Here are the OUSD School Board Candidate statements for the 2024 Orange Unified School District Trustee Areas (listed in the order of the Orange County Registrar of Voters website). The General Election will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The OUSD Trustee Areas that up for election this year are Trustee Areas 3, 4, and 7. Villa Park is Trustee Area 4.
The Orange Unified School School District is divided into 7 trustee areas. Members of the Orange Unified Board of Education are elected by district to four-year terms on a staggered basis every even-numbered year in November. Special elections to fill vacancies on the board can be scheduled outside of the general election schedule.
Find all Candidate statements for Orange County elections at OCVote.gov/candidates/candidate-filing-log-with-statements.
Trustee Area 1
Ana Page
Governing Board Member, Orange Unified School District, Trustee Area 3
I am a lifelong resident of Orange, an Orange Unified School District (OUSD) graduate, proud OUSD parent, doctoral student (Ph.D in Education), and current President of the OUSD School Board. I am committed to ensuring every OUSD student receives an outstanding education in a safe and welcoming environment. I have been inspired and guided by many of my teachers to give back to my community and advocate for high-quality public education, and as a classroom teacher am proud to have the official endorsement of our OUSD teachers.
Strong public schools benefit our entire community. I have improved OUSD by putting counselors at every elementary site, increasing our career technical program, and implementing after school enrichment programs. It is important to meet diverse student needs in order to shape our future leaders, innovators, and problem solvers.
Fiscal responsibility is critical, and as the director of a non-profit, I am skilled at maximizing educational resources. While your Trustee, I consistently vote to ensure responsible use of taxpayer dollars. Under my leadership, we have developed an Asset Management Plan to fix our aging school facilities, maximized tax-dollars by taking advantage of matching government funds and grants, and prioritized facility improvement projects based on needs, not wants.
As your Trustee, a parent, and expert in early childhood education, I know how important parental and community involvement in our schools is. Parents are a child’s first and most influential teachers. I have worked tirelessly to engage with parents, community members, and educators to ensure their voices are heard and respected in decision-making.
Providing high-quality education to our students is a team effort, and as current President of our board, I have worked to bring civility and substance to our board meetings. Our focus must always be on student achievement and wellness and I pledge to keep politics out of OUSD.
I bring my experience as a classroom teacher, college professor, administrator, published researcher, curriculum developer, and policy expert in child development to improve our district.
I am excited to continue serving our students and working with parents, educators, and community members to empower each student to thrive. I humbly ask for your vote. Together, we will ensure every child reaches their full potential!
Learn more at: www.page4ousd.com
Dzung “Dan” Nguyen
Orange County Businessman
No candidate statement filed.
Trustee Area 4 (Villa Park’s Area)
Sara J. Pelly
Appointed Governing Board Member, Orange Unified School District, Trustee Area 4
For the past 35 years I’ve championed for public school students as a teacher and principal and now I am honored to currently serve as our Orange Unified Area 4 appointed Trustee. I believe my extensive experience informs my decision-making that helps build programs resulting in student success. I am a proud product of K-12 public schools and have been a resident in OUSD for nearly 40 years, which inspires me to make sure every tax dollar is spent wisely and transparently for the benefit of all students and our community. I support the hardworking teachers and employees who are the heart of OUSD, and am grateful to them for their endorsement.
As a principal I led a dual-language immersion program to statewide Golden Bell Award-winning success, all while consistently improving student achievement. I am proud of how I brought students, famiIies, and teachers together. Parent and community involvement is crucial to the success of every child, and I will partner with them to ensure every student leaves OUSD with the necessary skills to succeed in college or the workforce. I believe in a student’s right to an appropriate education, and will work to meet the needs of our diverse student populations.
It is essential that school board members operate with honesty, transparency, and fiscal responsibility; and that our tax dollars are spent effectively, with no personal agendas or pet projects. Smart investments in great public schools mean securing a bright future for our children and grandchildren. Together we will move this district forward, creating a culture of caring, collaboration, innovation, and success.
As a trustee my priorities are:
- Ensuring open and transparent communication with all stakeholders
- Improving facilities by wisely managing maintenance funds and fully developing an Asset Management Plan where the needs determine priority
- Fostering success of the innovative programs that make OUSD a destination district by providing proper supports for administrators and teachers
For nearly 40 years my husband and I have worked to ensure quality education for students from preschool through college. We have been active volunteers with the Community Foundation of Orange and other organizations, and I have volunteered with my therapy dog Orvis at St. Joseph’s Hospital, the Orange Elks Club, and elder care facilities.
Join me in securing a brighter future for Orange Unified by giving me your vote by November 5th.
For more information on me: www.pelly4ousd.com
Armando “Mando” Perez-Serrato
No candidate statement filed.
Trustee Area 7
Stephen Glass
Appointed Governing Board Member, Orange Unified School District, Trustee Area 7
For more than 27 years I have dedicated my career to public education at all levels: as a classroom teacher, principal, district administrator, university professor, and now as an appointed member of the Orange Unified School District (OUSD) school board. The success of our schools is very personal to me because my wife and I send our children to OUSD schools. My professional experience and personal stake in OUSD inspires me to better serve our community and move OUSD forward as a district of distinction that celebrates all students and prepares them for a bright future. I am proud to have the official endorsement of our OUSD classroom teachers.
As an educator, my early days were spent in Orange Unified. While at Orange High School I met a fellow teacher, Sheryl; we fell in love and later married in the “Dome” on the Orange High campus. We proudly call Orange our home and it is where we have chosen to raise our family. My wife continues her career in education as a principal, and I have moved on to the university level, where I teach and mentor future educators and administrators as a Distinguished Faculty in Residence at CSU Long Beach.
As a taxpayer, I expect our district to be transparent and wise stewards of our tax dollars. I will make sensible decisions regarding our facilities funds and prioritize projects based on need. Leveraging state matching funds to maximize our budget and bringing our tax dollars back to Orange Unified is critical. All students deserve safe and modern learning environments.
As a parent, I recognize the importance of parental involvement in their children’s education. I will advocate for open communication and collaboration welcoming parental input.
As a Trustee, I will continue to advocate for policies that benefit all students, champion community engagement, and support educational innovation. I am dedicated to working collaboratively with parents, teachers, staff, and board members. My educational goal is for each student to develop a growth mindset fostering resilience and a love of learning, both of which are crucial for longterm success.
I am committed to the students of OUSD and take my role as a Trustee seriously. I would be honored to have your vote.
Steve Rocco
Retired Teacher/Writer
No candidate statement filed.
Filing records for all candidates can be found at the Orange County Registrar of Voters.
The Orange Unified School District serves approximately 28,000 students in grades kindergarten through 12th, and encompasses all or part of the cities of Anaheim, Garden Grove, Orange, Santa Ana, and Villa Park.
Villa Park is part of Trustee Area 6 currently represented by Sara J. Pelly.
41 Education Sites:
- 4 High Schools (Canyon, El Modena, Orange, Villa Park)
- 3 Middle Schools (Cerro Villa, Portola, Yorba)
- 2 Charter Middle Schools (El Rancho Charter, Santiago Charter)
- 1 K-8 Magnet School (McPherson Magnet School)
- 26 Elementary Schools
- 5 Specialized Programs
2024 Villa Park Election Resources
- Villa Park Election Results
- VP City Council Candidate Announcement
- VP City Council Candidate Forum – Meet the candidates
- VP City Council Candidate Statements
- OUSD Candidate Statements
- Orange Mayoral Candidate Statements
- Orange City Council Candidate Statements
- How to Research Local Candidates for Election
- Villa Park State and Regional Elected Officials
- Villa Park Election Central – All local information, news and updates