On September 3, 2026, I received the official endorsement of the Pajaro Valley Federation of Teachers, the organization which represents the educators of the PVUSD, by way of their democratic voting process from their members. I am so very appreciative of this honor from the ones who interact directly with students. Thank you so much!!!
(titles or organization information furnished only for context not as an organizational endorsement)
Elected Officials
Vanessa Quiroz-Carter, City Councilmember / former Mayor of Watsonville and former professor at Hartnell College
Lani Faulkner, Santa Cruz Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) Central Fire Protection District (which includes Aptos) 1 Director (elected for the 2024 - 2029 term), Equity Transit, Sierra Club of Santa Cruz County
Gabriela Trigueiro, Santa Cruz City Councilmember, former Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club, and former commissioner for the Prevention of Violence Against Women
Previous PVUSD Trustees
Jennifer Schacher, former PVUSD Area 5 trustee, and mother of a current Aptos High School student
Adam Bolaños Scow, former Pajaro Valley Unified School District Area 6 Trustee, Center for Regenerative Agriculture founder, El Sistema, and Professor at Cabrillo College
Aptos & PVUSD Educators / Committee Members
Cheryl Anderson, professor emerita, founder of the Cabrillo Youth Chorus (CYC), Conductor of the Cabrillo Symphonic Chorus, Chorale and Cantiamo!, founder / artistic director of the Cabrillo Opera, and the Conductor of Cabrillo Stage
Vivian Vargas, retired from the PVUSD after working as a middle school Math teacher, Robert Norse Foundation Math Coach, Math Chair, Assistant Principal, Coordinator of afterschool programs at multiple elementary programs, Facilitator of an ELAC program, Manager of Parent Education programs, member of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics
Jessalyn Levine, Aptos High School and Aptos Junior High Choir Teacher
Barrett Vitol, Aptos High School Teacher
Renee Roberts, a founder of the Aptos Choir Music Festival, PVUSD/Mar Vista Elementary art teacher, PVUSD parent and resident of Aptos
Minc Brooker Robinson, Santa Cruz County Teacher of the Year, Ruby Bridges Walk Organizer, and Special Education Pajaro Valley High School Teacher
Sandino Gomez, Pajaro Valley High School History Teacher
Joan Ling-Zwissler, PVUSD teacher and farmer of Clearview Orchards (organic apples)
Ben Yanowitz, Hebrew teacher at Temple Beth El in Aptos, Community Coordinator of the Tzim Tzum Community, and co-founder of the Jewish Diasporist podcast
Julie Baird, Aptos resident, former art educator, PVUSD parent, and textile designer
Laura Zucker, retired PVUSD Speech Pathologist and Special Education Teacher
Patricia Lockett, Aptos resident, Vice President of the California Retired Teachers Association - Santa Cruz County Division 7, Board Member of the Santa Cruz Symphony League, former President of the Friends of the Watsonville Library, and retired PVUSD teacher
Esther Avila, retired teacher and Athletic Director at EA Hall Middle School, who taught in the PVUSD for 40+ years
Ted Altenberg, retired Aptos/PVUSD Science Teacher and TOSA
Florence Lesar, Aptos resident and retired Special Education, ESL and elementary teacher with 20+ years experience in the PVUSD
Mathilde Rand, retired PVUSD principal and teacher
Victor Kimura, current co-Treasurer of the Pajaro Valley Center for the Arts, current 25+ year Treasurer of the Watsonville-Santa Cruz Japanese American Citizens League, former PVUSD bond measure committee member, former of UC Santa Cruz Accounting and retired CFO of Second Harvest Food Bank
Cabrillo College and UC Santa Cruz Educators
Logan Walker, UC Santa Cruz and San Jose State University, Programming Director of the Santa Cruz Film Festival
Shirley Flores-Muñoz , Cabrillo College and former UC Santa Cruz professor
Adela Naranjo-Bernabe, Teaching and Academic Counselor at Cabrillo College, Faculty Senator At-Large at Cabrillo College, and former PVUSD teacher
Community Members
Krista Healy, Aptos High School and Valencia parent of three, local healthcare provider / business owner
Miriam Vilozny, mother of three Valencia and Aptos High School students, 20+ year employee of Deluxe Foods of Aptos
Emily Kay Wong, PVUSD parent, PVUSD alum, 18+ year employee of Pizza My Heart headquarters
Michael Christensen, PVUSD parent of a child with special needs and local tax business owner
Barry Scott, Aptos History Museum, the Rio Del Mar Improvement Association, Aptos Chamber of Commerce
Omar Dieguez, Community Organizer for the Californians for Pesticide Reform, anti-pesticide activist, Aptos High School alum and former Aptos High School student body president
Lucien Kubo, Sansei Artist and Activist, residing in Santa Cruz County
Andrea Louise Dawson Webber, Librarian at the Watsonville Public Library
Dr. John Silva, of Natividad Medical Center
James Weller, founding member of COPA (Communities Organized in relational Power in Action) AFC (Associations in Faith Communities), active member of Peace United Church, transportation advocate and title expert