Juan Carlos Perez (Pasadena Unified School District school board District 2, California, candidate 2024)

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Juan Carlos Perez

Nonpartisan

Candidate, Pasadena Unified School District school board District 2

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Personal

Profession

Marketing director

Contact

Campaign website

Juan Carlos Perez ran for election to the Pasadena Unified School District school board to represent District 2 in California. He was on the ballot in the general election on November 5, 2024.^[source]

Perez completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Juan Carlos Perez provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on October 15, 2024:

• Birth date: May 29, 1970
• High school: University School
• Bachelor's: Wesleyan Univeristy, 1992
• Gender: Male
• Religion: Not Religious
• Profession: Marketing Director
• Incumbent officeholder: No
• Campaign website

Elections

General election

General election for Pasadena Unified School District school board District 2

Jennifer Hall Lee and Juan Carlos Perez ran in the general election for Pasadena Unified School District school board District 2 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Jennifer Hall Lee (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Juan Carlos Perez (Nonpartisan)

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	Incumbency information for this election was not available.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Perez in this election.

Campaign themes

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Juan Carlos Perez completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Perez's responses.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Juan Carlos Perez received a B.A. with High Honors from Wesleyan University, where he majored in the College of Letters and then attended UC Berkeley for graduate studies in Comparative Literature, where he focused on medieval German, French, and Latin.

He is a long-time resident of Pasadena and Altadena, a proud public school parent, and an advocate for educational equity.

With years of experience in teaching and AYSO coaching, Juan Carlos understands the challenges and opportunities within our district. His mission is to ensure every child has access to the best possible education, regardless of their background or circumstances.

Juan Carlos was born in Chachapoyas, Peru and raised in Ohio. He is the marketing director for Art+Logic, a software development company based in Pasadena. He lives in Altadena with his wife, Beth, three children, and their rescue dogs Xavi and Harlow.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Our schools face serious challenges. Juan Carlos offers innovative, data-driven solutions.
• Progressive Vision:

  Support policies that address educational disparities and improve educational equity.

  As a PUSD board member, I would advocate for modernizing school facilities and integrating technology.

  I believe in holistic education, including arts, sports, and STEM programs.

  Use data to ensure that we're doing the most to help every student in the PUSD.
• Community Focus: I intend to actively engage with parents, teachers, and students to understand and address their needs. I am committed to transparency and accountability in decision-making.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education, Equity, LGBTQ+ Rights, Immigrant Rights

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Frederick Douglass is my intellectual hero. I admire his commitment to education and to the strength of the mind.

Is there a book, essay, film, or something else you would recommend to someone who wants to understand your political philosophy?

The works of Frederick Douglass

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

I bring a strong background in data analysis, coupled with a background in education and community engagement as a school volunteer and AYSO coach. My experience as a creative writer and marketing consultant has honed my ability to communicate effectively and think strategically, which is crucial for addressing complex issues and sharing them with a larger community.

I am a collaborative leader who values diverse perspectives, and I believe in working with teachers, parents, students, and the community to find solutions that serve the greater good. Additionally, my experience as a marketing director for a software company, combined with my research background and my personal passion for sustainability and conservation has taught me the importance of long-term planning, resource management, and innovative problem-solving, all of which are essential qualities for a board member navigating the challenges faced by PUSD, in particular the looming $50 million deficit and the funding that could be available through the bond measure and the parcel tax.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I'm fiercely independent with a profound love for learning, research, and critical thinking. I never shy away from difficult challenges and am highly detail oriented. I have also worked as a teacher, mentor, and leader, and know how to inspire people based on their strengths and aspirations, rather than my own expectations.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Equitable Funding and Resource Allocation: Ensuring that all schools, regardless of their size or location, have the necessary resources to provide high-quality education.

Addressing Enrollment Decline: Working on strategies to attract new families to the district through expanded academic programs and improved community engagement.

Improving Special Education: Advocating for more sustainable funding models for special education and ensuring that students with special needs receive the support they require. We must also push for more state and federal support for our special needs students.

Teacher Support: Focusing on teacher recruitment, retention, and professional development to maintain a high standard of education in our schools. I want to meet regularly with the teachers to understand their needs from their point of view. We must ensure that teachers feel like they are heard and involved in the decisions that affect their ability to deliver at the highest levels in their classrooms.

Community Involvement: Strengthening the relationship between the district and the community by fostering open communication and transparency, ensuring that parents and stakeholders are engaged in decision-making processes. I agree with Helen Chan Hill, PUSD Chief Academic Officer, that families want to feel a sense of community with their schools. We should look into ways to nurture that feeling of community while being mindful of decisions that could harm school communities.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

I was 16 when the Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

My first job was as a busboy at a Tex-Mex restaurant in Cleveland, Ohio. I had the job for all four years of high school.

What is your favorite book? Why?

Blood Meridian by Cormac McCarthy. The writing is beautiful, even when the novel takes its darkest turns. I consider it McCarthy's masterpiece and perhaps the best work of American fiction from the 20th century. I taught it every year that I was in graduate school and have read it at least once a year since I first found it in 1988 (three years after it was first published in 1985).

What is the primary job of a school board member in your view?

The School Board plays a critical role in holding the Superintendent and executive leadership accountable for the district’s performance. The board sets the strategic vision and goals for the district, and it is the Superintendent’s job to implement policies that achieve those goals. As a board member, I would work to ensure that the Superintendent and leadership team are making decisions that align with the district’s values and priorities. Regular evaluations, clear performance metrics, and open communication between the board and the Superintendent are essential to maintaining accountability. It’s also important to foster a collaborative relationship where we work together to overcome challenges while ensuring that leadership remains responsive to the needs of students, staff, and the community.

How would you support the diverse needs of your district’s students, faculty, staff, and community?

To ensure that PUSD meets the needs of all students and their families, I would prioritize transparency, accountability, and communication. This includes regularly engaging with parents and community members to understand their concerns and incorporating their feedback into decision-making. I would also advocate for data-driven policies that address disparities in access to resources and educational outcomes, ensuring that every student, regardless of background, has the support they need to succeed. By setting clear, measurable goals outside of the proficiency standards and monitoring progress through regular reports, we can hold ourselves accountable and make adjustments as necessary to better serve all of our students.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Adam Wolman, Creative consultant; former television exec at HBO, Disney\nABC, and MTV.

Sarah Asiedu, Wesleyan University and Alexander Hamilton High School alum

Javier Guzman, CEO, Center for Powerful Public Schools

Abigail Morgan, L.Ac, FABORM, PUSD parent, advocate for LGBTQIA+ youth and Pasadena business owner

Dr. William O’Neill, Retired Associate Head of School, University School, Cleveland, OH

Stephen Scholand, MD Associate Professor in Clinical Medicine University of Arizona

Christopher Still, Trumpet, Los Angeles Philharmonic

Pablo Kurlat, Professor of Economics, USC

Steve Cole, PUSD Teacher and Parent

Jorge Aguirre Writer, Producer, Kids Animation and Graphic Novels

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

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Candidate

Pasadena Unified School District school board District 2

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