expect nevertheless to have lots of conversations over the next months and years with parents who have recommendations for how to improve the program serving their children, and it is my intent to listen and to do all I can to support their needs.
KIRK SEAL
Age: 58
Residence: El Dorado Hills
Title/occupation: Incumbent
Work experience: I’m a retired firefighter now working in cardiac electrophysiology at Mercy General Hospital.
Civic engagement: I have been serving the Buckeye Union School District for the last 16 years as a trustee.
What is the key initiative you want to pursue if you are elected?
I will continue to keep Buckeye USD one of the top districts in the state.
How do you plan to address the achievement/opportunity gap in the district?
In Buckeye, we have been closing the achievement gap over the last 10 years. I will continue to decrease the gap by hiring more social workers to work with our at-risk population.
How would you rate the quality of special education in the district, and what changes need to be made to ensure all students with special needs receive a quality education?
Special education is an ever-increasing problem across the state. The county is pushing more of the costs onto the local boards. I have approved the hiring of special needs personnel to help with our children.
JENNIFER EULER
Age: 45
Residence: El Dorado Hills
Title/occupation: Attorney/Prosecutor/Mother
Education: I have a juris doctorate degree and passed the California State Bar Exam in 2004.
Work experience:
Since 2012, I have been a prosecuting attorney, supervisor, or leader of division that prosecutes, both criminally and civilly, elder abuse and neglect and Medi-Cal provider fraud. Prior to 2012, I was in the private sector doing both criminal defense work and private plaintiff work that included nursing home cases, wrongful death cases, and insurance bad faith actions.
What is the key initiative you want to pursue if you are elected?
I strive to see the Buckeye Union School District continue to uphold its high standards and achievements. My priorities include maintaining parental rights, transparency within our district, and fiscal responsibility.
THOMAS FOX
Age: 73
Residence: El Dorado Hills
Title/occupation: Retired Business Administrator
Education:
- Bachelor of Arts, Mesa College, 1974
- UC Berkeley Extension business courses
Work experience: I was a division manager in customer service with EBMUD in the Bay Area for 30 years managing field forces as well as their contact center.
Civic engagement:
- Emeryville City Council, 1985-1989
- Current vice president of Blackstone HOA
- Current Vice President of Citizens in support of El Dorado Hills
- Co-activist to stop Amazon’s Project Frontier, 2022
- Sponsored the initiative recall of the the CSD’s Valley View assessment district, 2024
What is the key initiative you want to pursue if you are elected?
Stop declining enrollment in schools, increase school safety, decrease class size.
How would you rate the quality of special education in the district, and what changes need to be made to ensure all students with special needs receive a quality education?
Buckeye’s special education quality is excellent.
OTHER CANDIDATES
Candidates who did not respond: Joellene Vakulich, Ryan Meier
Gold Trail USD
Two seats open among three candidates
LARRY THORNHILL
Age: 76
Residence: Placerville, CA
Title/occupation: General Building Contractor
Education:
- College, 1967-69
- United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America Apprentice School, 1969-72
- Licensed California State General Building Contractor, 1976-present
Work experience:
- Certified Journeyman Carpenter, 1969-present
- Licensed Building Contractor, State of California, 1976-present
- Senior Instructor, Merit Shop Training Center, Dublin, 1983-87
Civic engagement:
- Little League Coach and Umpire, San Jose, CA, and Placerville, CA, 12 years
- Mentor, California National Guard “Discovery Program for Troubled Youth,” 2023-24
- Constitutional Coach and instructor in their Biblical Citizenship in Modern America Study Program, Patriot Academy, 2022-24
- Current president, Apple Mountain Golf Course Players Association, Camino, CA
- Active Member, Green Valley Community Church, Placerville, CA
What is the key initiative you want to pursue if you are elected?
I will stand on top of all facility repairs and remodeling and work within the budget constraints the state has given us. I want to make education challenging and fun so the children can progress at optimal speed. By stressing the “basics” in math, reading, writing, science and U.S. history, I would encourage our children to elevate their learning curve scores. I would also like to introduce a “Building Trades Program” to the Elementary Education Mid-Level Students. I am eager to work with parents, teachers and administration to achieve excellence, competence and accountability in our district.
How do you plan to address the achievement/opportunity gap in the district?
I started my career by being responsible for my own actions, evaluating how others succeeded (and failed), and I learned from them to create a very successful contracting business over a five-decade period of time. I came from a VERY poor background where there was little opportunity for me to take advantage of, so I developed ambition to move forward, become better at what I do and then encourage others to take on their own personal responsibility to achieve whatever it was that they were pursuing in their life journey. It was true then, and it is still true today. We are not “wards of the state.” We are all individuals who create our own destinies. Help enough others get what they want, and you will ALWAYS get what you want!
How would you rate the quality of special education in the district, and what changes need to be made to ensure all students with special needs receive a quality education?
From what I have seen up to this point, it seems to be VERY good. I would encourage those who are administering the various programs to keep doing what they are doing. As I learn more I will make suggestions and make myself available to enhance any program that helps those with special needs.
JASON HANKS
Age: 46
Residence: Placerville
Title/occupation: Appointed Incumbent
Education:
- Graduate, El Dorado High School, Placerville
- Associate’s degree in small business, Cosumnes River College, 2001
Work experience:
- Various roles including store manager, The Paint Spot, Placerville, 1994-2004
- Founding principal and now CEO and owner, Airpoint Precision Inc., 2001-present
Civic engagement:
- I am proud to have served on various Boards and Committees in the district.
- Gold Trail PTO, Treasure 2018-19
- Gold Trail District Advisory Committee, 2019-21
- Gold Trail Wrestling Coach, 2017-present
- Foothill Girls Softball Coach, 2024
- GTUSD School Board appointed incumbent, 2023-present
What is the key initiative you want to pursue if you are elected?
I want to continue to see our district utilize the most current curriculum we can in the classroom in math, science and English while continuing to offer a wide selection of elective and enrichment programs such as robotics, band, drama, etc. Combined with multiple school sports programs, I believe this provides an opportunity for students to grow socially and emotionally while receiving the best education possible to prepare for the next stage in their lives.
How do you plan to address the achievement/opportunity gap in the district?
By continuing to support our teachers and staff. Our teachers are highly qualified and experienced and know the work and tools needed to help our kids meet their potential and do the best they can. My job as a trustee of the board is to listen and provide support for the programs that will help our students to be prepared for what comes next. These programs include current curriculum and materials in the classroom, counseling/behavior intervention at school, involving kids in enrichment/elective programs, and offering a wide variety of school sports that promote social involvement.
How would you rate the quality of special education in the district, and what changes need to be made to ensure all students with special needs receive a quality education?
As the parent of a special needs child and husband of a special education teacher, this subject is very important to me, and I understand firsthand the needs and challenges facing our special education students. The quality of special education in the GTUSD is high; however, I believe we can always strive to be better. Special education is not a “one size fits all” approach. We need to consider and develop an education strategy that is the best for each individual student, with a team of teachers, administrators, support staff and parents all involved. I believe push in support to the classroom and early intervention are key pieces to ensure our special education students receive the best education possible.
OTHER CANDIDATE
Candidate who did not respond: Micah Howser
Lake Tahoe USD, Area 3
Two candidates
FABIAN CARBALLO
Age: 46
Residence: South Lake Tahoe
Title/occupation: History and Political Science Professor
Education:
- BA in History and Political Science
- BA in Communication
- MA in American Studies
- MA in Education
Work experience:
- Middle school teacher, 2004-06
- High school teacher, 2006-23
- History and political science professor, 2017-present
Civic engagement:
As a poli sci professor, I work closely with my college’s Student Senate to increase voter awareness and participation, bring candidates and speakers to the campus, engage youth in local issues, host trips to capitols at Sacramento and Carson City, and advocate for change locally and at the state level. I also have experience lobbying Sacramento on educational issues. I have worked with migrant communities in teaching them English as well as citizenship classes. My PhD doctoral research is on civic engagement.
What is the key initiative you want to pursue if you are elected?
As a newly elected board member, I will focus on closing the achievement gap amongst minoritized student communities, increase transparency and access for parents to be able to navigate the educational system, focus on the whole child and ensure that students have access to enrichment and extracurricular activities that increase their social-emotional health, support teachers by giving them the necessary tools to be successful, and ensure that financial prognostics are correct at the beginning of each school year so that there are no surprises or disappointments later on.
How do you plan to address the achievement/opportunity gap in the district?
First, as a first-generation immigrant myself, I want the district to be more transparent, and I see myself as a resource for parents who come from minoritized backgrounds. Navigating the educational system can be very difficult if there are language barriers. In addition, I want to remove other barriers for parent involvement such as times of meetings and events. Parent involvement from all stakeholders is crucial to student success. Further, as a college professor, I want to increase the college-attending culture at all of our schools. From personal experience, I know how education can be life-changing and transformative, and I would like to inculcate that from an early age and focus on students who look like me and come from similar backgrounds. Using the latest data and peer-reviewed research, all of my decisions will be informed and contrasted by students’ actual lived experiences and needs.
How would you rate the quality of special education in the district, and what changes need to be made to ensure all students with special needs receive a quality education?
Special education is very dear to my heart because my wife has been a bilingual speech and language therapist for the past 24 years, and I have heard many stories of heartbreak. We need to start by attracting top talent and, yes, bilingual special education staff who can close the equity gap and service all of our students. As a small community, we still need to provide those services in the best manner possible and make sure that all of our students have consistent and differentiated services. The district is doing as much as it can with the available resources. I will advocate for more state funding in order to better serve our students with special needs.
OTHER CANDIDATE
Candidate who did not respond: Bob Anderson
Pioneer USD
Two seats open among three candidates
APRIL STEWART
Age: 64
Residence: Grizzly Flats
Title/occupation: CFO/Realtor/Businesswoman
Education:
- Nursery/preschool public school classroom parent volunteer, 1983-2008
- Homeschooled my five children, 1995-2007
- Substitute teacher, Christian private elementary, 1998-99
- CFO/youth pastor, Non-Profit Education Ministries, 2023-present
Work experience:
- California Licensed Realtor, DRE#01037076, 1989-present
- CFO/youth pastor, Non-Profit Education Ministries, 2023-present
- Life/health independent insurance agent, Fixed Index Annuities, 2021-22
Civic engagement:
- Sunday school and children’s choir teacher/director/assistant, Awana Bible Club, 1980-2009
- Legislative analyst, State Assembly Education Committee, 1994-96
- Administrative assistant to founder, P.I.E. (Conservative Parents Education Group), 1994-98
- Elected member, San Mateo County Republican Central Committee, 1996-97
- President, HIS Charter Parent Teachers Group, 1997-99
- Vice president, Divide Chamber of Commerce, 2010-12
- President, Sacramento Grange, 2012-13
What is the key initiative you want to pursue if you are elected?
My key initiative I plan to pursue is to promote collaboration between Pioneer Union School District parents, trustees and the school district. I strongly believe in parents’ rights over government controls and protecting children from losing their innocence and childhood playtime and discovery that they deserve. Over the past three years there are 20+ new laws that are clearly against the protection of children and do not follow 288 of the Penal Code. It’s time for parents and grandparents to stand up and STOP the ongoing attacks on California families. Let children be children again!
How do you plan to address the achievement/opportunity gap in the district?
In our tiny little district, I will address the achievement/opportunity gap in our district as my governance board brings these items to our agenda. I believe people that show great work ethic deserve to be acknowledged and awarded as such. I will uphold the Constitution and my oath of office as I have sworn and am committed to do so.
How would you rate the quality of special education in the district, and what changes need to be made to ensure all students with special needs receive a quality education?
At this time, I have not made an assessment of our special education in our district. However, when I listen to local parents with special needs children say they feel unheard and left out of IEP meetings, I feel their parents rights are not always upheld. When elected I will review the quality of special education in the district, find solutions that may improve the quality of education, and bring my findings to our governance board trustees. Student protection is one of my main priorities, as many special needs students cannot speak for themselves and may be taken advantage of at times by other students or adults.
OTHER CANDIDATE
Candidate who did not respond: Jonathan Russell, Nanette Hargo
Rescue USD
Two seats open among four candidates
KITTY CZARNECKI
Age: 65
Residence: Rescue District, El Dorado County
Title/occupation: Educator/Speech Therapisty
Education:
- B.A. in English, Harvard University, 1981
- M.S. in Speech Pathology, California State University, Sacramento, 2017
Work experience:
- Substitute teacher, 1998-2012
- Co-owner, Garbeau’s Dinner Theater, 2004-07
- Executive Director, Art & Soul Productions, 2007-17
- Aide for children with ASD, “Stair Steps” EDCOE, 2012-14
- Speech and language therapist, 2017-23
Civic engagement:
- Member, California Teacher’s Association
What is the key initiative you want to pursue if you are elected?
As a retired educator, I have the luxury of time. I hope to use that time to visit the schools in our district, to be the face of the board so teachers, parents and students know that they are being represented. If elected I will bring my experience and that voice to the board so that the decisions we make have a direct impact on the community we serve.
How do you plan to address the achievement/opportunity gap in the district?
Families in our district are struggling. 21% of students are socioeconomically disadvantaged, and we need to work on reducing chronic absenteeism. According to the CA School Dashboard Report, there was a 25.4% decline in English Learner progress. We need teachers to be supported with engaging curriculum, to encourage student attendance and close the gap for those students struggling with language barriers. Counselors and staff need to reach out to address the needs of families in our community. The RUSD board are implementing programs to help those who are struggling financially and addressing the challenges of the ELL population.
How would you rate the quality of special education in the district, and what changes need to be made to ensure all students with special needs receive a quality education?
We are lucky to have excellent special education teams in Rescue, including teachers, speech pathologists, and occupational therapy specialists. Unfortunately, there is also a large turnover in special education teachers, so we need to provide resources to help them feel supported. Oftentimes it feels like we are hiring aides with little to no training, so I would want to see more training modules. If the student is surrounded by staff that feel prepared and supported, they will thrive.
OTHER CANDIDATES
Candidates who did not respond: Michael R. Gordon, Michael Flaherty, Jenney Robles
Gold Oak USD
Two seats open among four candidates
Angelica Kimbrough, Chris Vinton, Aaron Lockhart, Adam Harston
This story was originally published October 6, 2024 at 4:55 AM.