By Ayla Ozturk
Incumbent Board President Juan Guerrero is one of two candidates running for the Visalia Unified School District [VUSD] Board of Education as a representative of Trustee Area 2. He is endorsed by the California Teacher’s Association and the Visalia Democratic Club. Guerrero says if re-elected, this will be his last term of office.
Board President Juan Guerrero and his wife Stella have lived in Visalia for over 35 years. His wife and children attended Redwood High School, and three of his grandchildren attend(ed) Golden West High School.
Guerrero also has a grandchild attending Valley Oak Middle School and two great-grandchildren in elementary school.
Guerrero served on the VUSD Board from 2001 to 2009. He served as Board President from 2007 to 2009 and again in 2015.
Last spring, the district hired Kirk Shrum, the new superintendent. Guerrero says, “I want to be re-elected so that I can [continue to] work with him so that our district can improve and do better.”
“I’d like us to improve on A-G [completion], and I’d like to see our graduation rates increase, and our dropout rates decrease.”
Guerrero wants students to know that he gets connected to VUSD’s student population, high school students in particular.
“I try to listen to them. I listen to their concerns, and I like to see them grow and develop and become good citizens,” Guerrero says.
He works with students on a volunteer basis through several youth programs. “I’ve been doing that work for a long time, and I enjoy it,” he says.
Guerrero is endorsed by the California Teacher’s Association. He says, “It feels good when our teachers say, ‘Hey, you know, we want to support you.’ That means a lot to me,”
If re-elected, Guerrero intends to fulfill his full term as a board member. However, this will be his last term of office.
Guerrero wants the community to know this because “[the fact] gives people four years to prepare, so they might want to consider serving as a board member.”
[Photo courtesy of Guerrero]
“It’s my way of contributing back to our community, back to our city, back to our school district. I enjoy being a school board member and I enjoy working with a lot of really neat people. Seeing the growth in our students is something that’s really important to me.”
Juan Guerrero
Ayla Ozturk
Ayla Ozturk, class of 2024, is a fourth-year journalism student passionate about leading the News section. She is dedicated to informing students and amplifying their voices through Government and Politics writing.
You can reach her at ayla.oz3769@vusd.us.
Tags: 2022 elections, ayla ozturk, board elections 2022, board president, juan guerrero, rangers, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, trustee area 2, visalia ca, VUSD board, vusd board elections 2022, vusd board of education, vusd board president