Kenia Peraza
San Ysidro School District school board At-large
Tenure
Term ends
Years in position
Elections and appointments
Personal
Contact
Kenia Peraza is an at-large member of the San Ysidro School District school board in California. She assumed office on December 13, 2024. Her current term ends on December 8, 2028.
Peraza ran for election for an at-large seat of the San Ysidro School District school board in California. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Peraza completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Kenia Peraza was born in Los Angeles, California. She earned a bachelor's degree from the Universidad Autonoma de Baja California in 2015. Peraza's career experience includes working as a interior designer. As of 2024, she was affiliated with South Bay Special Education Community.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: San Ysidro School District, California, elections (2024)
General election
Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Peraza in this election.
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Kenia Peraza completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Peraza's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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I am Kenia Peraza, a mother of three, including a child with autism. As a dedicated advocate for the children and families of San Ysidro, I actively participate in board meetings and advocate for improvements in school policies. My focus is on delivering quality education by enhancing special education services and dual language programs, ensuring every child receives the support they need.
I am committed to promoting equity in education and fostering an inclusive environment for students with special needs. Transparency in school funding is also a priority for me; our community deserves to understand how resources are allocated.
I am passionate about empowering parents to recognize and harness the difference they can make in their children's education. I aim to help families become more engaged and effective advocates for their children’s academic success.
I bring fresh ideas, a commitment to transparency, and a strong dedication to our community values, focusing on equity, inclusivity, and enhancing our children’s educational experience. - Community advocate.
I advocate for disability rights and work to create schools free from ableism, ensuring all students can access curriculum, spaces, and opportunities. I am committed to making sure San Ysidro schools are clean, safe, and accessible. By promoting equity and inclusivity, I strive to enhance the educational environment for every student, ensuring that all have the support and resources needed to succeed. My goal is to foster a learning environment where every child feels valued and can thrive academically and socially.
- Focused on Education and Inclusion.
I advocate for disability rights and work to create schools free from ableism, ensuring all students can access curriculum, spaces, and opportunities. I am committed to making sure San Ysidro schools are clean, safe, and accessible. By promoting equity and inclusivity, I strive to enhance the educational environment for every student, ensuring that all have the support and resources needed to succeed. My goal is to foster a learning environment where every child feels valued and can thrive academically and socially.
- Supporting dual language programs and preserving traditions.
I promote educational initiatives that enable children to excel academically while maintaining their native languages. I am committed to upholding our community’s values and traditions, which foster a strong sense of belonging and pride in our shared heritage. By supporting dual language education, I aim to enhance students' cognitive skills and cultural identity. My dedication to preserving our traditions ensures that our community’s unique heritage continues to be a source of pride and unity, enriching our educational environment and reinforcing the connection between students and their cultural roots.
Special Education and Inclusion Policies:
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
Procedural Safeguards
Crisis Intervention Trainings
Mental Health Professionals in Schools
Crisis Response Protocols
Universal Design for Learning (UDL)
Inclusive Classroom Practices
Professional Development
Accessibility and Accommodations
Parent Access to SPED Classrooms
Dual Language Programs:
Program Support
Assessment Procedures
Integration with Dual Language Programs
Parent Engagement Policies:
Communication Channels
Involvement Opportunities
Support and Resources
Feedback Mechanisms
Parent Education Programs
Financial Transparency It’s hard to pinpoint just one person I look up to, as I’ve been fortunate to have many role models in my life. My first and foremost inspiration is my mother. As a young single mother, she overcame numerous challenges to provide for me and my sister, showing us the importance of independence and proving that nothing is impossible. I also deeply value and admire my three grandparents, who have been my mentors, filling my life with love and happiness and teaching me that love truly answers everything. Additionally, friends along the way have shown me the value of bravery and the power of teamwork, demonstrating what can be achieved with consistent support.
The most important characteristics for an elected official include integrity, transparency, empathy, and a deep commitment to public service. For me, it is also crucial to honor and continue the rich traditions of our community while addressing its evolving needs. My Mexican cultural background gives me a unique perspective on the challenges faced by our border town, and it drives me to advocate for solutions that respect our heritage and address the specific needs of our diverse community.
I believe that integrity, compassion, and a deep connection to the community are essential qualities for a successful officeholder. Maintaining honesty and ethical standards, genuinely listening to those in need, and demonstrating empathy are crucial for serving effectively and making a positive impact in any political role.
The core responsibilities include representing and advocating for the needs of the community with a focus on transparency and inclusivity. This involves upholding the traditions that define our community while also addressing its current challenges. As someone deeply rooted in our cultural heritage, it’s important to ensure that our educational policies and programs reflect and support our unique community values and needs.
I would like to leave a legacy of inclusive and Universal Design for Learning (UDL) practices in all our schools. My goal is for our district to be a model of how a strong sense of belonging can be fostered through effective communication and transparency, active collaboration with the community, and a deep commitment to empathy. I am dedicated to ensuring that no classroom is ever without a plant-based teacher, as meeting our students' needs must always be our top priority. If upper administration needs to make sacrifices to support this, it is their duty to do so, as our responsibility is to put students first at all times.
The first big memory I have is from when I was around 3 years old. I remember putting on my grandfather’s cowboy boots and walking around my grandparents’ house, which was my first home. I was so happy to see my family my parents, uncles, and grandpas, all smiling and sharing a laugh. I think I felt incredibly lucky to have them around, and I thought I looked pretty cool in those boots as I checked myself out in the mirror.
My first job began at the age of 13, when I started helping my mom with her small gift-wrapping business. From those early years, I learned the basics of running a business, gradually taking on more responsibilities as I grew older. By the time I was 17, I was running the shop on my own, a testament to the skills and independence my mom helped instill in me. This experience not only taught me the value of hard work but also equipped me with a strong sense of self-sufficiency and entrepreneurial spirit.
The primary job of a school board member is to ensure that the school district provides high-quality education that respects and reflects our community's traditions and cultural background. This involves making informed decisions about budget allocation, curriculum development, and resource distribution, all while actively engaging with and addressing the needs of our diverse and often underserved community.
My constituents are the students, parents, teachers, and community members within our border town. This includes families who are directly impacted by school policies and programs, as well as local organizations and stakeholders who contribute to the educational environment. My understanding of their unique needs is informed by my own experiences and cultural background.
Supporting diverse needs involves creating inclusive policies and programs that acknowledge and respect our cultural heritage. I would advocate for bilingual education, cultural competence training for staff, and programs that address the specific challenges faced by our border community. Engaging with local cultural organizations and ensuring that our educational environment reflects the rich traditions of our community will be key.
Building relationships involves active engagement and consistent communication. I plan to continue my door-to-door outreach, attend community events, and collaborate with local cultural organizations, parent-teacher associations, and advocacy groups. Specific stakeholders include organizations that support Latino and border communities, local businesses, and community leaders who share a commitment to addressing our unique challenges.
Good teaching is characterized by creating a sense of belonging for all students, clear communication, effective classroom management, and the ability to motivate and engage students while respecting and integrating their cultural backgrounds. It involves differentiated instruction to address diverse learning needs and providing adequate supports for students to ensure they can thrive academically and socially. To measure good teaching, I will consider student performance, gather feedback from students and parents, and conduct regular classroom observations.
Supporting advanced teaching approaches means equipping teachers with the necessary resources and professional development opportunities to innovate and implement effective strategies. This includes offering training on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to ensure all students’ needs are met and integrating Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) to foster a positive learning environment. Additionally, I will support Restorative Justice practices to build a strong, inclusive community and address behavioral challenges proactively. Ensuring that teachers and staff have the resources and support they need to apply these advanced approaches will be key to enhancing educational outcomes and fostering a positive and engaging learning environment.
I would like to expand the curriculum to include Project-Based Learning (PBL) and Universal Design for Learning (UDL), allowing students to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through engaging, real-world projects. This approach fosters deeper understanding and application of academic content while accommodating diverse learning needs.
Incorporating PBL provides students with opportunities to pursue their passions, reflect on their learning, and connect their studies to the world through fieldwork, community service, and internships. This hands-on approach helps students develop valuable life skills and a stronger connection to their education.
Additionally, I propose building community partnerships to create authentic community schools that reflect and serve the diverse needs of our students. By integrating students from various backgrounds and ensuring our curriculum is inclusive and equitable, we can create a rich learning environment where diverse perspectives are valued.
We should also focus on offering advanced technical training and apprenticeships that align with local industry needs and student interests, as well as bilingual education initiatives and culturally relevant STEM courses. This ensures that our curriculum is not only innovative but also deeply connected to our students' cultural identities and community needs.
By prioritizing these areas, we can foster a learning environment that supports and challenges every student, encourages personal growth, and prepares them for future success. To ensure proper funding, I would advocate for equitable resource allocation, pursue additional funding sources such as grants and partnerships, and engage with local government and community organizations. I would also emphasize the importance of transparent budgeting processes and actively communicate the specific funding needs of our border town to stakeholders.
My policies for safety are driven by the principles of creating a secure, supportive, and culturally sensitive environment for students and staff. This includes implementing comprehensive safety protocols, regular training for staff, and ensuring that mental health support is available. Engaging with community leaders and involving them in safety planning will help ensure that our policies are effective and responsive to the needs of our diverse community.
I also plan to collaborate closely with the police department to increase patrols around schools frequently targeted by vandalism. By boosting visibility and proactive monitoring, I aim to deter such disruptive activities and create a safer environment for students and staff.
Supporting mental health involves providing access to counseling services, promoting mental health awareness, and creating a supportive environment where individuals feel comfortable seeking help. I would advocate for integrating mental health education into the curriculum, ensuring that resources are available for students, faculty, and staff, and offering training to help recognize and address mental health issues. Addressing mental health needs with sensitivity to our cultural context will be crucial.
I will also push for integrating Physical Education (P.E.) into every classroom, supporting students' to make a connection between physical and emotional health.
I would review existing policies to ensure they are effective and equitable, with a focus on accessibility, inclusivity, and respect for our cultural traditions. New policies might include enhanced support for bilingual education, updated safety protocols, and initiatives to address the unique needs of our border community. I am also interested in implementing policies that foster community engagement and increase transparency in decision-making processes. Additionally, I would explore ways to increase teachers' salaries and bring more campus aides and support staff into our schools to better support our students and enhance the overall school environment.
My ideal learning environment is one that is inclusive, engaging, and culturally responsive. It should celebrate and integrate our community’s traditions while providing modern resources and technology. The environment should foster collaboration, creativity, and critical thinking, with support systems in place to address the needs of all students, including those with disabilities.
Given the unique challenges faced by our border town, I believe there is always room for improvement in how we address crises. Moving forward, I will prioritize enhancing communication and transparency regarding health protocols, especially for families with limited English proficiency. Equitable access to technology and resources for remote learning is crucial, particularly for homeless families and students with disabilities.
Addressing these challenges involves developing targeted strategies to support students and families disproportionately affected by crises. This includes providing multilingual resources, accessible online platforms, and personalized support for students with disabilities. Incorporating feedback from all stakeholders, including marginalized communities, will be essential in creating effective and inclusive solutions.
Regarding future health measures, I will not support another lockdown for coronavirus reasons without carefully considering diverse expert opinions. Proactive crisis management should be tailored to our community’s specific needs, ensuring we are prepared to respond effectively to emergencies while addressing the unique issues faced by our diverse and vulnerable populations. To build relationships with parents, I will maintain open lines of communication through regular meetings, newsletters, and social media updates. I will also create opportunities for parents to provide feedback and be actively involved in school decision-making processes. Emphasizing the importance of our cultural traditions and engaging in community events will help foster a strong connection with parents.
Effective recruitment strategies include offering competitive salaries, providing robust professional development opportunities, and fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment. Integrating Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles into our recruitment practices will ensure that our educational environment meets diverse needs from the outset. Employing Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) will help create a positive and respectful workplace culture. Additionally, focusing on Restorative Justice practices will support a more inclusive and equitable approach to discipline, helping to address and reduce high suspension rates. We must also prioritize strategies that combat the school-to-prison pipeline by implementing interventions that keep students engaged and reduce absenteeism. Targeted recruitment should aim to attract candidates who are not only culturally competent but also committed to these progressive practices, ensuring that our team is equipped to foster an environment where all students and staff can thrive and achieve their full potential.
Financial transparency and accountability are fundamental to building trust and ensuring that public resources are used effectively. I advocate for open reporting of expenditures and clear communication about budget decisions. In our border town, where resources are often limited, it’s especially important to ensure that every dollar is spent wisely and benefits our community directly. Upholding these principles will help us address the unique challenges we face.
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See also
External links
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on September 17, 2024
