Stanislaus County is home. I was born in Patterson and grew up on a farm in Crows Landing where I learned the value of hard work and the merits of honesty and responsibility. I graduated from Orestimba High School in Newman and earned my BA in Spanish at CSU, Stanislaus. I earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from St. Mary’s College of California. My family and the people in this county have shaped and encouraged me, and I have been honored to give back to my community as an educator, coach and mentor. My wife Alison and I have been married for 17 years and our three sons attend Stanislaus County schools.
After studying Spanish in Spain and as a Fulbright Scholar in Venezuela, I began working with students at Gustine high school as a Spanish and English teacher. After teaching for five years I moved into administration.
During my 23 years in education, I have held a variety of jobs and titles. I’ve worked at a small high school, a large alternative education high school and served as principal at Johansen High School in Modesto. While at Modesto City Schools, I was the director of secondary education — responsible for all 15,000 junior high and high school students, as well as the many teachers and administrators at the school sites. Before leaving the district to work at the Stanislaus County Office of Education (SCOE), I oversaw all of the career technical education programs in the district, including FFA.
For the past seven years, I have worked at SCOE as the assistant superintendent of educational options. I oversee all SCOE schools, including the Stanislaus Military Academy, Valley Charter High School and Come Back Kids — a high school diploma program for high school dropouts. I am also responsible for the culinary arts program in Oakdale, the SCOE Preventions Department, YES Co., and the county Student Attendance Review Board.
I am reminded daily, with my own sons, that children’s interests and talents vary widely and it’s imperative that options are provided as they pursue college and careers. I have benefitted from the ability to speak Spanish and two of my sons are bilingual via participation in two-way immersion programs. I am a strong supporter of career technical education and skilled vocational training for those students who want to join the workforce and contribute to our community in careers that do not require a college education. I also encourage academic innovation in schools like the early college program at Valley Charter High School and online learning to allow students to work at their own pace.
I have always enjoyed teaching and working with students to help them overcome barriers to success. I have been privileged to support and celebrate the success of students who come from homes where English is not their first language, students who are teen mothers, and students who’ve struggled academically. I work with our most at-risk and vulnerable populations that include incarcerated youth, foster youth, homeless students, high school dropouts, and students who have been victims of human trafficking.
As assistant superintendent of educational options at the Stanislaus County Office of Education, I have had the opportunity to work directly with Tom Changnon, the current superintendent. Tom has been an excellent mentor who has exposed me to the many facets of the county office. Because of his leadership and the variety of experiences I’ve had in education, I feel prepared to lead the Office of Education and serve the people of Stanislaus County. Working together, we can increase the opportunity for success for all of our students.
