Welcome back to our “Meet the Candidates” series, where candidates for the San Francisco Unified School Board of Education respond to questions each week in 100 words or fewer. Answers will be published every Friday.
Mission Local now includes all eight of the candidates who will appear on the November ballot. They are as follows: Autumn Brown Garibay, Virginia Cheung, Alida Fisher, Ryan Hazelton, Phil Kim, Laurance Lee, Reina Tello and Tim Tung.
Each candidate is first ordered alphabetically, then rotated each week.
On Tuesday, the San Francisco school board voted 5-2 to overhaul the elementary school lottery system. Their overhaul of choice: “Option C,” which guarantees placement at a neighborhood school but allows families to apply to citywide programs, like language immersion, special education and K-8 schools.
“Option B” would have allowed families to apply to any school in the district, while still guaranteeing a neighborhood seat to families that applied for one in time. “Option A” had been eliminated the week prior, and would have created small zones with three to five schools for families to apply to.
Option C had the support of Superintendent Maria Su, Mayor Daniel Lurie and District 4 Supervisor Alan Wong. Others, like the SF Parents Coalition, thought Option B was fairer. Some even called upon the district not to make a decision altogether before doing more research into the impacts of both.
The details of Option C will be worked out by the district and the school board over the next several months, leading to a vote on a final version in April. That means that whoever is elected to the three school board seats could have significant say over the final details of the new school selection process.
This week, Mission Local asked candidates: If you were on the school board now, which of the two final enrollment options would you have voted for and why?
Alida Fisher
- Job: Executive Director at the Community Alliance for Special Education, incumbent Board of Education member
- Age: 51
- Party: Democratic
- Residency: Homeowner in Lakeview/OMI, lived in the Sunset until 2015
- Children: Yes, four adults, ages 18-25. Three have graduated from SFUSD, and the fourth is a senior at Mission High School this year.
- SFUSD experience: Current SFUSD Board of Education member. Has served as Chair of the Community Advisory Committee for Special Education, member or past member of SFUSD’s African American Parent Advisory Council, LCAP Task Force, Charter School Oversight Committee, and PIR/CEIS/CCEIS Committee, PTSAs and SSCs at nine school sites
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from Case Western Reserve University
- Languages: English, with limited ability to speak and understand Spanish and French
- Transportation: Driving, public transit and walking
- Website: Reelect Alida Fisher
I voted for Option B because we must address resource inequities between schools before removing family choice and agency. SFUSD’s October 2026 survey found that 96% of respondents valued choosing the school that best fits their child.
While I appreciate Option C’s aspirations, we must ensure neighborhood schools have the resources and programs to serve every student well before relying on neighborhood assignments that risk reinforcing segregation.
A neighborhood school should provide certainty, not limit agency. Every child deserves a strong school close to home, and every family should retain meaningful choices when another school better fits their child’s needs.
Endorsements: SF Parents Action, Supervisor Myrna Melgar, Supervisor Shamann Walton, former Supervisor Gordon Mar … read more here.
Ryan Hazelton
- Job: Executive director of Mariposa Kids, a nonprofit for play-based programs for kids ages 1-11
- Age: 43
- Party: Democratic
- Residency: Homeowner in the SoMa, living in San Francisco since 2007
- Children: None
- SFUSD experience: Chair of San Francisco Child Care Planning & Advisory Council, appointed by SFUSD
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of California, San Diego
- Languages: English
- Transportation: Public transit, walking and biking
- Website: Ryan Hazelton for SF School Board
I would have voted for Option B, with conditions that need to be met before April. Every neighborhood school, especially in the Southeast, needs the staffing, programs, and facilities that make families want to enroll, backed by public equity data on who gains and who loses.
Language and special-education programs must be protected. The district should also hold multilingual community meetings in Southeast neighborhoods, publish what it heard from families about what they want in their neighborhood schools, and map planned equity improvements alongside enrollment changes.
Endorsed by: United Educators of San Francisco, Harvey Milk Democratic Club, League of Pissed Off Voters, Supervisor Connie Chan, Board of Education Commissioner Matt Alexander, former Supervisor Gordon Mar … read more here.
Phil Kim
- Job: Deputy Director at San Francisco Agency for Human Rights, incumbent Board of Education president
- Age: 36
- Party: Democratic
- Residency: Renter in the Castro
- Children: None
- SFUSD experience: School board president
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Bucknell University; master’s in education policy and administration from Loyola Marymount University; Pursuing EdD at the University of California, Berkeley
- Languages: English and Korean
- Transportation: Public transit, Walking
- Website: Phil Kim for School Board
For over a decade, SFUSD has been trying to move away from our complicated, unpredictable lottery system. I’m proud that we are moving forward with Board direction that ensures families have a guaranteed spot in their neighborhood while preserving meaningful choice through citywide and specialized schools and programs.
This must be accompanied by a plan to ensure we are building toward high-quality, well-resourced schools in every neighborhood. Over the next several months, I look forward to hearing more from families and communities as we develop a policy that the Board can approve in April.
Endorsed by: Mayor Daniel Lurie, State Senator Scott Wiener, Assemblymember Matt Haney, Assemblymember Catherine Stefani, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, GrowSF, San Francisco Democratic Party, SF Parents Action … read more here.
Laurance Lee
- Job: Volunteer at schools and licensed general contractor
- Age: 56
- Party: Democratic
- Residency: Homeowner in Noe Valley, born in the Richmond District
- Children: Yes, but did not attend SFUSD
- SFUSD experience: Current vice chair SFUSD Citizens Bond Oversight Committee (Appointed in 2022)
- Education: Bachelor’s degrees in chemistry and history & science from Harvard University
- Languages: English (learning Cantonese, Mandarin, Spanish and French)
- Transportation: Driving, public transit and walking
- Website: Laurance Lee for School Board
I would have supported B for its neighborhood guarantee for families applying on time and broader school choice.
I agree with commissioners and Superintendent Su that boundaries, language programs, special education access, and staffing need work. As commissioner, I would work with families to ensure the final policy addresses those needs.
Strong schools support thriving communities. My weekly literacy volunteering at Drew Elementary in the Bayview reinforces the importance of supporting educators and getting students what they need.
Enrollment changes must come with investments that improve outcomes and give families more reasons to choose schools close to home with confidence.
Endorsed by: State Senator Scott Wiener, Chinese American Citizens Alliance San Francisco Lodge, United Food and Commercial Workers Union, Local 648 … read more here.
Reina Tello
- Job: Community organizer
- Age: 44
- Party: Democratic
- Residency: Renter, born and raised in San Francisco
- Children: Two children: 14, rising eighth grader at James Lick; 18, recently graduated from June Jordan School for Equity
- SFUSD experience: Served on School Site Council two years ago
- Education: Current City College of San Francisco student studying labor and community studies
- Languages: English and Spanish
- Transportation: Driving
- Website: Reina for School Board
I believe neighborhood schools are the path forward, with an equitable amount of resources should be allocated to the schools with the most underserved students.
There was a petition circulated by a parent-led group that listed 8 demands: 1. Publish an equity analysis before adoption; 2.Expand and protect language pathways; 3.Fully staff and deliver special education services; 4. Publish school-by-school information; 5. Guarantee transportation access; 6. Protect siblings and student stability; 7. Provide a fair appeal and transfer process; 8. Adopt a public, funded implementation plan.
These demands are vital for the success of the new enrollment process.
Endorsed by: United Educators of San Francisco, San Francisco Rising Action Fund, Teamsters Local 853, Board of Education Commissioner Matt Alexander, Supervisor Connie Chan, Supervisor Jackie Fielder, Supervisor Chyanne Chan, Supervisor Shamann Walton … read more here.
Tim Tung
- Job: Public finance analyst, research analyst, public finance lecturer
- Age: 46
- Party: Democratic
- Residency: Homeowner in the Western Addition, previously lived in the Richmond and SoMa
- Children: Two children at Chinese Immersion School at De Avila
- SFUSD experience: Chair of the school site council at the Chinese Immersion School at De Avila; serves on SFUSD’s local control and accountability plan advisory committee
- Education: Bachelor’s degree and master’s degree in information and data science from the University of California, Berkeley; master’s degree in public administration from San Jose State University
- Languages: English
- Transportation: Driving, public transit and walking
- Website: Tim Tung for School Board
I prefer Option C, because every San Francisco family deserves a dependable, high-quality neighborhood school, and SFUSD must fully resource them. A predictable system simplifies enrollment for parents and anchors communities.
We must lean into the trade-offs. While Option C does not provide unlimited choices, families retain the flexibility to apply to citywide programs. However, restricting choice is only acceptable if we deliver classroom excellence.
A guaranteed neighborhood seat must come with strong academics, safe campuses, and stable staffing. Success means establishing world-class schools that unlock every student’s full potential.
Endorsed by: GrowSF, State Senator Scott Wiener, Nancy Tung, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Supervisor Matt Dorsey, Supervisor Stephen Sherrill, Supervisor Alan Wong, Supervisor Danny Sauter … read more here.
Autumn Brown Garibay
- Job: Senior customer success manager at Sprout Social, Inc.
- Age: 41
- Party: Democratic
- Residency: Renter in the Mission District
- Children: Three in SFUSD schools
- SFUSD experience: PTA at kids’ school, served on the Parent Leadership Council of the San Francisco Parent Coalition
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in public relations and marketing from Long Beach State University and Sacramento State University
- Languages: English
- Transportation: Public transit, walking and biking
- Website: Autumn Brown Garibay for School Board
For too long, our lottery has left families anxious and schools unstable. Some schools are flooded with applications while others can’t fill a kindergarten class. I hear parents’ concerns about Option C. The Board has set a direction, and I intend to help shape what comes next.
A neighborhood assignment only matters if that school delivers strong instruction and student outcomes. Families must have a meaningful voice in this process. Before the final vote in April, I will hold the district accountable for clear, fair boundaries, strong citywide program options, and real equitable investment in our schools.
Endorsed by: SF Parents Action, GrowSF, San Francisco Democratic Party, State Senator Scott Wiener, Supervisor Rafael Mandelman, Supervisor Alan Wong, Supervisor Danny Sauter, Supervisor Bilal Mahmood, Supervisor Matt Dorsey … read more here.
Virginia Cheung
- Job: Chief advancement officer of Open Door Legal
- Age: 43
- Party: Democratic
- Residency: Homeowner in Crocker Amazon, previously lived in the Mission District and the Portola since moving to San Francisco in 2008
- Children: Yes, they attend Alice Fong Yu Alternative School and Wah Mei School
- SFUSD experience: Treasurer for Parents for Public Schools of San Francisco and served on the Parent Advisory Board of Wah Mei BASE ExCel
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in social ecology with a minor in digital art, University of California, Irvine
- Languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin and French
- Transportation: Driving
- Website: Virginia Cheung for School Board
I would vote for Option C. A child’s future should not depend on luck, their zip code, or their PTA’s fundraising. Every family deserves an excellent neighborhood school, with citywide access to specialized programs not available near their home.
Fully enrolled schools should mean fully staffed schools, with stable resources and continuous quality improvement for administrators, teachers, educators, and school workers. I would hold the superintendent accountable for making that a reality in every neighborhood across San Francisco.
We must invest in programs families want in every neighborhood, support staff development, and improve student outcomes so every school in…read more here.
Endorsed by: United Educators of San Francisco, San Francisco Building and Construction Trades Council, Assemblymember Matt Haney, Board of Education Commissioner Matt Alexander, Supervisor Connie Chan, Supervisor Jackie Fielder … read more here.
Answers may be lightly edited for formatting, spelling, and grammar. If you have questions for the candidates, please let us know at rosina@missionlocal.com.
You can register to vote via the sf.gov website.