Superintendent of Public Instruction Candidate Statements

(Nonpartisan Office)

As the state's chief of public schools, provides education policy direction to local school districts, and works with the education community to improve academic performance.
Heads the Department of Education and carries out policies set by the State Board of Education.
Serves as an ex-officio member of governing boards of the state's higher education system.

Josh Newman

California is home to the fourth-largest economy in the world, a global leader in innovation and opportunity. Our public education system should reflect that status, yet a majority of California students are not meeting grade-level standards in reading, math, or science. This is a clear sign our system is not aligned for success. As a veteran, businessperson, classroom educator, and former State Senator who chaired the Senate Education Committee, I've seen both the extraordinary potential of California's students and the structural barriers holding them back. California's vast, decentralized school system, with millions of students and billions of tax dollars, lacks the coordination and leadership needed to ensure that every student, regardless of geography or background, receives the high-quality public education they deserve. I'm running for State Superintendent because California can and must do better. In the Senate, I authored major legislation modernizing schools, strengthening student supports, expanding careertechnical pathways, and improving teacher preparation. I've built coalitions, solved complex problems, and delivered results, and I'm proud to have earned broad support from educators, parents, law enforcement, business organizations, and trade unions across California. As Superintendent, I'll bring the alignment and collaboration our education system urgently needs, with a focus on expanding mental-health supports, strengthening partnerships with labor and industry, aligning the school day with the workday, and ensuring that our schools effectively prepare students for a rapidly changing economy and full participation in our democracy. California's future depends on the strength of our public schools. All our students deserve better. www.newmanforspi.com

1400 N. Harbor Blvd., Suite 505
Fullerton, CA 92835
Tel: (310) 463-5257
E-mail: josh@newmanforca.com
Facebook: joshnewmanca
Instagram: newmanforca

Ainye Long

Ms. Long is a third-generation Californian public school student and fifth-generation public school teacher committed to strengthening California through youth and education. For 19 years, she has been a leader teaching mathematics in Oakland, Richmond, Los Angeles, and San Francisco, serving diverse communities statewide. She has also led as Director of Family & Community Engagement, Board President, and Regional Superintendent, building strong partnerships between schools and families. Currently an 8th grade mathematics teacher and Department Chair at Willie L. Brown Middle School in SFUSD, she mentors educators and champions instructional excellence. After being the only public school teacher in the 2022 race, she continues to lead with authentic classroom experience.

Tel: (445) 204-7284
E-mail: Info@AinyeLong4CA.com
Instagram: @AinyeLong4CA
AinyeLong4CA.com

Frank Lara

As a union leader and public school teacher for over ten years, I've seen the realities of our schools up close. California is the fourth largest economy in the world, yet classrooms are crowded, school buildings are crumbling, and students are underserved. As VP of United Educators of San Francisco, I've seen the power of workers fighting together for a better system. I'll push to tax corporations and billionaires to fully staff schools and modernize facilities. I'll fight for smaller class sizes, quality special education, ICE-free schools, ethnic studies, and free childcare and college for all. Vote Socialist. Vote LeftUnitySlate.org

4121 Montgomery St.
Oakland, CA 94611
Tel: (510) 626-0126
E-mail: info@frank4caschools.com
Instagram: frank4caschools
TikTok: frank4caschools

Sonja Shaw

California's public schools are failing our children. Fewer than half can read or write at grade level. Girls' sports are under attack, with female athletes losing medals and scholarships. Many even change in their cars before practice because they feel unsafe in locker rooms. This is unacceptable. As a mother of two daughters, I was elected President of the Chino Valley Unified School Board because parents demanded change. We delivered. When I took office in 2022, our district faced the same problems seen across California: poor grades, declining test scores, political distractions in classrooms, and girls losing fairness and privacy. We chose a different path. We refocused on reading, writing, and math. Protected girls' sports and private spaces. Cut bureaucracy. Directed resources back into classrooms, where they belong. The results were undeniable. Student outcomes improved, and independent research recognized our district as a model for post-COVID academic recovery. That success didn't come from Sacramento mandates. It came from parents who linked arms and stood up for common sense. As State Superintendent, I will bring that same leadership statewide. I will be an independent advocate for students and families, not political insiders. My plan is simple: restore high academic standards in reading, writing, and math; protect Title IX, ensuring fairness and safety for girls; give parents a real seat at the table; support excellent teachers; and cut wasteful bureaucracy. The blueprint exists at the local level. We've proven it works. Let's deliver results for every California student. Learn more at ShawForCA.com.

6939 Schaefer Avenue, Suite D #119
Chino, CA 91710
Tel: (949) 495-1310
E-mail: info@shawforca.com
X: @realSonjaShaw
Instagram: @SonjaShaw2026

Gus Mattammal

I grew up in an area with a failing public school, and I watched an entire generation of low-income, mostly Black and brown kids get fed into it. My parents made enormous sacrifices to give me a better opportunity, and education became my hand up, a pathway to a better life. In California, our low-income students, overwhelmingly students of color, are failing to get the education they deserve. They're not getting a hand up. California ranks near the bottom in the US in outcomes despite ranking top 20 in spending. Year after year this injustice continues, and our kids pay the price. As Superintendent, I will change that. I've been a full-time educator for 23 years, working with over 1,000 students of every background. I've spent 19 years as a senior executive of a nationally recognized education company. I'm an elected representative and the author of a book laying out a bold reform agenda for California's schools and vision for the role of Superintendent. I'm the only candidate who can offer you the breadth and depth of experience in education and in elected office to ensure that every student, regardless of background, is able to read a book, do math, and get a job. Education need not be partisan. It can bring people together, because we all want our kids to get a great education. Join state legislators, teachers, superintendents, parents, and students from across the political spectrum in supporting me. It's easy to remember: vote Gus for Us!

1900 S. Norfolk St., Suite 350
San Mateo, CA 94403
Tel: (650) 451-5335
E-mail: gus@gusforca.com
Instagram: @theonetruegus
X: @theonetruegus

Al Muratsuchi

I'm an educator, former local school board president, public school parent, and Chair of the California Assembly Education Committee, with a proven record of fighting for California's schools for decades. I'm running for Superintendent of Public Instruction because I want California's public schools to be the best in the country. As the son of immigrants, product of public schools, and a first generation college graduate from Berkeley and UCLA, I'm passionate about fighting for equal educational opportunities for all. As Education Chair in the California Legislature, I've led the fight to fully fund our schools, reduce class sizes, provide more art and music as well as career technical education, expand quality preschool and after school programs, provide school meals for all, and support student mental health and well-being. To improve reading test scores, I coauthored a law and delivered funding for more phonics-based reading instruction based on the science of reading. When immigration raids threatened our students, I wrote the California Safe Haven Schools Act, to keep ICE out of our schools. And to fix our aging and unsafe school facilities throughout the state, I wrote Proposition 2, the $10 billion state school bond that California voters approved in 2024. I'm proud to be endorsed by more than 370,000 teachers and school staff represented by the California Federation of Teachers and the California School Employees Association. On June 2nd, vote Al Muratsuchi for Superintendent of Public Instruction. Visit www.AlforCaliforniaSchools.com

P.O. Box 4375
Torrance, CA 90510
E-mail: info@alforcaliforniaschools.com
X: www.x.com/AMuratsuchi
Instagram: www.instagram.com/almuratsuchi

Richard Barrera

It is an honor to serve as State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond's Senior Advisor, and to be endorsed by the California Teachers Association (CTA), representing 300,000+ classroom teachers, nurses, counselors and educators. California Teachers of the Year Tammy Reina and Zenaida Rosario: "We trust Richard to fight for our students and educators. He has delivered for 18 years!" As President of San Diego Unified School District, the state's 2nd largest, I transformed a district in crisis into a national model of success. Among all large urban districts, we now rank Number 1 in Reading and Math on "The Nation's Report Card." In California, we're First in Reading, Math, Science, Graduation Rates and College/Career readiness. We've achieved success by cutting waste and bureaucracy, and investing directly in our students, families and educators. I successfully asked voters 4 times to replace 60 year old buildings with state-of-the-art, environmentally sustainable schools. We increased educator salaries by 40%, provided full family healthcare and created thousands of affordable homes for our families and educators. I've fought to protect students from the heartless Trump administration: keeping ICE out of our schools, standing up for LGBTQ students, and testifying before Congress against Trump's drastic cuts to education. I am endorsed by those most responsible for student success—from the classroom teachers of CTA to the school principals of United Administrators of Southern California, and Cindy Marten, President Biden's Deputy Secretary of Education. Current Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond: "Richard Barrera's track record of student success is unmatched. That's why I asked him to join us at the California Department of Education. That's why I support him in this election." BarreraforEdu.com

1732 Granada Avenue
San Diego, CA 92102
Tel: (619) 937-8619
E-mail: rbcoi@yahoo.com
Facebook: Richard Barrera
Instagram: richardbarrera2026

Anthony Rendon

California's public education system changed my life. I wasn't a good student in high school. I barely graduated and went on to work in warehouses and construction. But I discovered my passion for learning at community college, graduated from Cal State Fullerton, and earned a Ph.D. at UC Riverside. Ultimately, I became Speaker of the State Assembly—one of the top public officials in California—a meaningful accomplishment for the grandson of Mexican immigrants. I'm running for Superintendent of Public Instruction to continue my lifelong mission of offering every child, regardless of background, access to high-quality public education. When I ran early childhood education programs for underprivileged kids, I saw the devastating impacts of state budget cuts. So as Assembly Speaker I increased education funding by 50 percent, then enacted the strongest education oversight laws in the country, and successfully stood up to the Trump Administration to protect our schools and civil rights. Today, schools need not only more investment but real reform. Our schools should be focused on the core skills kids need to succeed. We should be wary of technology overload that undermines students' ability to learn and thrive. Collaborative leadership between parents, educators, and schools is essential to establishing proper guardrails around classroom technology. Students should have fewer distractions in class. Teachers shouldn't compete with billion-dollar tech algorithms to teach the basics of reading, writing, math, science, and civics. My life experience gives me the tools to deliver meaningful change. Our children deserve nothing less. www.anthonyrendon.org/

249 E. Ocean Blvd., Ste. 814
Long Beach, CA 90802
Tel: (916) 251-9380
E-mail: info@anthonyrendon.org
Facebook: facebook.com/AnthonyRendonCA
Instagram: instagram.com/anthonyrendonca

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The views and opinions expressed by the candidates are their own and do not represent the views and opinions of the Secretary of State's office. The order of the statements was determined by randomized drawing. Statements on this page were supplied by the candidates and have not been checked for accuracy by any official agency. Each statement was voluntarily submitted and paid for by the candidate. Candidates who did not submit statements could otherwise be qualified to appear on the ballot.