Marco Amaral

Marco Amaral ran for election for California Superintendent of Public Instruction. He lost in the primary on June 7, 2022.

Amaral completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Marco Amaral was born in Escondido, California. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2014 and a graduate degree from the University of San Diego in 2017. His career experience includes working as a special education teacher.^[1]

Elections

2022

General election

General election for California Superintendent of Public Instruction

Incumbent Tony Thurmond defeated Lance Christensen in the general election for California Superintendent of Public Instruction on November 8, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Tony Thurmond (Nonpartisan)	63.7	5,681,318
	Lance Christensen (Nonpartisan)	36.3	3,237,785

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 8,919,103
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California Superintendent of Public Instruction

The following candidates ran in the primary for California Superintendent of Public Instruction on June 7, 2022.

	Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Tony Thurmond (Nonpartisan)	45.9	2,881,684
✔	Lance Christensen (Nonpartisan)	11.9	745,003
	Ainye Long (Nonpartisan)	11.1	699,331
	George Yang (Nonpartisan)	11.1	694,073
	Marco Amaral (Nonpartisan)	8.7	547,389
	Jim Gibson (Nonpartisan)	7.5	468,078
	Joseph Campbell (Nonpartisan)	3.9	241,984

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 6,277,542
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Campaign finance

Endorsements

To view Amaral's endorsements in the 2022 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

Marco Amaral completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2022. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Amaral's 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 am the product of public schools and have been advocating for them since my time at the University of California - Berkeley. I am the son of working-class immigrants from Mexico. As a school board member, currently Board President of the South Bay Union School District, I have pushed for more equitable salaries across the district and a more transparent governance process. I am running for State Superintendent to transform public education, because our children deserve much better. Our platform includes: 1) Paying teachers in California a minimum of $70,000 per year and every classified employee a minimum of $25 per hour. 2) Fully fund schools to meet both the academic and human needs of every student. 3) Making public universities tuition free and canceling student-loan debt. 4) Ending standardized testing. 5) Keeping politicians accountable. Public education is failing our students and communities, but we have a 10-point platform to fix it. Enough is Enough. I am an Independent. I am a Teacher. I am a Doctoral Student in Education. I answer to my students and their families; to my colleagues; to everyday people like you and your family. Let's put the "public" back into public education.

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?

It's time that a working-teacher becomes the next State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Currently, the California Department of Education is mostly managed and led by people with no teaching experience. We will change this.
We will hold politicians accountable when they do not legislate in favor of public education. Both Democrats and Republicans have failed us. It's time to have a true Non-Partisan at the head of Public Education, it's time for some real accountability.
Career politicians and millionaires have for too long taken advantage of our public schools. It's time that the working-class takes back what is rightfully theirs, it's time to put the "public" back into public education.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

1) Kids with disabilities have been neglected for far too long. We need to completely revamp our Special Education Programs to meet the needs of every student. From making sure that every school has the required funds to meet every student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) to making sure that Special Education Teachers and Instructional Assistants are adequately paid for their expertise. Under our leadership, the California Department of Education (CDE) will lead a national effort to fully fund the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

2) Teachers and Classified Employees deserve a dignified and just salary. Our CDE will advocate for a $70,000 annual, minimum, salary for ever California teacher and a $25 per hour minimum wage for Classified employees. It's time that we respect the education profession. Those that work for and with our students merit dignified and thriving compensation.

3) We need to fully fund Dual-Language Programs in California. Students in California are being left behind. Every student in California should have the right to graduate from primary school with fluency in more than one language. A multi-lingual California is a more united and prosperous California.

4) We need to end Standardized Testing, research has proven that our students are more than just a number. The way we evaluate our student's success and advances must encompass multiple measures of progress. Too many students have been held behind due to a test, no more.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

The position of State Superintendent of Public Instruction is meant to be the "voice" of public education at the state level. The State Superintendent advocates for the well-being and sustainability of the state's public education system via advocacy at the state legislature, governor's office, public university systems, and through important appointments. Additionally, the State Superintendent has influence over decisions that are made at the local level throughout California school districts.

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

I have been blessed with having many great role-models in my own family. My family has served as a constant beacon of inspiration. However, my future-wife, Arcelia Magana, is the person I most look up to. I have never met such an intelligent, strong, and courageous human being. She is who I look up to, she is who I follow, she is who I most want to emulate.

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

1) Paulo Freire: "The Pedagogy of the Oppressed"

2) bell hooks: "Teaching to Transgress"

3) Frantz Fanon: "The Wretched of The Earth"

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

1) Accountability to the people, not special interest groups, political parties, or major donors.

2) Willingness to "speak truth to power." I'm not running to becomes friends with those in power, I'm running to hold them accountable.

3) Ability to "extend the table of influence, not shorten it." A successful public servant will look towards engaging every family and community, with the goal of being a true servant of the public.

4) Transparency. A Public Servant must be willing to work with the public and in public.

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

1) Execute the policies of the State Board of Education.

2) Keeping the Governor and State Legislature accountable.

3) Advocate for Public Education.

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

My mom has been a housekeeper for close to 30 years. I was 8 years old when she and her colleagues went on strike. I remember having the sensation of pride. My mom was not just fighting for herself, she was fighting for my future, for her family. Marching with my mother was a significant historical event in my personal life. That was the day I learned that my mom was a superhero.

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

The first time I was on a payroll was my second day at the University of California - Berkeley. My dad and I walked up to the manager of the dining halls and I said, "put me to work." It was the great recession of 2008-2010 and I needed a job. I spent the next 3 years working with AFSCME 3299 workers. From cleaning bathrooms to serving students food, one of my biggest honors has been to work with the working-people of the University of California.

What responsibilities of this office do you personally consider the most important?

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction has the primary responsibility of advocating for public education and to keep accountable elected officials in passing measures and policy that is in the best interest of public education. The State Superintendent heads the California Department of Education, executes the policies set by the State Board of Education, and sits as the chair of the board.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

The State Superintendent of Public Instruction sits on the board of the Regents of the University of California and on the Board of Trustees of the California State University system. People should be aware of this, because public universities in California have been becoming increasingly privatized, making it very difficult for working-class families to attend our public university institutions.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I do believe that it is beneficial, although not necessary, for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics. However, I most strongly believe that a "Non-Partisan" office should be held by someone that has always engaged our political system independent of the two-major parties. In 2018, I was elected as the only Non-Partisan candidate for political office in San Diego County. This office requires someone willing and able to hold both political parties accountable.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

1) Experience as a Teacher and/or Classified employee. I have both and am the only candidate to have both.

2) Experience as a school board member to understand how school's are ran at the local level.

3) An academic interest in education. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction must also be a student and use the position as a research vehicle to improve outcomes for all students. I am the only candidate with a Masters in Education and in pursuit of a Doctorate in Education.

4) Ability to engage working-class people. The vast majority of our families are working-class. The State Superintendent has a responsibility to engage all our families on a regular basis, not just when it is politically convenient to do so.

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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Footnotes

↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 30, 2022

[bio-1] Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 30, 2022

[1]

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Marco Amaral

Contents

Biography

Elections

2022

General election

General election for California Superintendent of Public Instruction

Nonpartisan primary election

Nonpartisan primary for California Superintendent of Public Instruction

Campaign finance

Endorsements

Campaign themes

2022

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also

External links

Footnotes

Information about voting

2025 Elections

2026 Elections

2024 Election analysis

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Public Policy

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