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SCCSBA President's Message by Shali Sirkay

April Advocacy Activities! Who doesn't love a good alliterative moment? All jokes aside, this month, I wanted to focus this month's column on our work as public education advocates. Advocacy is perhaps the least "parent-facing" of the work that we do, often occurring behind the scenes; however, it is also what allows us to impact the greatest number of students, families, staff and teachers. 

This past week, I was happy to see how many of our trustees attended Coast2Coast, CSBA's annual public education advocacy trip to Washington, D.C. I know these are difficult times for some of our districts, and so while attending C2C may not have been possible for all trustees, please know that your fellow colleagues were advocating on everyone's behalf. We in SCC have been fortunate that our Congressional representatives have been so accessible to us at home, but they truly appreciate that we travel to D.C. to continue our advocacy work. With all of the other big issue items taking up their time, the message was clear to keep public education and our students front and center. Protecting public education is an investment in the future of our country.

You may also consider state level opportunities for advocacy work via the bus trips and virtual meetings with our delegation in Sacramento. Or, consider joining LAC! Our LAC committee was still busy with their advocacy work while at C2C. Ours is one of, if not the most, active county school board associations in the state, and our LAC is extraordinary, and has benefitted from excellent leadership. All of us trustees have direct input on LAC's advocacy agenda through the surveys we filled out at the beginning of the school year, and I highly encourage you to check out their work and see where they have taken our advocacy priorities.

We had a really productive conversation with VTA earlier this month, which exemplifies how we advocate for our students regionally. Trustees are always looking for creative and practical solutions for the challenges our students face, and the follow-up from the conversation with VTA is certainly heading in a productive direction. 

Most people who do a bit of research can figure out the necessary facts and figures that support our work as trustees. However, only we trustees, along with our governance teams, can provide the stories and the human face of our students' and families' experience. This became abundantly clear through all of our conversations and advocacy work at the federal, state, county and regional levels- we can offer our elected officials, partners and collaborators a 360-degree view of the totality of the student experience. Therefore, it is not only necessary but critical that we are at all places where conversations and discussions are taking place that impact our students and public education in general.

In the spirit of celebrating the work we accomplished this year, and to set the stage for the important work we will continue to do next year, I'd like to invite all trustees to a low-key, relaxing gathering at my house on May 3rd. We started the year together and I'd like to end the year the same way- in community with each other. Please be sure to RSVP so that we have an accurate count for refreshments. Once you RSVP, you will also receive my address. I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible!

Please visit our website at sccsba.org for all of our upcoming events and activities.

Thanks to our SCCSBA delegation to CSBA's Coast to Coast conference on federal advocacy in Washington, DC last week.

Congratulations to our new SCCSBA Officers for 2026-27

SCCSBA President Chris Norwood, Milpitas Unified School District

SCCSBA Vice President of Programming Jen Petroff, Union School District

SCCSBA Vice President of Advocacy Isabel Jubes-Flamerich, Sunnyvale School District

SCCSBA Treasurer Elisabeth Halliday, Campbell Union High School District

SCCSBA Past President Shali Sirkay, Los Altos School District

Wednesday, April 22 SCCSBA Evening Zoom Meeting on

Student Board Members and their Role on School Boards

Come and join us for our April 22 Evening Zoom meeting from 7-8:30 p.m. We will be discussing the topic of Student Board Members and elevating student voice in school districts. All trustees are invited to attend. If your district has student board members, we would like to hear about their role in your school district. Check your calendar email inbox for the zoom link.

Saturday, April 25 SCCSBA Networking Breakfast

Our next networking breakfast will be held on Saturday, April 25 from 8:30-10 AM at Bill's Cafe on the Alameda in San Jose (2089 The Alameda, San Jose, CA 95126). This no-host breakfast is a fun way to connect with trustees across the county. All trustees are welcome and no RSVP is needed.

Sunday, May 3 SCCSBA Networking Reception

We cordially invite all trustees to join us for a reception at President Shali Sirkay's home on Sunday, May 3 from 3-5 p.m. This is also our opportunity to thank our outgoing leadership team and to welcome our new leadership team for 2026-27. Keep an eye on your calendar email inbox for more details. All trustees are invited to attend, and it's a very fun way to end the school year. A big thanks to President Sirkay for inviting us to this special end-of-year event.

Wednesday, May 6 SCCSBA Zoom Meeting with

County Assessor Neysa Fligor

Come and join us for a 12-1 p.m. zoom meeting featuring our new County Assessor Neysa Fligor. This is a great opportunity to learn more about the role of the County Assessor. Check your calendar email inbox for the zoom link.

Here's a short bio about Neysa Fligor:

On Monday, January 26, the Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors certified the results of the December 30, 2025, run-off special election for Assessor, confirming the election of Neysa Fligor to the position. Her election is also historic as she is the first female to be elected Santa Clara County Assessor, and the first Black/African-American female assessor in the State of California.

A California State Board of Equalization Certified Property Tax Appraiser, graduate of Georgetown Law, former attorney for the Assessor’s Office and member of the Assessor’s Executive Management Team since 2024, Assessor Fligor brings expertise and experience that will allow her to seamlessly transition to the top leadership position in the Assessor’s Office.

Wednesday, May 13 SCCSBA Hoffmann Awards Dinner

Celebrate the 2026 Hoffmann Award Recipients

We are delighted to share this year’s Glenn W. Hoffmann Exemplary Program Award recipients and warmly invite you to join us for the awards dinner on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at MetroED in San Jose. As space is limited, we encourage you to reserve your tickets early.

PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS HERE

We are delighted to share this year’s Hoffmann Award recipients:

• Campbell Union High School District  – Dual Enrollment with West Valley College
• East Side Union High School District  – College in My Future
• Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District  – Building Resilience Through Wellness Centers
• Mount Pleasant Elementary School District  – Leaning In Initiative
• Mountain View Whisman School District – Early Literacy Program
• Santa Clara County Office of Education  – Environmental Education Program
• Santa Clara Unified School District – Newcomer Ambassador Program

You can read more about each of the award-winning programs on the SCCSBA website.

Whether your district is being recognized this year or you are joining in celebrating the work of colleagues across the county, we hope you will join us for this special evening honoring the exceptional programs making a difference for students across Santa Clara County. 

The Hoffmann Awards Dinner is a wonderful opportunity to recognize this year’s recipients, celebrate excellence in public education, and gather with trustees, superintendents, and education leaders from across the county.

The evening will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and the awards ceremony.

We hope you will be able to join us for this special evening of recognition and celebration.

Saturday, June 20 - Candidate Workshop

We are happy to announce our SCCSBA Candidate Workshop, which will be held on Saturday, June 20 from 9 AM - Noon at the Santa Clara County Registrar of Voters, 1555 Berger Drive in San Jose. This is a great opportunity to hear from the ROV about all the requirements to run as a school board member candidate in the November 2026 General Election. All candidates (incumbent and new) are invited to attend this free workshop. See your calendar email inbox for more details. RSVP is not needed. Please feel free to let new candidates know about this workshop too. The morning will include a presentation from the Registrar of Voters plus a panel discussion from experienced board members concerning how to run an effective campaign. This workshop is only focused on school board member candidates for the General Election.

Congratulations to our new LAC officers for 2026-27

LAC Chair Isabel Jubes-Flamerich, Sunnyvale School District

LAC Vice Chair Tuyen Fiack, Gilroy Unified School District

LAC Secretary John Horner, Morgan Hill Unified School District

LAC Scheduler Bridget Watson, Sunnyvale School District

Additional LAC Members:

Patti Andrade, Evergreen School District
Jose Magana, San Jose Unified School District

Jason Baker, Campbell Union High School District

Pat Carpio-Aguilar, Fremont Union High School District

Jen Petroff, Union School District

Chris Norwood, Milpitas Unified School District

Shali Sirkay, Los Altos School District

Jessica Speiser, SCC Board of Education

Theresa Bond, Los Gatos Saratoga Union High School District

Frances Herbert, Oak Grove School District

Hong Ha Hoang, Franklin McKinley School District

Carol Presunka, Cambrian School District

Virginia Varela-Campos, Orchard School District

Jesus Salazar, Luther Burbank School District

Legislative Action Committee Update

Over the past month, the Santa Clara County School Boards Association (SCCSBA) Legislative Action Committee (LAC) has continued its active and intentional engagement in the legislative process.

We reached out to our network of elected officials and partner organizations to better understand their legislative priorities and identify the bills they are advancing or supporting this session. From this outreach, we aligned their priorities with SCCSBA’s countywide goals and identified 21 key bills that we are actively supporting and monitoring.

We have now begun drafting and submitting formal letters of support for these priority bills, reinforcing our commitment to advocacy that reflects the needs of our students, schools, and communities.

This month, a delegation from the LAC traveled to Washington, D.C. to meet with federal representatives in collaboration with CSBA and ACSA. These meetings focused on advancing key federal priorities impacting public education:

Federal Funding & Stability. We urge Congress to:

• Fully fund IDEA
• Protect Title I and student support programs
• Ensure stability and predictability in funding, avoiding government shutdowns and delays
• Maintain a strong and coordinated federal role in education

Student Online Safety. We advocate for policies that:

• Hold digital platforms accountable
• Protect student data as sensitive information
• Establish clear and consistent national privacy standards
• Strengthen family trust through federal safeguards

Responsible AI in Education. We support efforts to:

• Protect state and local decision-making authority
• Provide funding and resources for implementation
• Invest in educator training and practical guidance
• Strengthen and modernize student data privacy protections
• Encourage innovation with appropriate guardrails

Career Technical Education (CTE). We call for:

• Increased and stable Perkins V funding
• Strategies to address CTE educator shortages
• Targeted support for small and rural districts

In each meeting with policymakers, our approach remains consistent: we listen carefully to legislative priorities, share accurate and relevant district data, and elevate real, student-centered stories. This helps build strong partnerships that directly support our schools and communities.

Want to learn more about our legislative advocacy work?

Contact SCCSBA VP of Advocacy and LAC Chair, Chris Norwood (Milpitas Unified Board President), at lac@sccsba.org.

Morgan Hill Unified School District

Morgan Hill Unified School District is proud to share that Live Oak High School has been recognized as the Most Caring High School by YMCA Project Cornerstone.

This distinction highlights the intentional and sustained efforts taking place across the Live Oak campus to foster a positive, inclusive environment where every student feels supported, connected, and valued. Rooted in strong relationships, student voice, and a shared commitment to belonging, the school’s culture reflects a deep understanding that care is foundational to student success.

At Live Oak, creating a caring school environment is not tied to a single program or initiative. It is embedded in daily interactions, classroom practices, and campus-wide efforts that prioritize connection and respect. Staff, students, and families work together to cultivate a space where all students can thrive both academically and socially.



Morgan Hill Unified celebrates the Live Oak High School community for this meaningful recognition and for continuing to lead with care in support of every student.

Berryessa Union School District

The Berryessa Union School District Board of Trustees appreciates Congressman Ro Khanna’s advocacy in securing funding for the following Community Funds project:

Berryessa Youth Center Renovation and Improvements Project

$250,000, Berryessa Union School District



The funding would be used for the renovation of the 20,500 square-foot Berryessa Youth Center, a youth facility in the Berryessa Union School District which includes a gymnasium, activity/classrooms, offices, conference rooms, restrooms, lobby, and storage rooms. Improvements to the gymnasium will support athletic and recreational programs, while upgrades to the activity/classrooms will create better environments for educational workshops and skill development. The renovation will also address essential facility upgrades for the offices, conference rooms, restrooms, lobby, and storage areas, ensuring enhanced operational efficiency and a better overall experience for all visitors and staff.

Milpitas Unified School District

Milpitas USD connects hundreds of job candidates with employers at

MUSD Spring Career Fair

Our 2026 Milpitas Unified School District Spring Career Fair, in partnership with Milpitas Economic Development, connected hundreds of potential job candidates with key local and regional employers in the areas of Technology, Advanced Manufacturing, City Government, the Trades, Healthcare, Retail, Hospitality, Law Enforcement and more on the MUSD Innovation Campus on Wednesday.

Throughout the afternoon, participants connected with potential employers to learn about the various local opportunities, in some cases interviewing on the spot. It was a successful event for the community. MUSD continues to foster relationships with local companies and small businesses to show that in MUSD, “Our Future of Work is Now.” From the current to the future workforce, the business community got an up-close look at the incredible talent pool of job candidates in Milpitas.

Future workforce events are in the works at Milpitas Unified School District. From the MUSD Innovation Campus to include the MUSD Workforce Development Center currently under construction, to the new Milpitas Performing Arts Center at Milpitas High School, MUSD is continuing to put Milpitas on the map as the “Gateway to Silicon Valley!” Stay tuned for ways to get involved to continue to ensure that Milpitas is the best place to live, work, and go to school in the Bay Area!

Los Gatos-Saratoga Union High School District

Saratoga High School Campus Supervisor Named Santa Clara County

Classified School Employee of the Year

Saratoga High School Campus Supervisor Archie Ljepava has been named Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Classified School Employee of the Year in the Security Services category. Recognized for his strong relationships and holistic approach to student safety, Archie has become a trusted presence on campus over the past five years. He supports both students’ physical safety and emotional well-being while helping foster a positive school culture. In addition to his role, he serves as head coach for football and track, further impacting students’ lives. Archie’s nomination will advance to the state level for further consideration. Click here to see a fun montage of Archie in action (Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIN).

STAY CONNECTED

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