President

Candidate: Tom Culbertson

Candidate statement: Serving as your President has been the honor of my professional life. Since moving from my 4th-grade classroom at Juana Briones to lead PAEA, we have transformed our union into a more modernized, visible, and effective force.

Together, we’ve modernized our operations, from revitalized social media to data-driven member engagement, and strengthened our regional influence by joining the South Bay Labor Council. Whether defending the Ethnic Studies course or asserting our voice at 25 Churchill, we have proven that PAEA is at its strongest when we are unified and proactive.

But our work isn't done. We must continue to push for compensation that truly reflects the cost of living in the Bay Area and fight for a workload that is sustainable for every educator. I am asking for your vote to keep this momentum going. Let’s build on these foundations to ensure every Palo Alto educator has the support, respect, and security they deserve. There is so much more we can accomplish together.

Vice President

Candidate:  Jen Ellington

Candidate statement:  I am honored to run for re-election as Vice President of the PAEA Executive Board. Having served in this role since last fall and as an executive board member for the past four years, I bring experience and energy to this position and to our union.
With 29 years as a California public school educator—the last 15 of which have been dedicated to PAUSD students at Fletcher Middle School and Gunn High School—I understand the unique challenges we face. I am committed to ensuring our teachers are respected, valued, and heard. To maintain safe, high-performing schools, we must first prioritize the well-being and working conditions of our educators. I look forward to continuing my service to you.

Member at Large (High School)

Candidate: Diane Ichikawa

Candidate statement:  For over ten years, I have been a site representative for Gunn and I have served on PAEA's Executive Board as secretary for over three terms. For the last several months, I have served as the member-at-large for the high school level on the Executive Board, ensuring that our high school reps have a voice at the table. I would be honored to continue in this capacity and represent our educators.