I am the parent of two children in the district and I have spent many years advocating for education. I have served as PTA President, PTA Secretary, and as Chairperson and a member of School Site Council. I have volunteered regularly in my children's classrooms and have attended school board meetings on a consistent basis. As a result I have taken on a personal interest in the development and implementation of school policy. After years of advocating for change from the outside I decided I wanted to be in a position where I could really make a meaningful impact on our childrens’ education and futures. I am a teacher and I truly am passionate about education. My experience in leadership roles and as a volunteer have required me to plan, to work together collegially with my colleagues to achieve our goals, and to be accountable and take responsibility for decisions made. I would love to bring my extensive leadership skills and my experience in education to the Santa Clara Unified School District Governing Board of Trustees.

Santa Clara Unified families have a long history of supporting their schools and in return expect the highest quality education for our children. We deserve a district that is fiscally responsible, collaborative with all stakeholders, and supportive of the educators to whom we entrust our children everday. As a Trustee, I will advocate for excellence and equity in our schools. I will focus spending on our students, classrooms, and school sites. I will advocate for improved access to mental health services at both the elementary and secondary levels. I will work hard to expand access to STEAM ensuring all students, no matter where they live or where they attend school, have access to the tools necessary to benefit from STEAM curriculum. I will ask the right questions, and I will expect thorough and transparent answers. I will represent you and the students of SCUSD. I am very excited to make a positive difference in our district schools. I ask for your vote.

Santa Clara Unified School District schools provide a competitive education.  We have expanded our Plus, STEM, and STEAM programs.  We have also expanded educational opportunities by providing busing, SAT and AP tests, and science camps.   Although test scores are improving, there is more to be done.

We must narrow the achievement gap, increase educational options, and provide our teachers and staff with the resources necessary to ensure every child’s success.  All children have the right to learn.  As the first in my family to earn a college degree, I know that success is attainable regardless of ethnicity or socio-economic status.      

I have experience as a father of three Santa Clara Unified School District students, an engineer, a soccer coach and a tutor. I’ve also gained a wealth of knowledge while serving on the board for the past twelve years, and I am prepared and willing to continue serving you and advocating for all students during these challenging times.

Andrew Ratermann, Governing Board Member Santa Clara Unified School Board, says: "Albert Gonzalez is a voice that our students need.  He is a congenial, thoughtful, introspective board member who puts our students first. He has served honorably as our board president and his leadership is acknowledged regionally as he was elected to serve on the California School Boards Association’s Board of Directors."

E-mail Albert at votegonzalez4board@gmail.com  or visit www.albertgonzalez.org

Mark is a husband and father with two sons in SCUSD. Please read about his volunteer experience and school board accomplishments. Please support him in any way you can and vote for him in November!

Volunteer Experience

Orange County Youth Lacrosse League, Volunteer Coach 1988-1989
The Foundry School, Volunteer, Mentor 1995-2005
The Lowell Slater Richardson Foundation, Founder, President 1996-present
Sunnyvale Community Advisory Committee, CNC Board Member 2004-2012
Sunnyvale PAL Boxing Program, Assistant Coach, DPS Volunteer 2006-2009
Satsuma Dojo, Student, volunteer instructor, Board member 2006-2016

Ponderosa Elementary, PTA Treasurer 2007-2008
Ponderosa Elementary, PEPCO Board Member 2008-2010
Ponderosa Elementary, School Site Council Board Member 2013-2016

Fremont High School, Volunteer, AVID program, 2011-2014
Fremont High School, Volunteer, Vistas Program, 2015-2016
Santa Clara Community Day School, Volunteer 2016-present
Honorary Service Award, California State PTA, May 19, 2015

School Board - first term highlights

Financial Stewardship

Mark has consistently voted for thoughtful, accountable spending that directly benefits students and best practices within education. Since he has been on the Board, Mark has continually voted to support pay increases for district employees, including those in the UTSC, CSEA and AFT Unions as well as non-bargaining unit members.

After receiving community input, Mark voted to implement financial stewardship regarding the passage of SCUSD’s General Obligation Bond Measure BB and advocated for the proposed amount of $1.5B to be reduced to the amount of $720M. Subsequently, the SCUSD voters successfully passed Bond Measure BB in 2018 which provides for three new schools at the Agnews campus, along with many other improvements to district schools.

“At Risk” Students

Mark remains a constant advocate for “at risk” students and initiated the formation of an “at risk” task force. Through his public presentations to the Santa Clara County Supervisors and the Santa Clara City Council, he worked with council members to create the first ever budgeted internship program for “at risk” students. He continues to strive for the implementation of these programs.

Through the Lowell Slater Richardson Foundation (named after Mark’s late father who was a California public school teacher), eleven SCUSD “at risk” students have been awarded over $9,000 for college scholarships from Mark’s foundation.

Mark referred a mentor volunteer who now works weekly with students at Wilson High School. He also found a volunteer photographer who took Mother’s Day pictures of teen moms who attend Wilson High School.

Mark volunteers weekly at the Santa Clara Community Day School working with “at risk” students. He has helped the school acquire a budget and was able to assist the school with procuring new office and kitchen equipment. He also sponsored a mural by Wilcox student artists for the students at Santa Clara Community Day School. He plans to sponsor murals for Wilson High School and New Valley/Gateway.

Student Safety and Well-being

Mark has worked tirelessly as an advocate for student safety and well-being. After a traffic incident near Peterson Middle School, he delivered a presentation to the Sunnyvale City Council to collaborate on specific issues involving safety. He also initiated a discussion regarding student safety, both inside and outside of our schools, during a SCUSD Board of Trustees public meeting.

Mark volunteered at George Mayne and Montague Elementary Schools during the COVID 19 pandemic. He worked with staff distributing food to SCUSD families in need.

Structure and Expertise

Mark improved meeting structure for the Board of Trustees with suggestions for new board policies. He encouraged adoption of professional practices and behaviors along with editing board bylaws to promote higher expertise.

Mark authored bylaw language to create a process by which new job positions are added to the District’s payroll. He also advocated for financial guideline procedures for future boards to follow.

"Students first". Mark is beholden to only one group of people, and those are students and children. He believes school board members should be public servants rather than public figures. School board is not a political stepping stone for Mark, he's there for children.