1. Tell us about yourself.
Leticia Garcia, see attached bio and headshot. Office is non-partisan, but I’m a registered Democrat.
Leticia Garcia is the proud mom of twin girls, an advocate for public education, and an active member in her community. She works professionally as an education advocate to fight for increased state funding for public schools and to help craft policies that improve student success.
She grew up in Santa Ana, CA and is the daughter of a construction worker and a farmworker. The eldest of eight children, Leticia is the first in her family to go to college. Her parents instilled in her the importance of education and giving back to her community. Garcia’s calling to help improve people’s lives and communities led her to a career in public policy—with a focus on public education. Her passion for public education is very personal as obtaining a college education stopped generational poverty in her family. Today, she sees her daughters thriving in school and have access to great opportunities—she wants to make sure all Sacramento kids have these opportunities.
She works professionally as an education advocate to fight for increased state funding for public schools and to help craft policies that improve student success.
As a Sacramento Unified school board member, she successfully worked to:
• Bring about District fiscal stability — after years of unbalanced budgets.
• Expand opportunities and programs for students and families — such as Universal PreK and before/after school programs.
• Increase workforce investments—adopt fair contracts for workers.
• Led the $750 Million Measure H School Facilities Measure—to modernize and improve school facilities.
• Secured $1M in state funds for California Technical Education so that students have more options after graduation.
She also serves on the Planned Parenthood Mar Monte Board fighting for reproductive rights, and expand health education opportunities.
Leticia attended Santa Ana Community College, earned a B.A. in Psychology and Sociology from UD Davis, and a Master’s in International Relations from CSU Sacramento.
She lives in Sacramento with her husband, Kevin, and daughters. In her spare time, she enjoys to read, run, travel, and spend quality time with family and friends
2. What makes you a qualified candidate for school board?
For the last ten years, I have been an advocate for public education–advocaing from budgets to policies–to help students succeed.
3. Why are you running for the school board?
I am the mom of 14-year old daughters who attend our local schools. I know firsthand the opportunities and challenges we face, and the need for stability. I am running for re-election because I am committed to rebuilding our district and getting our schools back on solid ground to meet student needs.
4. What race and equity issues might you consider during your tenure?
Ensure that funds and programs/services support the students, schools with the highest needs.
5. How are planning to address the achievement gap in your district?
Further expanding preschool and transitional kindergarten to our youngest learners, and continuing to support students academically and socio-emotinally to catch them up to grade level standards. It’s important to also support for students who need accelerated learning.
6. Any additional information/platform
Today, we have the historic opportunity to reinvest in our kids—and I am ready. I have worked to expand preschool for all 4 year-olds, grow before-after school programs, and hire more teachers and school employees.