2 contested races, for Sequoia Union High School District

Mary Beth Thompson, Jacob Yuryev and Daniel Torunian are seeking the seat representing Area B. 

There is a lack of educators on the board, Thompson said, the current principal of charter school Summit Prep in Redwood City. 

“There was quite a few ideas and some brilliance that was being shared and being spread in the district, but what I was also noticing was there was a lack of educator perspective on the board that was beginning to potentially derail or stall out meetings,” Thompson said. 

Yuryev, on the other hand, is looking to continue his work from last year serving as the student trustee on the board. The recent Carlmont High School graduate is now attending Stanford University. 

“I think our school board has kind of strayed away from the day-to-day experience of students,” Yuryev said. “I think that’s the most important thing and that’s what I am to provide as a potential board member.” 

Though Torunian does not have specific experience in education, he said within his role as a consultant and volunteer, he has served in a “coach” capacity that feels proximal to an educator’s role. 

“Having worked now for 44 years in corporate America, I’ve seen firsthand what skills and attributes it takes to be successful,” Torunian said.

The district has undergone efforts toward “detracking” in an effort to be more equitable, but trustee candidates seem to believe removing honors courses does little in this vein. 

Though not sure of the policy’s efficacy, Thompson said she at least admires the intention toward making academics equitable. 

“I do love the opportunity that the school is attempting to break down barriers to do something to solve the achievement gap,” Thomspon said. 

Torunian felt the effort was a matter of “two rights making a wrong.”

“I understand the premise behind detracking and wanting to ensure that all students are invested in and have good opportunities to succeed,” Torunian said. “I don’t believe it needs to be done at the loss of advanced placement classes or college prep classes or honor classes.” 

Yuryev felt similarly, stating that students coming from Atherton compared to those from East Palo Alto might have fundamental differences in their access to resources and opportunities, or prior education. 

“Removing honors classes does not hurt students that have wealth and have opportunities,” Yuryev said. “The students that get hurt as a result of policies removing honors classes are the students like my parents who immigrated to this country with absolutely no money and no resources.” 

Yuryev continued on to suggest that to address concerns about achievement gaps, efforts and support should be directed to counseling and academic advising on campuses. 

In terms of the highly contested matter of ethnic studies, Yuryev and Thompson are adamantly in support, given that the curriculum is established by trained curriculum writers with the appropriate expertise. 

Thompson added that in addition to robust, vetted course instructions, teachers should also be given the support and time to be trained on how to address the varying emotions that may arise given the topic. 

Conversely, Torunian said he has concerns about “how” ethnic studies is implemented, though supports its ideal. Torunian wrote an op-ed in the Daily Journal in April 2023 stating his dissatisfaction with the ethnic studies curriculum in the San Mateo Union High School District stating it was based on “indoctrination and intellectual intimidation.”

In terms of budgetary concerns, Thompson said she would look into how independently funded money raised in the district gets distributed among the schools within the district, hoping to make it more equitable. 

Both Yuryev and Torunian said a priority of the budget should be providing ways to pay teachers more. Yuryev suggested tapping into the district’s emergency reserve to increase salaries or other avenues to retain teachers, such as considering workforce housing. 

“I think it’s extremely important to use money on what actually matters,” Yuryev said. “The students are what matter and the teachers are how we improve the education of our students.” 

For Area E, which largely represents East Palo Alto, community organizer Tonga Victoria is running alongside Jon Bryant, an educator, and Maria Cruz, a professor at San Jose State University. 

Victoria is running with the intent of connecting her network of community organizers with the district to be a representative for the community. As the founder of Build Play Learn Labs — a nonprofit providing science, technology, engineering and math hands-on experiences — Bryant said he already is working with many students within the district and hopes to further play a role in their educational journey. 

Both Victoria and Bryant are a proponent of offering honors and advanced courses to all students, and aren’t quick to support the effort toward detracking. They both also agreed on the value of ethnic studies, but Victoria added that sometimes the most productive conversations are already being had in the community. 

“Identity and belonging are not up for academic debate,” Victoria said. 

To gauge the success within the district, Bryant said it would be worthwhile to ask the students directly how they feel their needs are being met. Victoria said she thinks there’s “survey fatigue” within the community. 

Rather, she said she wants to work toward promoting public comment during board meetings, and hopes to establish a more tangible connection between local organizations “who already have the data” with the district. 

Cruz chose not to participate in the Daily Journal’s interview process.

Incumbent Rich Ginn of Area C is running for reelection unopposed.