Wilma Hashimoto
2024 - Present
2028
0
Wilma Hashimoto is a member of the Clovis Unified Board of Education in California, representing Trustee Area 2. She assumed office on December 13, 2024. Her current term ends on December 8, 2028.
Hashimoto ran for election to the Clovis Unified Board of Education to represent Trustee Area 2 in California. She won in the general election on November 5, 2024.
Hashimoto completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Wilma Hashimoto was born in Fresno, California. She graduated from Fresno High School. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California in 1984 and a graduate degree from California State University, Fresno in 2004. Her career experience includes working as the executive director of CASA of Fresno & Madera Counties, the director of early care and education for the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools, as the associate director of early learning at Clovis Unified, and as a teacher.[1]
Hashimoto has been affiliated with the following organizations:[1]
- Rotary Club of Fresno
- Fresno County Foster Care Standards and Oversight Committee
- Fresno Chaffee Zoo
- Clovis Hills Community Church
- San Joaquin River Parkway Trust
- Stone Soup Fresno
- First 5 Fresno County
- Fresno County Local Planning Council
Elections
2024
See also: Clovis Unified School District, California, elections (2024)
General election
General election for Clovis Unified School District Trustee Area 2
Wilma Hashimoto defeated Molly DeFrank and Janet Kardashian in the general election for Clovis Unified School District Trustee Area 2 on November 5, 2024.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Wilma Hashimoto (Nonpartisan)  | 42.0 | 6,499 |
| Molly DeFrank (Nonpartisan) | 39.4 | 6,096 | ||
| Janet Kardashian (Nonpartisan) | 18.6 | 2,884 | ||
| Total votes: 15,479 | |||
| = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey. | ||||
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements for Hashimoto in this election.
Campaign themes
2024
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Wilma Hashimoto completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Hashimoto'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 have been a child advocate most of my career life with 28 years in education. From the classroom to the California Department of Education to elected officials, I have built a strong background in education, community resources, and leadership. I have been a classroom teacher, site leader, and later expanded the district’s early learning program. After 18 years with CUSD, I was recruited by Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Larry Powell to be the Director of Early Care of Education, giving me an opportunity to work with educational and community leaders across the county and state. Then in 2018, after voluntarily serving on the Board of CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Fresno and Madera Counties for 8 years, I became the agency’s Executive Director where I have the privilege of advocating for local youth in foster care.
I am deeply committed to making a positive impact on the lives of our community’s children and families. As such, I have proudly served on the boards of Fresno Chaffee Zoo (current), San Joaquin River Parkway Trust and Stone Soup Fresno, and was a commissioner for First 5 Fresno County.- For more than 34 years, I have been dedicated to nurturing the hearts and minds of children from all walks of life through my roles as an educator, administrator, advocate for foster youth, and as a leader in the community. With my depth and breadth of experience – and as a parent of a Clovis Unified graduate – I feel I am uniquely qualified to understand the diverse perspectives of our educators, students and families. I am committed to listening and balancing the input of our educators, administrators, parents and community with the values and vision of the district to continue its legacy of excellence and most importantly, ensure that every decision we make is in the best interest of our students. That is my North Star.
- I was hired by CUSD founding superintendent Doc Buchanan who developed the model of a stellar school district and will apply these principles to address the challenges of our ever-changing world of education while ensuring that we are meeting the needs of our students, parents and educators. As the executive director for CASA, I am keenly aware of the issues facing our youth today and will use my position on the Board to advocate for their best interests while preserving and protecting the Clovis Unified tradition. I have been recognized with the following: 2012 Fresno County Education Administrator Pillar Award and 2008 Clovis Unified Crystal Award 2022 Mother of the Year, 2019 Women Inspire Girls Award, 2009 Top 10 Professional Women
- Endorsed by the Fresno Bee, both current and former City of Clovis Mayor, Lynne Ashbeck and Jose Flores, more than 70 current and former CUSD employees including 9 principals, Educational and Community legends: Jim Yovino, former Fresno County Supt of Schools, Dr. Bob Nelson, Jon Forrest Dohlin, and many more which can be found at www.votehashimoto.com They concur with my 3 priorities of focusing on safety with prevention of internal & external threats, continuing to pursue academic excellence through recruitment and retention of stellar staff, normalizing the importance of mental wellness.
Students also faced unprecedented levels of stress and anxiety due to social isolation, uncertainty, and the disruption to their daily lives. The combination of learning loss and mental health challenges requires us to address academic, emotional and psychological support.
Transparency and ability to communicate well with other
Knowledgeable of the school system and the role and responsibilities of a school board member
Experience in being an educator, administrator
Community Leader -knows the resources available in the community
Engaged in the community to identify and problem solve issues for children and families
Adopt shared visions and goals for the district and allowing the superintendent and the administration to run the day-today operations of the school district through accountability.
The Medici Effect by Frans Johansson - it discusses two unrelated skills brought together to create change that surpasses change if done alone due to creativity.
Personal
He is creative to use minimal resources to create solutions.
The song is uplifting others so all will benefit.
Adopt policies for continued success of the school district that maximizes student learning
Now, more than ever, we must expand our curriculum to ensure that our students can not only recover but thrive academically. This doesn’t mean simply adding more content, but rather implementing targeted interventions and modern approaches that cater to the diverse needs of our students:
1. Strengthening Core Skills: We need to offer additional support in areas where students have fallen behind—such as reading comprehension, writing, and math. This could include after-school tutoring, summer learning programs, and one-on-one support during school hours.
2. Integrating Technology for Personalized Learning: The pandemic highlighted the role that technology can play in education. By expanding our use of digital tools, we can provide more personalized learning experiences that meet students where they are, allowing them to progress at their own pace.
3. Enhanced Professional Development for Teachers: Teachers were on the front lines of the transition to remote learning. Many did a remarkable job with limited resources. But moving forward, we need to invest in professional development so that our educators are equipped with the latest strategies for addressing learning gaps and engaging students.
4. Focus on Mental Health and Well-being: The emotional toll of the pandemic also impacted students' ability to learn. Expanding our curriculum should include social-emotional learning, offering students the tools they need to manage stress and anxiety, which are essential for academic success.
Funds provided to school districts are primarily from income and sales tax revenues which can fluctuate based on the state of the economy. A new law effective July 1, 2025, will allow Local Educational Agencies to add attendance recovery time which improves student education and increases revenue. We need to see what the baseline is needed for schools and its programs and seek to garner funds to ensure excellence in schools continues through maintenance and upgrade of facilities, instructional supplies provided, and co-curriculars continue. As much as schools must be funded, priorities must be set and expenses monitored .with accountability of funds being maximized.
To the mooooooovies
City of Clovis Mayor: Lynne Ashbeck
Former City of Clovis Mayor: José Flores
Jim Yovino, Former Fresno County Superintendent of Schools
Dr. Bob Nelson, Former Superintendent of Fresno Unified School District
Dr. Deborah Iketa, SCCCD Board Trustee
More than 70 former and current teachers and administrators in Clovis Unified including 9 principals
Safe - free from internal and external threats
Engaging lessons
Recognizing students learn in different modalities and pace.
Each child is seeking a personal goal to achieve in mind, body and spirit
Environment is clean, organized and technology is current
Four years later, COVID is still here and the number of cases is again on the rise. Those whose immune system or their family members are compromised must be take personal measures with accommodations allowed for students to continue with their education. Schools need to take measure to maintain the health of students and teachers who are attending school in-person.
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See also
2024 Elections
External links
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Candidate Clovis Unified School District Trustee Area 2 |
Personal |
Footnotes
