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Suzie Swartz
2020 - Present
2028
4
Suzie Swartz is a member of the Saddleback Valley Unified School District school board in California, representing Trustee Area 3. She assumed office on December 11, 2020. Her current term ends on December 8, 2028.
Swartz ran for re-election to the Saddleback Valley Unified School District school board to represent Trustee Area 3 in California. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Swartz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Suzie Swartz was born in San Diego, California. She earned a high school diploma from Crawford High School and a bachelor's degree from the University of California, Los Angeles. Her career experience includes working as an educator, preschool teacher, and public relations consultant. As of 2024, Swartz was affiliated with the California School Boards Association, the Orange County School Board Association, and the Parent Teacher Association.[1]
Elections
2024
See also: Saddleback Valley Unified School District, California, elections (2024)
General election
General election for Saddleback Valley Unified School District school board Area 3
Incumbent Suzie Swartz defeated Michelle O'Brien in the general election for Saddleback Valley Unified School District school board Area 3 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Suzie Swartz (Nonpartisan)  | 57.5 | 11,357 |
 | Michelle O'Brien (Nonpartisan) | 42.5 | 8,401 | |
| Total votes: 19,758 | |||
| = 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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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Swartz in this election.
2020
See also: Saddleback Valley Unified School District, California, elections (2020)
General election
The general election was canceled. Suzie Swartz (Nonpartisan) won without appearing on the ballot.
2016
Three of the five seats on the Saddleback Valley Unified School District Board of Education were up for at-large general election on November 8, 2016. Incumbents Amanda Morrell and Suzie Swartz filed for re-election and faced four challengers: Mark Tettemer, Edward Wong, Theo Hunt, and David Johnson.[2] Morrell and Swartz won re-election, and Wong won the other seat on the ballot.[3]
Results
| Saddleback Valley Unified School District, At-large General Election, 4-year terms, 2016 |
||
|---|---|---|
| Candidate | Vote % | Votes |
 Suzie Swartz Incumbent |
24.68% | 44,812 |
| Edward Wong |
21.13% | 38,359 |
| Amanda Morrell Incumbent |
20.30% | 36,855 |
| David Johnson | 16.68% | 30,284 |
| Mark Tettemer | 9.29% | 16,864 |
| Theo Hunt | 7.91% | 14,364 |
| Total Votes | 181,538 | |
| Source: Orange County Registrar of Voters, "2016 Presidential General Election Official Results for Election," accessed December 7, 2016 | ||
Funding
Swartz reported no contributions or expenditures to the Orange County Registrar of Voters as of November 1, 2016.[4]
Endorsements
Swartz was endorsed by the Saddleback Valley Educators Association (SVEA) and the California School Employees Association Chapter 616.[5][6]
2012
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan | Suzie Swartz Incumbent |
29.5% | 46,541 | |
| Nonpartisan | Don Sedgwick Incumbent |
29.4% | 46,480 | |
| Nonpartisan | Ginny Fay Aitkens Incumbent |
26.4% | 41,732 | |
| Nonpartisan | Earl H. Carraway | 14.6% | 23,114 | |
| Total Votes | 157,867 | |||
| Source: Orange County Registrar of Voters, "Election Results Archives: 2012 General election," accessed August 4, 2014 | ||||
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Suzie Swartz completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Swartz's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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As a parent and school board member, I continue to be a strong advocate for our children and our schools at the local, state and federal levels. I am known for being a good listener and collaborating well with teachers, students, parents and staff alike. Our students deserve a high-quality education in safe, nurturing state-of-the-art learning environments where all children feel welcome and excited to learn. I understand the importance of Arts Education, Science, Career Technology, Engineering, Math and Athletics along with the Basics. I want all our students to graduate prepared to move forward whether they are college bound or entering the workforce.On a more personal note, I have two main job responsibilities: serving my family and serving all the students and stakeholders in the SVUSD community. I enjoy time with family and also volunteering at our Silverado Marketplace food pantry and Boutique. My school age grandchildren attend public school and I am a proud paid member of all our SVUSD PTAs.
- Put Children First! Our community deserves safe, high-quality public schools where all children feel welcome and excited to learn. I will continue to collaborate with stakeholders to:
- sustain Arts Education & Career Tech opportunities - build upon supports implemented for classroom learning -expand inclusive programs bringing together students with & without special needs -advance ongoing safety training & implement new measures as needed -support mental health & well being of students & staff - provide course opportunities in AP, IB and Athletics, as well as the Basics - support magnet schools: k-12 Virtual Academy, 2-Way Immersion, STEAM Academy, & IB Elementary
-ensure students graduate prepared for college or entering the workforce - Keep the Focus on Children First! We must provide teachers the support needed to address academic and behavior issues, monitor growth and adjust accordingly. Our teachers focus on students' growth over the school year rather than teach to a single state test. We have students speaking multiple languages, struggling from learning loss and others with special needs. A student may start 5th grade at a 1st grade reading level and finish the year at a 4th grade level. That's an increase of three grade levels in one year that sadly doesn't register as an improvement on the state test scores. The high-quality education in our schools is reflected in numerous state and national awards, as well as the high home values in Saddleback Valley.
- Keep the Focus on Children First! I will continue to vote to put money where it has the greatest benefit for children. I will continue to: - negotiate for fair compensation for our teachers to continue to retain & attract top quality teachers - advocate for classroom supports and resources for our students to help address academic and behavior challenges - work closely in partnership with our parents, teachers, staff, and community to support our students and schools -engage local and state agencies to provide more support for our students and schools -promote academic and fiscal accountability with transparency -fight for equitable funding for our schools at both the state and federal level -leverage my experience to navigate the budget
Compassion
Dignity
Equanimity
Gratitude
Humility
Integrity
A sense of Justice
Kindness
- Agriculture
-Architecture
-Arts
-Automotive
-Computer Science
- Culinary
-Digital Media
-Engineering
-Entertainment
-Health Science
-Emergency Medical Responder (EMR)
-Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
-Sports Medicine
I would like to expand the curriculum to include Construction Technology and Pre-Apprenticeship opportunities that are available in other districts such as:
- Foundation of Residential and Commercial Construction
-Study of Modern Craftsmanship & Infrastructure
-Emerging Construction Advances & Changes
Saddleback Valley Educators Association
SVUSD Classroom Teachers and Counselors
California Retired Teachers Association
South County Coast Division 42
Dr. Louise Adler, CSUF Department of Educational
Leadership Professor Emeritus
Catherine Beeny, SVUSD Parent Leader
Lisa Graham, Retired SVUSD Principal
Athena Reyes, SVUSD Parent and Teacher
Michele Sparks, SVUSD Parent Leader
Women for American Values and Ethics, WAVE
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.
2020
Suzie Swartz did not complete Ballotpedia's 2020 Candidate Connection survey.
See also
2024 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on October 13, 2024
- ↑ Orange County Registrar of Voters, "Candidate Filing Log," accessed August 15, 2016
- ↑ Orange County, "Orange County Unofficial Results for Election," accessed November 9, 2016
- ↑ Orange County Registrar of Voters, "Orange County Public Portal for Campaign Finance Disclosure," accessed November 1, 2016
- ↑ Facebook, "Saddleback Valley Educators Association (SVEA) posted July 28, 2016," accessed September 26, 2016
- ↑ Abbey Smith, “Email communication with Ian Morrell," September 21, 2016
