By Ayla Ozturk
Incumbent Trustee Catalina Blair is one of four candidates running for the Visalia Unified School District [VUSD] Board of Education as a representative of Trustee Area 4. She was provisionally appointed in the Fall of 2021. Blair is endorsed by the Visalia Unified Teachers Association, the Visalia Police Department, and the Tulare County Republican Party.
Catalina Blair was born and raised in Visalia. She attended VUSD schools, including Crowley Elementary, Valley Oak Middle School, and Golden West High School.
Blair has three children in VUSD schools. She has volunteered in her children’s classrooms and has worked with the Parent-Teacher Association.
Blair was appointed to the Board last fall after John Crabtree resigned, leaving his seat representing Trustee Area 4 vacant.
Her term is set to expire after the upcoming General Election, but Blair decided to run and continue representing Trustee Area 4.
She says, “I wanted to run because I started to see the changes that [the Board was] making make a positive impact on our district.”
Blair adds, “I don’t want our schools to feel unsafe or unhealthy. I want kids to be excited to go to school for what they’re learning, doing, and engaging in.”
Blair is endorsed by the Visalia Unified Teacher’s Association [VUTA]. “Our teachers are so valuable and so important,” she says. “I want what’s best for our teachers [because] I want our teachers to be able to give their best to [students].”
Blair wants students to know she is listening to what they say. She says, “I care so much about what [students] are thinking. I want to know what challenges [they] have, how [they] would like [their] campus to change.”
Blair adds, “Our first and foremost goal is for kids to learn and be educated, but also I want them to know that they’re a part of our community, that they’re going to be the builders of our community tomorrow.”
“Education takes our entire community. I want our community to be involved with our schools, and I want kids to be more connected because [they] are the leaders of tomorrow. I want students to be excited about what they’re going to go into the world and do.”
-Catalina Blair
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, catalina blair, rangers, redwood gigantea, redwood high school, redwood journalism, redwood rangers, rhs, trustee area 4, visalia ca, VUSD board, vusd board elections 2022, vusd board of education