Candidates:

Vice President: Jen Ellington

Candidate Statement: I am running for Vice President of your PAEA Executive Board. I have been a California public school educator for 29 years. For the past 15 years, I have been a PAUSD teacher, presently at Fletcher and Gunn.  I currently serve as member-at-large on the PAEA Executive Board and have been a part of numerous school committees. I bring experience and energy, and I am dedicated to assisting fellow teachers and our union to improve working conditions district-wide. If we want our schools to be safe, collaborative, and high performing centers of education, then our teachers must be respected, valued and heard. It would be my honor to represent and serve you as your next PAEA Executive Board Vice President.

Treasurer: David Tomatis

Candidate Statement: I am seeking a final term as PAEA Treasurer. I have learned a lot and I am enjoying the position. This reelection will also allow me to work with and train an incoming Treasurer in the last year of my term. Thank you.

Secretary: Diane Ichikawa

Candidate Statement: I have served as a Gunn site rep for ten years and for two terms as PAEA secretary. It is a privilege to continue to serve as a site rep, and I would be honored to be able to serve once again as secretary.

Member-at-Large Elementary: Krista Velasquez

Candidate Statement: I am excited to run for re-election as the PAEA Elementary At-Large representative because I am passionate about making a meaningful difference in our district. With 20 years of teaching and parenting experience in PAUSD, I have witnessed firsthand the challenges and triumphs our community faces. As the incumbent elementary site rep and a dedicated member of the negotiations team for the past two years, I have honed my ability to advocate powerfully and respectfully for our teachers. I’ve built strong, collaborative relationships with my site administrators and colleagues, always striving to support our educators.
Having served in this exact position for the past five months, I am still uncovering the tremendous depth and potential it offers—and I am eager to expand and grow in this role. I am the kind of person who gets things done and steps up when needed, and I look forward to working with this incredible team to drive meaningful change throughout our district.

Member-at-Large Middle: Margarita Mendez

Candidate Statement: I began my teaching career in Redwood City School district in 1993. I started my PAUSD position in 2002 at Fletcher MS as the first Spanish teacher at then Terman MS.   I love teaching middle school students and serving the Palo Alto community. I look forward to serving PAEA and encouraging members to participate and engage with the union. In my tenure in RCSD I was actively involved in the union as a communication director and site rep. While I have not been a Rep in PAEA I look forward to working with the membership.