With nine candidates vying to become California’s next superintendent of public instruction and more expected, Nichelle Henderson brings a perspective and experience few others can claim.
Henderson has spent much of her career in California classrooms while also engaging deeply in local politics. That combination has Sacramento organizations rallying around her candidacy.
Community members gathered Sept. 25 at Tap Wine Lounge in Sacramento for a meet-and-greet hosted by former mayoral candidate Flojaune Cofer and several local groups.
“I want somebody who’s there because of the job, not because of the title,” Cofer said, emphasizing her belief that Henderson is motivated by genuine commitment to education. “Too often, school boards and education positions are seen as a holding place or a stepping stone for what you really want to do.”
For Cofer, Henderson is that person.
A Los Angeles native, Henderson’s path into education began in her child’s preschool classroom, where volunteering led to a job as a paraprofessional. That role gave her an early understanding of the challenges teachers face and the needs of students and families. So inspired, she changed her major from electrical engineering to liberal studies at Cal State Los Angeles and later earned a master’s degree in education from Chapman University.
She went on to become a sixth-grade teacher in Compton, gaining firsthand insight into the possibilities and struggles of K-12 education. Today, she continues that work at Fresno State, preparing future teachers while advocating for policies that reflect the realities of the classroom.
“Teaching is the greatest profession because teachers make every other profession,” Henderson said enthusiatically, highlighting why the superintendent’s office should be led by someone with direct teaching experience.
In California’s history, 28 people have held the office of state superintendent of public instruction. Only a handful had educational backgrounds, and even fewer came from K-12 classrooms.
The winner of the November 2026 election will replace current Superintendent Tony Thurmond. If elected, Henderson would make history as the first Black woman to serve in the role.
The superintendent is the state’s top education leader, responsible for shaping what students learn, how schools are funded, and how teachers are supported. The role directly impacts about 6 million students from diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds, each with unique educational needs, across the state’s public schools.
“If you really care about education, you’d want someone who understands education to be in this role,” Henderson said.
Her platform centers on some of the most pressing issues in education today, including expanding early education, ensuring transparency in public education funding, strengthening higher education and workforce development pathways, and increasing access to mental health services.
She also has been vocal about how current state and national politics affect schools. “We are in a time of crisis with education as it’s being dismantled before our eyes, and this is an opportunity for us to really reimagine education because it’s falling apart,” she told The OBSERVER when asked about her motivation to run.
Alongside her classroom career, Henderson has built political experience rooted in education and labor. She was an elected delegate to the Los Angeles County Democratic Party in 2016, where she co-chaired the credentials committee. She later served as a labor representative on the Los Angeles County Quality and Productivity Commission, eventually becoming its chair.
Supporters said that blend of political and educational experience makes her uniquely prepared for the role.
“She is the right candidate for the right time,” said Dr. Addie Ellis, an educator and vice president of Black Women Organized for Political Action. “She uniquely understands both educational policy and classroom realities, bringing a comprehensive perspective to the role of superintendent that bridges theory and practical implementation.”
Parents echoed that belief. “I think because she knows what it takes under this current climate, it’s really important that we have somebody that can see what our areas of opportunity are, and then tackle them,” said Krystal King, a Natomas parent who attended the Sacramento event.
As a mother and grandmother, Henderson said her candidacy is shaped by both professional expertise and personal investment. With a kindergarten-age granddaughter just beginning her education in California schools, she frames her run as being not only about policy, but also about family and community.
Support for this Sacramento OBSERVER article was provided to Word In Black (WIB) by the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative. WIB is a collaborative of 10 Black-owned media that includes print and digital partners.