Valerie Taber

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

Valerie Taber

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 5, 2024

Education

High school

Redlands High School

Associate

Riverside Community College

Bachelor's

Cal State San Bernardino, 2016

Graduate

University of Redlands, 2018

Personal

Birthplace

Redlands, Calif.

Religion

Spiritual

Profession

Therapist

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign Instagram

Campaign TikTok

Personal LinkedIn

Valerie Taber ran for election to the Redlands Unified Board of Education to represent Area 5 in California. She lost in the general election on November 5, 2024.

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

Biography

Valerie Taber was born in Redlands, California. She graduated from Redlands High School. She earned an associate degree from Riverside Community College, a bachelor's degree from Cal State San Bernardino in 2016, and a graduate degree from the University of Redlands in 2018. Her career experience includes working as a therapist.

Elections

2024

See also: Redlands Unified School District, California, elections (2024)

General election

General election for Redlands Unified Board of Education Area 5

Candy Olson defeated Valerie Taber and Carolyn Williams in the general election for Redlands Unified Board of Education Area 5 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔	Submit photo	Candy Olson (Nonpartisan)	43.0	4,746
		Valerie Taber (Nonpartisan)	35.4	3,916
	Submit photo	Carolyn Williams (Nonpartisan)	21.6	2,385

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	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 11,047
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

Taber received the following endorsements.

• Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood Orange and San Bernardino Counties
• Equality California
• Project LPAC
• The SIX PAC

Campaign themes

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Valerie Taber completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Taber'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.

Valerie Taber was born and raised in Redlands where she graduated from our K-12 schools in 2010 (Smiley ES, Cope MS, and RHS). Valerie earned a BA in Psychology with Honors from CSUSB before graduating from the University of Redlands with an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling in 2018. She has extensive history working with children, youth, and their families in this community - first as a childcare worker at the local YMCA for many years and then currently as a licensed therapist. Valerie is a member of the Kingsbury PTA and the district-wide Special Education PTA (SEPTA), and served on the Kingsbury School Site Council as Vice President for the 2023-2024 year. With her experience in these roles, as well as being a parent with a child currently attending school in the district, Valerie is invested in the Redlands community and cares deeply about its well-being. “Our public schools gave me the foundation to pursue my career goals and this is a huge part of why I am running this campaign. Education is the foundation of our society, and I am passionate about ensuring that ALL our children have the same access that I did to quality public education. As a mother of a student in our district, a daughter of teachers, and a therapist I care for our community, and look forward to working together with you to protect and further public education in our area."

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?

• As your board member, Valerie will champion policies that keep our students safe and thriving, support our teachers and staff, and encourage family and community engagement in our schools.
• Valerie will hold our district leaders accountable for Title IX violations, increase transparency about district decisions, and will ensure that our limited school funds stay right here in Redlands, not wasted on lawsuits over harmful policies.
• Valerie will stand firmly against book bans and forced outing policies, which do nothing to improve our students education and instead waste resources and money on issues that should be addressed in the home, by families, not at school.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Valerie is passionate about protecting ALL students, especially our most vulnerable students - our foster care and homeless youth, our neurodiverse youth, and our LGBTQ+ youth. She has seen what happens when extremists take over school boards in nearby districts, instilling their own personal beliefs over the district leading to costly fines and lawsuits with the State, lower property values, and expensive recall elections. Valerie is committed to keeping district focus on education, not on a culture war.

Valerie is also eager to work towards getting a dual language immersion program established in the district and partnering with local unions and businesses to expand the CRY-ROP program to include a wider variety of trades for students.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I would like to leave a legacy of creating schools that support neurodiversity as a default. I've heard many stories from families (both as a therapist and on the campaign trail) on how hard families and students need to fight to get accommodations, testing, or even understanding/compassion. I've worked with many late/adult diagnosed ADHD and ASD folks who would have had a much kinder view of themselves and more joy in learning if they had access to neurodiverse supports as a default, not something they have to test into. When our special education and neurodiverse students are appropriately supported, we all thrive. Especially when we prioritize early intervention and inclusion efforts.

What is your favorite book? Why?

My favorite childhood book was the Lorax, and when I was an older teen my favorite was the duo "Tricksters Choice" and "Tricksters Queen" by Tamora Pierce. Books that have themes of community care and justice have always appealed to me. I believe we have an obligation to make the world a better, kinder place for future generations.

Who are your constituents?

My constituents are the community as a whole, not just students, teachers, or families separately.

What strategies or plans would you advance to ensure the schools are properly funded?

The district recently voted to put a school bond measure on the ballot this November - I am in support of the bond. We love our historic buildings in Redlands, however many are in need of safety updates. Ensuring our facilities have appropriate shade, A/C and other protections from heat is vital for our students and staff well-being.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Redlands Teachers Association; Teamsters Local 1932

Inland Empire Labor Council Committee on Political Education (COPE); Our Schools USA; IE Votes; IE United; IE Working Families Party; Run for Something; National Organization for Women (NOW) Riverside County; LGBTQ Victory Fund; Planned Parenthood

Jim O'Neill (retiring representative for Area 5); Alex Vara (Redlands School Board); Melissa Ayala Quintero (Redlands School Board); Jenna Guzman-Lowery (Redlands City Council); Denise Davis (Redlands City Council); Rich Smith (Redlands Planning Commission); Tracy Wise; Larry & Char Burgess

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

Redlands Unified Board of Education Area 5

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