In the 2024 Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District board elections, seven candidates are competing for three available seats. The early voting returns have shown some candidates emerging as frontrunners in their respective trustee areas. In Trustee Area 1, Tricia Quintero leads, followed by Ryan James Miller and Nicolas Cardenas. These preliminary tallies, based on early mailed ballots and released by the Orange County Registrar of Voters, also indicate that incumbent Marilyn Anderson has taken an early lead over Maria 'Lupita' Stubbs in Trustee Area 2, while incumbent Leandra Blades is narrowly ahead of Misty Janssen in Trustee Area 3.
In Trustee Area 1, no incumbent candidates are contesting, assuring a fresh face will join the board. Nicolas Cardenas, one of the candidates, is a parent from Fullerton with recent experience in a business services office of a local school district, focusing on Career Technical Education finances. His background as an accountant and member of a school council reinforces his belief that addressing absenteeism and boosting student achievement are critical. Cardenas emphasizes that persistent student absenteeism can increase dropout rates and affect college readiness. He advocates for proactive communication with teachers and administrators to discern strategies for enhancing academic success.
Ryan James Miller, a business consultant from Yorba Linda, concurs that prioritizing student achievement is essential. Miller supports a robust focus not only on core academic subjects but also the inclusion of STEM, arts, and vocational training programs known as Career Technical Education. Advocating for both enhanced campus security and improved student well-being, Miller aims to implement more comprehensive surveillance systems and expand mental health resources within schools.
Tricia Quintero, a long-time resident of Placentia with 25 years of experience as an elementary teacher, underscores the importance of fiscal transparency and test score improvement. Active in the Parent Teacher Association, where she served as president for five years, Quintero vows to hold the superintendent accountable and faithfully represent district stakeholders by ensuring responsible expenditure of funds.
In Trustee Area 2, incumbent Marilyn Anderson emphasizes her three-decade-long volunteer work within district classrooms. Her leadership experience spans three terms as PTA president and six years on the school site council. Anderson targets improving math and reading proficiency, with a focus on English language learners. She suggests specialized tutoring in math and professional development for teachers, alongside expanding access to culturally relevant reading materials for struggling readers as vital measures.
Maria 'Lupita' Stubbs, an industrial systems engineer, prioritizes student safety and seeks to mitigate financial barriers for parents regarding extracurricular activities through innovative funding strategies rather than local bond measures or unsustainable loans.
In Trustee Area 3, Leandra Blades, a retired police officer and current PYLUSD board president, stands firm in her commitment to maintaining safety and addressing declining enrollment. Blades spotlights ongoing updates to school security systems and highlights the introduction of new programs such as the Orange County School of Computer Science at Bernardo Yorba to retain families within the district.
Misty Janssen, a U.S. Marine Corps Reservist, has nearly 24 years of service and vast volunteer experience in district classrooms, including roles like PTA president. Janssen identifies retaining teachers and financial transparency as the district's primary needs, proposing a forensic audit of the district's budget to ensure accountability.
As the vote count progresses, continuous updates will be provided until all ballots are finalized. Stay informed on the election’s developments by checking for the latest updates.
