Live debate: Candidates for California schools chief face off as the role changes

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Live debate: Candidates for California schools chief face off as the role changes

Join EdSource on Oct. 7 from 7 to 8 p.m. for a live virtual debate with two candidates for California Superintendent of Public Instruction.

The candidates, Sonja Shaw of the Chino Valley Unified School District and Richard Barrera of the San Diego Unified School District, are both veteran school board presidents with contrasting views on key issues facing California families and teachers.

They are running for an office that the Legislature has significantly reshaped; starting January, the state superintendent will no longer manage the California Department of Education but will remain the state’s chief advocate and influencer on TK-12 issues.

The EdSource debate will cover those job changes, as well as student achievement, school funding and declining enrollment, teacher pay and staffing, artificial intelligence’s impact on the classroom and the future workforce, social media, special education, mental health and parental rights.

EdSource wants to hear from you: What questions should we ask the candidates? Submit yours when you register for the live debate.

Register for the live debate

Can’t attend live? Register anyway and we’ll send you the recording the next day.

Meet the candidates

Richard Barrera

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Age: 59
Location: San Diego
Political party: Democrat
Occupation: Senior policy adviser to the State Superintendent of Public Instruction at the California Department of Education
Elected position(s): Current board president of the San Diego Unified School District
Website: barreraforedu.com

Sonja Shaw

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Age: 43
Location: Chino
Political party: Republican
Occupation: Unknown
Elected position(s): Current board president of the Chino Valley Unified School District
Website: shawforca.com

This story was originally published by EdSource.

Nina Fischer 1 hour ago

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