A SERIES of brief candidate profiles for local office. These are provided as a free public service by The Tribune and are not endorsements. The deadline to submit is Oct. 15 (Shutterstock).

Name: Christine Hernandez
Age: 35
City of Residence: Midway City   How Long Lived There: 7+ years
Office Sought: Huntington Beach Union High School District Board of Trustees
Occupation: Nonprofit Program Director

CHRISTINE HERNANDEZ, candidate for Huntington Beach Union High School District board.

Why do you want to be elected?:
Our schools play an important role in our community. Education has been a long-time passion of mine and I am committed to supporting affirming, safe, and equitable school environments. I
believe that it’s time for a fresh voice on the HBUHSD board and that I have the experience to
do the job well. For most of my career I served in different capacities in higher education, from an academic coordinator to an associate dean of students. This has given me an on-the-ground look at many of the issues students at multiple levels of education face. I understand what COVID-19 and general public health response looks like behind the scenes, I have directly seen the rising concerns of mental well-being of our youth and emerging adults, and the challenge of supporting our workforce during challenging times.
As a parent, I am also engaged as a leader in my community. I am involved with multiple parent/teacher organizations at the school and district level near me. I have been an active member of the community.
Which are the most important issues facing your school district?:
Health, safety, equity, and community engagement.
Ensuring our schools are doing everything we can to support the health and well-being of our
students, teachers, and staff is a top priority. We need to listen to members of our community to
understand the systemic issues that need our support. While some resources may be available,
true change often requires a look at our larger ecosystem to understand how to address these
issues.
List of public service activities or positions held:
■ President, DeMille Elementary PTA
■ Secretary, Westminster Council PTA
■ Member and Vice President of Student Alumni Engagement, Cal State Fullerton Alumni
Association Board of Directors
■ Troop Leader, Girl Scouts
■ Volunteer Community Presenter, Southern California Red Cross Disaster Preparedness
Team
What would you like to add about you and your campaign?:Community engagement and building relationships with all of our stakeholders is critical. As a coalition builder, I know how important relationships can be to understanding how to move forward successfully. I am prepared to lead with the board and serve my community.
http://www.hernandezforschoolboard.com
Instagram: @hernandezforschoolboard
Facebook: @hernandezforschoolboard
E-mail: christine@hernandezforschoolboard.com