BIO

Born to immigrant parents and raised in the working class border-town of Calexico, Frank grew up with a clear understanding of the challenges immigrant communities face in California. Through his work as a bilingual educator, a leader in his union, an organizer with the Party for Socialism and Liberation (PSL), and member of the Peace and Freedom Party of California, Frank has fought continuously for the rights of immigrant students and families. As Executive Vice President of a 6,000-member union, Frank has had to learn the ins and outs of how a large, urban school district works, and worked to develop a deeper and more comprehensive understanding of school finance, district compliance, and state education policy. He currently serves on the California Teachers Association (CTA) Financing Public Education Committee, which determines the union’s position on legislation related to costs and finance. Frank’s experiences and leadership in the classroom, in the union hall, and in the streets demonstrate his unique abilities to connect different struggles and build working class unity in a society that often sows division and tries to isolate us from one another. Our schools are in crisis, but Frank’s unwavering commitment to collective liberation and decades of relevant experience make him ready to lead as Superintendent of Public Instruction and continue fighting for the schools our students deserve.