Jyl Lutes

This page was current at the end of the individual's last campaign covered by Ballotpedia. Please contact us with any updates.

Jyl Lutes

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

Bachelor's

San José State University, 1977

Graduate

Chapman University

Personal

Birthplace

San Jose, Calif.

Profession

Retired teacher

Contact

Campaign website

Personal Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Jyl Lutes ran for election to the Santa Clara County Board of Education to represent Trustee Area 3 in California. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

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

Biography

Jyl Lutes was born in San Jose, California. Lutes' career experience includes working as a teacher. She earned a graduate degree from Chapman University and a bachelor's degree from San Jose State University in 1977.

Elections

2024

See also: Municipal elections in Santa Clara County, California (2024)

General election

General election for Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Area 3

Incumbent Don Rocha defeated Jyl Lutes in the general election for Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Area 3 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Don Rocha (Nonpartisan)	58.1	53,036
		Jyl Lutes (Nonpartisan)	41.9	38,254

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 91,290
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Lutes in this election.

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jyl Lutes completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Lutes' responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I was born and raised in San Jose and graduated from San Jose State University. I taught in the public school system for 30 years and was elected district president, site representative, and negotiating team member for my local CTA. I was elected to the Alisal USD board, serving for four years and representing the district at the California School Boards Association. I was elected to 5 terms (18 years) on the Salinas City Council, serving two years as Mayor pro-tem. I served on numerous regional and local commissions and committees, including as chair of the Transportation Agency for Monterey County and the Salinas Valley Solid Waste Authority. I also served on the Fort Ord Reuse Authority, Local Area Formation Commission (LAFCo), and Salinas Planning Commission, and as a delegate to the California League of Cities. I am passionate about education and advocating for children. My top priorities are increasing student academic performance and ensuring that school children are given the support necessary to become successful lifelong learners. I will be a trustee who advocates for students, and demands fiscal accountability.

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?

• Supporting student academic achievement. Academic success for all students requires a multipronged strategy. Board policies must ensure that all children have equal opportunities for academic success, wellness centers for children in need of critical basic services must be maintained, and early childhood education (so essential for academic success) must be promoted. Trustees must work with state officials to explore funding opportunities to meet the increasing post-pandemic needs of students and families. To ensure successful learning outcomes, all students need to feel welcomed and valued in the classroom, and trustees need to ensure that board policies focus on providing broad support for positive learning outcomes.
• Fiscal stability and transparency Because the county is not a taxing entity, trustees need to work with state legislators to ensure equitable funding for all schools and explore new funding formulas. Supporting student success and academic achievement must be the priority that drives budget decisions. Trustees must ensure that all budget decisions are equitable and student-success-focused and have actively engaged the community in the decision-making process.
• Promoting an unwavering commitment and advocacy for students Creating life-long learners is what education is all about, and to that end, teachers and students must have loud advocates for academic success and achievement. Trustees must commit to working with state legislators to increase per-pupil spending. Our schools need more funding for libraries, services for low-income families and students with disabilities, enrichment programs, professional mental health service providers, competitive pay for teachers, early childhood education programs, and career and technical classes for vocational education. Locally elected school trustees must be willing to advocate for all our students' needs!

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Education and Environment/Climate Change

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

Mary Wollstonecraft, author of "A Vindication of the Rights of Women", 1792, and an activist for women's rights.

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

The most important characteristics of any elected official are integrity, transparency, and fairness.

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

I am an educator. Teaching is my passion. I am an advocate for public education.

    An experience I had while serving as a member of the Salinas City Council and as Mayor Pro Tem for the city emphasized the critical importance of quality education and student academic success.  I was invited to visit San Quentin prison by the incarcerated members of a literacy group there that had raised funds for the Salinas public libraries.  Because of budget cuts, the city was in danger of closing public libraries, and this literacy advocacy group from San Quentin had raised money to help keep the libraries open.  In my visit with the men there, the message they wanted to send back with me was that nearly 70% of people in prison are, to some degree, illiterate.  

It is our collective responsibility as citizens of this democracy to ensure that our children have the best academic and educational outcomes possible. I have the passion, the policy-making skills, and the classroom experience to successfully serve as an officeholder on the Santa Clara County Governing Board.

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

The core responsibility of a County School Governing Board is to establish a long-term vision that prioritizes student academic success. From setting the organization's direction to adopting board policies, maintaining fiscal stability, and adopting curriculum, all decisions must be made through the lens of student success. Additionally, the board must be accountable to the public. California School Boards Association defines the role of County Trustee as protecting the public interest in schools and ensuring a high-quality education is provided for every student. Building safe schools, making transparent budget decisions, and encouraging community involvement are critical responsibilities, along with working to close the "opportunity gap", supporting teachers, and adopting quality curriculum.

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

Tour Guide, Winchester Mystery House (2 years)

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Democratic Action for Women Now (DAWN)

Eastside Teacher's Association
Jewish Democratic Coalition

(among others)

Describe your ideal learning environment for students.

As a classroom teacher, I have always tried to create welcoming, warm, safe, inclusive, and engaging spaces for my students. I wanted my students to feel at home in the classroom and welcomed by the books and stories in the class library and the artwork on the walls. We had pillows and bean bag chairs for reading, interactive bulletin boards to engage and challenge, and writing centers. Regardless of age, all students need to feel that their classroom is a place where they can connect to their learning environment.

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.

See also

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Candidate

Santa Clara County Board of Education Trustee Area 3

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