Jeff Cole (California)
Jeff Cole is running for election for Orange County Superintendent of Schools in California. He is on the ballot in the primary on June 2, 2026.[source]
Cole was a member of the Anaheim Elementary School District Board of Education in California, representing Trustee Area 2. He left office in 2018.
Cole completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. Click here to read the survey answers.
Biography
Jeff Cole earned a bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University in 1989, a graduate degree from National University in 1999, and a Ph.D. from California State University, Fullerton, in 2015. His career experience includes working as an educator.[1]
Elections
2026
See also: Municipal elections in Orange County, California (2026)
General election
The primary will occur on June 2, 2026. The general election will occur on November 3, 2026. General election candidates will be added here following the primary.
Nonpartisan primary
Nonpartisan primary election for Orange County Superintendent of Schools
Jeff Cole (Nonpartisan) is running in the primary for Orange County Superintendent of Schools on June 2, 2026.
Candidate | ||
 | Jeff Cole (Nonpartisan)  | |
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Endorsements
Ballotpedia is gathering information about candidate endorsements. To send us an endorsement, click here.
2018
General election
General election for Anaheim Elementary School District Board of Education Trustee Area 2
Juan Gabriel Alvarez defeated incumbent Jeff Cole in the general election for Anaheim Elementary School District Board of Education Trustee Area 2 on November 6, 2018.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | Juan Gabriel Alvarez (Nonpartisan) | 52.2 | 3,536 | |
| Jeff Cole (Nonpartisan) | 47.8 | 3,232 | |
| Total votes: 6,768 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
2014
Three at-large seats on the Anaheim City School District Board of Education were up for general election on November 4, 2014. Jeff Cole was the only incumbent who ran for re-election. He ran against challengers Esther Castillo, Cecelia Lopez, David Robert "D.R." Heywood, Ryan A. Ruelas and Carlos Llanos.
Cole, Ruelas and Heywood defeated the other candidates and won election to the board.
Results
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nonpartisan |  Jeff Cole Incumbent |
21.8% | 10,288 | |
| Nonpartisan | Ryan A. Ruelas |
20.5% | 9,688 | |
| Nonpartisan | David Robert "D.R." Heywood |
19% | 8,978 | |
| Nonpartisan | Esther Castillo | 14.6% | 6,887 | |
| Nonpartisan | Cecelia Lopez | 14.2% | 6,697 | |
| Nonpartisan | Carlos Llanos | 9.8% | 4,627 | |
| Total Votes | 47,165 | |||
| Source: Orange County Registrar of Voters, "General Election Official Results," accessed December 19, 2014 | ||||
Funding
The Orange County Registrar of Voters does not publish and freely disclose school board candidate campaign finance reports that were filed by paper in their office. Ballotpedia staffers directly requested this information, but the municipal office refused those requests to make that information public.
Endorsements
Cole received endorsements from the following organizations:[2][3][4][5]
- Democratic Party of Orange County
- Anaheim Elementary Education Association
- California School Employees Association
- Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood Orange and San Bernardino Counties
Cole also received endorsements from a number of school board members. A list of his supporters can be found here (dead link).
2010
| Anaheim City School District, At-Large General Election, 4-year term, 2010 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Nonpartisan | Jose F. Moreno Incumbent |
25.6% | 15,195 | |
| Nonpartisan | Jeff Cole |
22.7% | 13,487 | |
| Nonpartisan | Sandy Blumberg Incumbent |
22.1% | 13,150 | |
| Nonpartisan | Jerry Silverman Incumbent | 19.7% | 11,715 | |
| Nonpartisan | Jackie Everley-Filbeck | 9.9% | 5,887 | |
| Total Votes | 59,434 | |||
| Source: Orange County Registrar of Voters, "Election Results Archive: 2010 General Election," accessed September 12, 2014 | ||||
Campaign themes
2026
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Jeff Cole completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2026. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Cole's responses.
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I have taught at the elementary, middle, and high school levels, as well as in adult education and juvenile detention programs. For over two decades, I have worked as a special education teacher, co-teaching leader, and department chair, supporting inclusive classrooms and mentoring new educators.
I also served eight years as an elected trustee of the Anaheim Elementary School District, including two terms as board president. During my tenure, I helped guide major initiatives focused on fiscal responsibility, community engagement, and student success. I facilitated the successful passage of Measure J, a $318 million school facilities bond approved by 73 percent of voters to rebuild aging schools and modernize campuses, delivered on time and within budget.
As an educator and public servant, I believe schools must remain focused on students, families, and teachers. I am committed to strengthening academic opportunity, supporting educators, and ensuring that public resources are directed toward classrooms and meaningful career pathways for students.- Student-centered leadership means giving students a stronger voice in how and what they learn. When students have meaningful opportunities to contribute to decisions about their education, they become more engaged and invested in their success. Schools should create environments that encourage critical thinking, collaboration, and personal ownership of learning. By empowering students in this way, we help them develop responsibility, confidence, and a clear sense of purpose that prepares them for success in college, careers, and civic life.
- Reducing administrative overhead is essential to refocusing schools on students and classrooms. As management costs grow, fewer resources reach teachers and the programs that directly support student learning. Schools should prioritize efficient, transparent operations so that public funds are directed where they matter most—into classrooms, instructional support, and opportunities for students. By streamlining bureaucracy and strengthening responsible management, we can ensure that education funding benefits students and educators first.
- Preparing students for meaningful careers in a changing economy helps answer the fundamental question of why school matters. Students are more motivated when they can see their potential and understand the pathways to achieve their goals. Disengagement rarely happens overnight—it develops when schools fail to meet students’ academic and emotional needs or help them see a purpose in their learning. By connecting education to real opportunities and clear career pathways, schools can strengthen motivation, persistence, and long-term success.
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.
2018
Ballotpedia survey responses
- See also: Ballotpedia's candidate surveys
Jeff Cole participated in Ballotpedia's candidate survey on July 31, 2018. The survey questions appear in bold, and Jeff Cole's responses follow below.[6]
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
| “ | 1. School and District restructuring are essential in order to focus financial resources on students, increase educational quality, and reduce class size.
2. Program diversification and availability of all academic programs (world languages, arts, the fundamentals of engineering and science (STEAM), and music) in all five areas of the district. 3. Improve district academic performance by fully implementing effective instructional strategies for all students, specifically English Learners and students with special needs.[7][8] |
” |
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about? Why?
| “ | I am passionate about public schools creating equity and opportunity for all students, specifically students with disabilities, English learners, and those in poverty. Schools must have a climate where all students regardless of background or orientation feel safe and can learn. I believe this is critical to reversing poor student achievement.Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; invalid names, e.g. too many[8]
|
” |
Ballotpedia also asked the candidate a series of optional questions. Jeff Cole answered the following:
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow and why?
| “ | I admire Abraham Lincoln for his determination and persistence in educating himself and using what he learned to improve our country.[8] | ” |
| “ | For Whom the Bell Tolls, novel by Ernest Hemingway
Rabbit Run, novel by John Updike The Financier, novel by Theodore Dreiser Of Mice and Men, novel by John Steinbeck[8] |
” |
| “ | The most important principal of a public figure is integrity.[8] | ” |
| “ | I have the leadership and governance experience to deliver on campaign promises and the integrity not to grandstand or make false promises.[8] | ” |
| “ | The core responsibility of a governing board member is to provide community oversight and policy direction to the school district.[8] | ” |
| “ | The legacy I have built over the past eight years in office includes over 500 million invested in new schools, improved school performance through instructional reform, expansion of specialized programs in world language, music, the arts, and increased opportunities for undeserved students.[8] | ” |
| “ | The first major historical event I remember was the resignation of Richard Nixon in 1974. I was seven years old at the time.[8] | ” |
| “ | My first job was in a movie theater. I kept the job for about a year before going to college.[8] | ” |
| “ | My first awkward date was very uneventful.[8] | ” |
| “ | My favorite holiday is New Year because of our tradition of thanking the old year for all the good things and asking the new year to be even better.[8] | ” |
| “ | I have many favorite books, see above. However, if I have to choose one, it would be Rock Crystal, a novella by Austrian writer Adalbert Stifter.[8] | ” |
| “ | If I could be a fictional character, I would be Jim Phelps of Mission Impossible. "Your mission, should you decide to accept it..." is what we face as leaders.[8] | ” |
| “ | My favorite thing is our computer because it gives me access to the world.[8] | ” |
| “ | The last song that got stuck in my head was I lived it, by Blake Shelton.[8] | ” |
| “ | A struggle has been making a living as an educator.[8] | ” |
| “ | A board member's primary job is to set policy for the district and provide community oversight of district leaders.[8] | ” |
| “ | My constituents are all of the people in Anaheim, California, within the boundary of Trustee Area 2.[8] | ” |
| “ | I support the needs of parents, teachers, staff, students, and community by listening to their concerns and needs and then working with district leaders to develop priories and polices to address those concerns and needs.[8] | ” |
| “ | I will continue to build relationships with the broader community by working with city, county, and community leaders to coordinate services for all residents.[8] | ” |
| “ | I will continue building a better relationship with parents by empowering them through school site councils and in setting district budget priorities.[8] | ” |
| “ | I do not agree with using racial profiling in hiring, even to support "diversity". Instead, as an employer we create an attractive climate, which results in a wide and broad range of applicants of diverse backgrounds.[8] | ” |
| “ | Special interests get in the way of quality education. Without sounding negative or accusatory, there are well known special interests on the political right and left that push for their own agendas at the expense of kids. I encourage voters to follow the money in every election and make their own determination as to who is helping and who is hindering education.[8] | ” |
| “ | The measure of good teaching is the outcome, determined through multiple measures.[8] | ” |
| “ | Students presently learn the habits of mind that support success in the workforce. Our curriculum is based on multiple instructional strategies, including project based learning and universal design for learning, which fosters differing learning styles as well as critical thinking, creativity, collaboration, and communication skills.[8] | ” |
| “ | A 21st century high school diploma must reflect a students ability to communicate and perform at a job involving advanced skills in math, science, and written language.[8] | ” |
| “ | I want to expand the curriculum in the areas of world languages, animation, and computer centered careers, such as web design and marketing.[8] | ” |
| “ | The primary means to ensure schools are properly funded is solid fiscal planning at the district level and a close relationship with local California legislators.[8] | ” |
| “ | Our safety principles are based on input from law enforcement, which is to slow and obstruct an intruder. All 23 schools are installing single point of entry and security fencing.[8] | ” |
| “ | We support the mental health needs of students and staff by having on site mental health professionals.[8] | ” |
| “ | Technology is playing an ever increasing role in our lives. Students must learn how to protect themselves on the web and use technology to advance their career prospects.[8] | ” |
2014
Cole highlighted the following issues on his campaign website:
| “ | Let's Move Forward Together There are several major issues facing education today. 1. The Common Core is requiring significant changes in instructional approach and student assessment. The reason for change is a realization by both major political parties that schools must prepare students to be successful in the global economy of the twenty first century. Although there is disagreement about these policies, I pledge an application of the law in a way that will benefit our students. We have the power to adapt the law as we need. As a professional educator, I know what works in the classroom and I can take us forward in this area. 2. The inclusion of special needs students in the general education classroom is a civil right and the federal government has stepped up enforcement in this area. ACSD is a champion of the disabled, however, we have work left to do to meet an ideal vision of a free and appropriate education for the disabled. 3. The local control of our schools to create opportunity for all students to access specialized programs, such as foreign language instruction (Dual Immersion), honors programs, and arts and music has begun to transform schools. Students, parents, staff, and taxpayers collectively manage their own local school within the legal context of the Local Control and Accountability Plan. Stoddard, Gauer, Lincoln, Juarez, and Price have all developed their own unique school site plans. 4. The lack of technology centered education in schools is yet another key issue. I will continue the ACSD example of using high technology in the classroom and articulating these programs with the high school, to ensure our students can compete for the high tech jobs of the twenty first century. In my second term, I pledge to make these issues a priority. I invite you to look at the facts and make an informed decision on election day. I have included a blog and several links throughout this site to assist voters in gathering information. I have also included three videos below that reflect the spirit of this campaign. There are additional video links on my blog.[8] |
” |
| —Jeff Cole's campaign website (2014)[9] | ||
See also
2026 Elections
External links
Footnotes
- ↑ Information submitted to Ballotpedia through the Candidate Connection survey on March 7, 2026
- ↑ Democratic Party of Orange County, "November 2014 Candidate Endorsements," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ California Teachers Association, "CTA Locally Endorsed Candidates as of 10/4/14," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Community Action Fund of Planned Parenthood Orange and San Bernardino Counties, "Voter Guide Sheet," accessed October 29, 2014
- ↑ Jeff Cole, "Endorsements," accessed October 29, 2014 (dead link)
- ↑ Note: The candidate's answers have been reproduced here verbatim without edits or corrections by Ballotpedia.
- ↑ Ballotpedia's candidate survey, "Jeff Cole's responses," July 31, 2018
- ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 8.11 8.12 8.13 8.14 8.15 8.16 8.17 8.18 8.19 8.20 8.21 8.22 8.23 8.24 8.25 8.26 8.27 8.28 8.29 8.30 8.31 8.32 Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.
- ↑ Jeff Cole, "Home," accessed October 29, 2014
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