Latest news with #FresnoUnified
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fresno superintendent Her must lead with cultural responsiveness, transparency
Following a tense and politically charged search process, Misty Her has made double history: She is the first woman and the first Hmong American to serve as superintendent of the Fresno Unified School District since its founding in 1873. This milestone holds powerful symbolic value, particularly in one of California's most ethnically and culturally diverse school districts. Her's appointment is more than symbolic. It reflects a significant step forward for both gender equity and racial representation. As a Hmong American woman in the district's highest leadership role, Her offers inspiration to Hmong youth and other underrepresented students who rarely see themselves reflected in positions of authority. Opinion Yet with this historic achievement comes a profound responsibility: to lead with cultural responsiveness, transparency, and accountability. Representation, however, does not automatically lead to structural change. True transformation of Fresno Unified's organizational culture will require more than symbolic victories. It demands that all stakeholders — students, educators, families, and community members — have a meaningful voice in shaping the decisions that impact them. Inclusion must be more than a value; it must be a practice rooted in trust, transparency and shared ownership. Her's leadership arrives at a moment when many institutions, including public education, are increasingly criticized for top-down, autocratic practices. In this context, it is essential that Her's tenure reflect the inclusive values her appointment symbolizes. That means reimagining curricula, rethinking pedagogical approaches and fostering school environments that affirm student identity, uplift educators and actively engage families as partners in the educational process. One of the most urgent challenges Her must confront is the district's widely reported 'culture of fear,' a critical issue highlighted by educators and the Fresno Teachers Association but largely ignored during the superintendent selection process. Addressing this pressing matter will be crucial to restoring trust and ensuring that educators feel empowered rather than silenced. Although Her took steps during her time as interim superintendent to engage specific groups, broader and more transparent community involvement is necessary. Greater inclusion will not only lend legitimacy to district strategies, but also strengthen collective responsibility and support for district goals. Fresno Unified has made efforts to emphasize professional development and align teaching practices with student outcomes. However, its centralized decision-making process continues to limit teacher autonomy and reinforce perceptions of top-down governance. This dynamic contributes to dissatisfaction among educators and a community that seeks deeper involvement in shaping educational priorities. As someone who has navigated educational and professional systems as a Hmong American woman, Her brings lived experience that mirrors the journeys of many students, especially those from immigrant, refugee or multilingual backgrounds. This background gives Her a unique and powerful lens through which to advocate for culturally relevant education. Still, if this perspective is to move beyond symbolism, it must inform a deliberate critique of how traditional curricula often exclude or marginalize students. When students don't see themselves reflected in what they're taught, they disengage, physically attending school while mentally checking out. This sense of alienation contributes to chronic absenteeism and undermines academic success. Curriculum reform is therefore not a peripheral issue, it is central to closing the achievement gap. Interventions focused on truancy or performance will fall short unless teaching and learning begin to center the student voice, culture and identity. In this regard, Her has both the platform and responsibility to be a bold advocate for culturally relevant education. Language instruction, particularly bilingual education and culturally responsive language curricula, must also be prioritized. For a district like Fresno Unified, where many students speak multiple languages or come from linguistically diverse households, these efforts are not just supplementary — they are essential. If Her's leadership is to mark a true turning point for Fresno Unified, it must be defined by more than representation. It must be rooted in transformative, systemic change that affirms every student and empowers every stakeholder. Silvio Manno is a retired Fresno bilingual teacher and author.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Many Fresno Unified students start at a disadvantage. Misty Her was one of them
Long before Misty Her became superintendent of Fresno Unified, she was a kindergarten student struggling to learn how to read at Jefferson Elementary in the 1980s — about a mile from the school district's downtown headquarters. Born in a prisoner of war camp during the Vietnam War, Her's family relocated to the U.S. when she was 5 years old to flee persecution. Her family settled in Fresno, where her parents found jobs at Fresno Unified as custodians. 'I was so scared. I didn't speak English. I didn't look like all of the other kids. I felt invisible, out of place, alone,' Her said. Fresno Unified trustees announced Her as their pick for permanent superintendent on Wednesday, becoming the first woman superintendent in the district's 152-year history. Her's directive is to turn around a school district that has long struggled with low test scores and raise the student achievement of tens of thousands of disadvantaged students, many of whom share similar modest upbringings to their new superintendent. Her says she wouldn't have pursued a career as an educator if it weren't for her teachers. It was in the very classrooms that her parents cleaned for 30 years, that she learned to read and write — and dream of pursuing a career as an educator, Her said. In her acceptance speech Wednesday, Her recounted how a librarian in the school district helped her learn how to read by handing her a popular children's book, 'Madeline.' She said she saw herself in the titular character and came to believe that she didn't need to hide her differences and began to feel like she belonged. 'That is why I became a teacher. It is why I became a principal. It was why I'm standing here before you today,' Her said Wednesday night. 'Because every child deserves to be seen, every child deserves to be believed in, every single child deserves a future as bright as their dreams, and this is the Fresno Unified we are building together from this day.' Starting her educational career as a bilingual instructional aide, she worked her way up the Fresno Unified ladder as an elementary teacher, vice principal, principal, assistant superintendent, instructional superintendent and, now, the district's permanent superintendent. She also becomes the nation's highest-ranking Hmong K-12 educational professional. The historic significance of her selection is not lost on Her. In an interview with The Bee last May, after she was appointed interim superintendent, Her recounted walking the hallways of the district's downtown headquarters where the portraits of former superintendents hung on the walls — all of them male. It only fueled her desire for the permanent post. 'When people see me, they see a woman, they see an Asian woman,' she said. 'Does that make me nervous? Not really, because all my life, I've had to work to prove myself just because of who I am.' Her takes over the state's third largest district with 70,000 students, 88% of whom live below the poverty line, and only 35% and 25% of whom meet grade-level standards in English and math, respectively. Last year, as interim superintendent, Her set a goal of making double-digit gains to close the gap to standards by 15% for every student in two years. A year later, Her and the school board introduced four goals aimed at raising early student literacy and the percentage of graduates deemed college- and career-ready. Her enters the job already with detractors. One board trustee, Susan Wittrup, voted against Her's appointment, arguing that the school board should have, instead, selected an outside candidate with prior experience turning around large, urban school districts. The district's teachers union, the Fresno Teachers Association, criticized Her's tenure as interim superintendent as lackluster and said the tumultuous, 15-month superintendent search process lacked transparency. Her vowed to lead the district as a consensus builder and said her longtime experience in the district as an educator and administrator — as well as a student — was a strength, not a liability. 'My lived experiences, the struggles, the barriers and perseverance, are not my abilities, they are my greatest leadership strengths,' she said. 'They keep me grounded in our mission. They remind me that when we stay focused, when we align every effort to our shared goals, we can transform futures, and I am living proof of this.' In an interview with The Bee on Friday, she said part of her first-day schedule on Thursday included visiting classrooms and reading stories to students. She said she felt a strong sense of responsibility when she saw the children's bright faces. 'I thought to myself, I am not going to fail them,' she said. The interim superintendent became the target of harassment after she declared herself as a candidate for the superintendency, Her said. She disclosed on Wednesday that she had received racist and sexist threats in recent months, including a racist letter mailed to her home, prompting her to have what Her said was a difficult conversation with her teenage son. 'We ended up having conversations about what he would face,' she said. 'He was very understanding.' Her shared a message to Fresno Unified students after she was named the full-time superintendent. 'I stand before you today, the daughter of refugees, the student who once sat silent and scared in the classroom, and the woman who found hope in a storybook: If a little girl like me, who find her place here, imagine what is possible when we come together. Imagine what we can achieve when we stay focused, when we lead with love and we refuse to let hate win,' she said.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Misty Her is named Fresno Unified superintendent. ‘We must do things differently'
Fresno Unified trustees selected interim Superintendent Misty Her as the full-time leader, making her the first woman to lead the state's third-largest district since its inception in 1873. The historic Wednesday evening announcement by the school board concluded a tumultuous 15-month search for a new leader after Bob Nelson, the former superintendent, announced his retirement in January 2024. The board voted, 6-1, in closed session to select Her as the next superintendent, and will approve a superintendent contract at its April 30 meeting. Trustee Susan Wittrup cast the 'no' vote. Her has worked in Fresno Unified for more than 30 years as a bilingual instructional aide, elementary teacher, vice principal, principal, assistant superintendent and instructional superintendent. She was named a deputy superintendent in March 2021 and took over as interim leader of the district in May 2024. Her assumes the role of full-time superintendent as the school district faces low student test scores, yawning student achievement gaps and pandemic learning loss. She vowed to focus on improving early literacy rates, closing achievement gaps and increasing the percentage of high-school graduates deemed college- and career-ready. 'Let me be very, very clear, if we want different outcomes for our students, we must do things differently,' Her said. 'We must stay laser focused. We must align our initiatives, our actions and our energy behind our goals, and we must hold ourselves accountable.' Some Hmong parents and community members spoke in support of Her's appointment at Wednesday's school board meeting, and urged trustees to remove the interim label. In prepared remarks, Her said she would aim to display 'leadership that builds bridges, not walls' and prioritize students' learning. Her said the lengthy search process took a toll on her family as she received racist and sexist threats after publicly disclosing she applied for the permanent position. 'I ask you that we move forward together with courage, with clarity and with compassion, and let's build a Fresno Unified where every student achieves their greatest potential,' Her said. 'I am honored to accept this role as the permanent superintendent.' Still, the school board's search process was not without controversy. Trustees initially sought to select a full-time leader last May, but delayed their pick by a year following public criticism over trustees' plan to limit their search to internal candidates only. The school board expanded to a national search and interviewed candidates behind closed doors earlier this month. Board President Valerie Davis defended the school board's selection process as 'rigorous, thorough and transparent.' 'We know we have selected the most qualified, experienced, visionary leader to take Fresno Unified to the next era — Mao Misty Her,' Davis said. 'She knows what we need in our community, she has a proven track record with 10,000 employees and leading with her heart, her courage and listening for what's said and not said, and with an unwavering belief that everything is possible in every child.' Following Nelson's retirement announcement, Fresno Unified launched a search for his successor by holding a series of community listening sessions and spending $40,000 to hire a search firm. In March 2024, the board decided on a 4-3 closed-session vote to limit its superintendent search to internal applicants, a move that garnered widespread criticism. Trustee Susan Wittrup, the board president at the time, petitioned for a wider search, and more than a hundred parents and community members protested at the district's downtown headquarters on the eve of the scheduled internal interviews, demanding transparency in the search process. The board canceled the interviews. That same night, the headhunter withdrew from Fresno Unified, citing the search was 'compromised.' The board appointed Her as interim superintendent last May, and vowed to restart its search to include outside candidates. Last May, the board spent $100,000 to hire a coach to address frequent infighting among board members. In February 2025, Fresno Unified spent $34,500 to hire another headhunter firm, McPherson & Jacobson, LLC, to conduct a nationwide search. That search was done mostly behind closed doors — a move that drew criticism from the Fresno Teachers Association and community members for lack of transparency and public input. Manuel Bonilla, president the teachers union, told board trustees Wednesday, before they entered closed session, that most rank-and-file members 'have lost a significant amount of trust in you.' 'I want to be clear, it's not because of the person you chose, but because of the process that you led,' Bonilla said. Bonilla accused the board of ignoring an offer by the union to pay and host a public forum of candidates for the position. Earlier this month, the board held closed-door interviews with several candidates. The district didn't reveal the names of the other candidates who interviewed with trustees, and argued that a public interview process would have deterred some candidates from applying. A community advisory panel, whose members were picked by trustees, also participated in the candidate interviews. The panel was set up as 'an additional opportunity to appropriately gain insight from various members of the community,' said Ben Johnson II, a consultant from the search firm. Johnson declined to share who served on the advisory panel. 'The panel only provided areas of strength and potential areas of opportunity of the candidates,' he said. 'There is zero ranking. The panel's feedback is consensus.' Nikki Henry, Fresno Unified's spokesperson, said all trustees and panel members signed non-disclosure agreements to preserve the confidentiality of the candidates and the interviews. 'This confidentiality was critical to ensuring the strongest possible candidate pool,' Henry said. 'Many high-level leaders might not have applied if there had been a public interview process prior to finalist selection, given the potential risk to their current roles, teams, and communities.'
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Brandon Vang wins Fresno City Council race. ‘Now the real work begins'
Brandon Vang has emerged as the winner of the District 5 Fresno City Council race, narrowly avoiding a runoff election. Vang, a Sanger Unified trustee, maintained his lead with 50.19%, or 2,324 votes, according to the latest tally by the Fresno County Clerk/Registrar of Voters released Friday morning. He won the race with 9 votes over the majority threshold needed to win. In a statement, Vang declared victory and thanked his voters, supporters, volunteers and staff who helped make the 'historic' win possible. 'To everyone who walked a precinct, made a phone call, hosted a house meeting, or simply believed in this campaign — thank you. This victory belongs to all of us,' Vang said. 'Now the real work begins, and I'm ready to deliver for the people of District 5.' Vang has described himself as an independent candidate who wasn't beholden to special interests. He's endorsed by Joaquin Arambula and several Sanger Unified trustees and Sanger city leaders. Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, a Fresno Unified Trustee and deputy general manager for external affairs for the Westlands Water District, maintained her solid second place, securing 1,621 votes, or 35.01%. Jonasson Rosas, 40, is married to the former seat holder, Luis Chavez, who left the seat in January to assume his position as District 2 County Supervisor. She had secured several major endorsements from Fresno Police Officers' Association, Fresno Firefighters, Central Labor Council, Building and Construction Trades, Fresno Chamber of Commerce, National Women's Political Caucus, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer, and Councilmembers Annalisa Perea, Nelson Esparza, Mike Karbassi and Tyler Maxwell. 'I congratulate Brandon and wish him the best in tackling District 5's needs and challenges in the upcoming months,' Jonasson Rosas said in a statement. Jose Leon Barraza, City parks commissioner and CEO of Southeast Fresno Economic Development Corporation, has secured 568 votes, or 12.27% while Paul Condon has 106 votes, or 2.29%. A write-in candidate Nickolas Wildstar has secured 11 votes. 'These are the official results,' said James Kus, Fresno County's top elections official. 'We've already provided the certification to the city of Fresno,' he said. Only 12.96%, or 4,677 of 36,076 of registered voters in the district cast a ballot in the special election. Fresno City Clerk Todd Stermer previously told The Bee that the Fresno City Council will accept the certified election results during the April 10 meeting and that if there was a clear winner, they will be sworn in during the meeting. Vang will be the first Hmong American to represent the district. (Though the first Hmong American to serve on Fresno City Council was Blong Xiong, who served from 2007 to 2015.) Any voter of the state of California can request a recount until 5 p.m. on Wednesday, April 9, Kus said. The request must be a written request and the requester is responsible for paying any incurred fees, he said. The race generated controversy days before the election when an attack ad accused Vang of statutory rape and shared confidential court records to establish paternity and child support, though the mailer left out the alleged victim was Vang's wife of 30 years. Vang, 52, is five years older than his wife, who would have been 15 when their oldest of five children was born in 1993. Vang denied the accusations in the ad and called them 'completely false and deeply hurtful.' Vang's wife May Lee, 47, said in the interview that she was 'very upset' at the attack on her family. Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz issued a fine of $1,000 against Fresno Future Forward, the 'dark money' group behind the mailer, for violating city and state campaign finance laws. All of Vang's opponents on the ballot denied being involved with the group behind the mailer.
Yahoo
25-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Does this Fresno Council candidate have the upper hand? Political science expert weighs in
Reality Check is a Fresno Bee series holding those in power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a tip? Email tips@ Southeast Fresno voters next month will decide from a crowded field of candidates who will succeed former Councilmember Luis Chavez as the District 5 representative on the City Council. Several of the four candidates running for the vacant seat in the March 18 special election have already ran for the post. But one candidate vying to represent the sprawling southeast Fresno district could have the upper hand, according to a political expert. Chavez who left the seat in January to assume his position as District 2 County Supervisor. One candidate running for the seat, Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, a third-term trustee representing Fresno Unified's Area 2, is facing heightened scrutiny both as a woman in politics and due to her personal ties. She is married to Chavez. Other council membersalso had previous ties prior to winning office. District 4 Councilmember Tyler Maxwell used to be a staffer for District 7 Councilmember Nelson Esparza. District 1 Councilmember Annalisa Perea joined the council in 2023. Her father, former Fresno County Supervisor Henry R. Perea, and older brother, Henry T. Perea, also previously served. Jeff Cummins, a professor of political science at Fresno State, said it's fairly common to see relatives and staff members of former seat holders run for political office, not just at the city level but at the state and national level, such as with the Clintons and the Browns in California. 'Those people often are familiar with the district, they know donors and they know the political players in the district,' he said in an interview. 'It's not unusual at all.' It's 'a little less common' for an affiliation to a former seat holder be one through marriage, though, he said. Candidates for the District 5 seat include Jose Leon Barraza, a longtime community advocate and city parks commissioner with decades working for Fresno County on economic development; Fresno resident Paul Condon; Fresno Unified trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, who has experience in nonprofits, water, planning as well as several major endorsements; and Sanger Unified trustee Brandon Vang who, if elected, would be the first Hmong-American to represent the district. A fifth candidate, Nickolas Wildstar, has been approved as a write-in candidate. According to the latest campaign finance filings for 2025, as of Feb. 1, Jonasson Rosas has raised nearly $70,000, with Vang a close second at $62,000. The race could lead to a runoff election if no one candidate secures at least 50% plus one of all votes next month. Jonasson Rosas contends that she has any advantages in the race based on personal connections. As a Fresno Unified trustee of Area 2, which includes Roosevelt High School, she has already represented many communities in District 5 for nearly a decade. 'The people there elected me. A good portion of the district knows me, knows that I fought for them, that I fight for my constituents, that I care, and that I'll do my best, and that I'll bring that same energy to the city council,' Jonasson Rosas said in an interview. She said her commitment to public service and experience — including water, grants management, education, transportation and urban planning, state and local government — make her the most qualified candidate. 'I think my track record speaks for itself,' she said. Sign up here to receive our weekly newsletter centered around Latino issues in California. Cummins said candidates should be evaluated based on their individual qualifications, merits and background. Still, Jonasson Rosas could have an advantage based on her connections, he said. 'I would probably say that when you have a staff member or a family member running, there is an incumbency advantage for those candidates, even though they're not the incumbent,' Cummins said. 'So it does make it harder for new candidates to emerge and to win a seat,' he said. The District 5 seat is one with a history of representatives who were connected through professional ties. Former Fresno County Supervisor Sal Quintero held the seat for two terms from 1994 to 2002. After that, Mike Dages – who was Quintero's council assistant – won an election to replace his boss and hired Quintero as his assistant. When Dages hit his two-term limit, Quintero ran again and won in 2010. Then, in 2016, Chavez, then Quintero's chief of staff, ran to replace his boss as District 5's representative after serving a four-year term on the Fresno Unified School District board of trustees. Quintero was elected to the Fresno County Board of Supervisors in 2016 — a seat he held until he was ousted by Chavez in the November election. Now, Jonasson Rosas is following a similar trajectory in vying for the seat her husband used to hold. 'There's a definite advantage for that person who is affiliated with the previous office holder, and so it probably makes it a little less competitive overall,' Cummins said. 'And generally speaking, more competition in elections is always a good thing, because representatives reflect the desires of their constituents more when the election is competitive.' Having a connection to the seat raises questions when a candidate is unqualified for a position, such as when they lack political experience, he said. But regardless of any personal ties, Jonasson Rosas has relevant experience for the role, Cummins said. 'Hopping from the school district board over to a city council race, I would say, is pretty common, and that's usually considered pretty strong background experience for jumping into a city council race,' he said. Plus, he said, she's not relying on name recognition given she has a different last name from her spouse. 'That's usually an advantage for a candidate,' he said. Pedro Navarro Cruz, a community advocate who previously lived in District 5 and has been involved in the advocacy for more green space and parks in southeast Fresno, said he thinks the same 'ecosystem of candidates' has been running the seat for years. Cruz is endorsing another candidate, Leon Barraza. 'From my point of view, it's better to mix it up – that's what democracy is all about. New ideas, new spirit, new energy,' he said. Generally speaking, women running for office tend to get identified with what their husband is doing, Cummins said. A 2020 academic study published in the Journal of Communication also found that women politicians receive more attention to their personal life compared to men. But given her ties to the last seat holder, Cummins said, 'you're going to point that out regardless.' Jonasson Rosas said she's running because of her longstanding commitment to public service – and should be evaluated as a candidate accordingly. 'I'm, at the end of the day, the person that will be making decisions,' she said. 'So it doesn't matter who my husband, who my mom, who my dad were, or any other of my family, frankly, because the person that's going to be answering the phone – it's me.' Jonasson Rosas said she has secured most of the major endorsements from the Fresno Police Officers' Association, Fresno Firefighters, Central Labor Council, Building and Construction Trades, Fresno Chamber of Commerce, National Women's Political Caucus, Mayor Jerry Dyer and several council members. 'I think that also speaks volumes,' Jonasson Rosas said. 'I don't think in the history of Fresno, there's been such a sweep.'
