Candidates for Area Board of Director

For Board of Director positions, the three NEA candidates and the one AFT candidate with the most votes are elected. There are no run-offs. Elections for Area Chairs, if needed, will be held during the Second Round.

Note Candidate-provided photos, flyers, statements, and links will be added in the order that they are received. Candidate statements/flyers are not UTLA’s statements/flyers. UTLA does not edit, censor, or endorse any of them.

Contested

2025-2026 South Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Gina Gray
Email
Olga Calacuayo
Email
Ofelia Sofia Ryan
Email
Claudia Silva
Email
April Thomas
Email
2025-2026 Valley East Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Daniel H. Acuna
Email
Roger Whiting
Email
Oralia Reyes
Chelsea Hinton
EmailFlyer
Statement

28 years teacher

13 years Chapter Chair/Vice-Chair

I have been a proud Valley East UTLA member for 28 years serving as Chapter Chair and Vice Chair. I have fought against layoffs, over-testing, bully principals, and mandates that don’t serve our students or over-burden our members. As Chapter Chair, I achieved 100% participation in the 2019 and the 2023 strikes. I also established a strong LSLC, knocked on doors in school board elections, organized school site pickets, established a CAT team and increased our PACE participation to 90%. As Director, I will continue to advocate for our students and communities, address the needs and concerns of our rank and file members, help school sites establish strong LSLCs, support new chapter chairs, continue our union’s fight for racial and social justice, eradicate hate speech on our campuses and in our union, and fight for fair pay, benefits, and safe schools.

Please vote for my team of Scott Mandel, Leonard Newsome and Marianne Quintero

Scott Mandel *Area Chair Candidate
EmailFlyer
Dr. Marianne Quintero
EmailFlyer
Statement

19 years teacher

8 years Chapter Chair/Vice-Chair

I have been with LAUSD for 19 years as a Special Education Teacher and NBCT. As a former immigrant student raised by a single mother, a person with a disability, and mother of six LAUSD grad boys, I know the barriers our students, families, and educators face. I bring proven expertise and passion to our cause. I organized precinct walking teams, led the strike at my school, created a functional LSLC and a CAT team, and served on SSC. I have served as Chapter Chair, Vice-Chair, UTLA House of Representatives, and joined UTLA committees. As an author and union activist, I enforce our UTLA contract, stand up to toxic administrators, and organize for respect and better working conditions. Our credentials, knowledge, and dedication demand nothing less than dignity and respect.

Please vote for my team of Scott Mandel, Leonard Newsome and Chelsea Hinton

AFT UTLA Board of Director
Victoria Casas *Area Chair Candidate
Email
Leonard Newsome
EmailFlyer
Statement

35 years teacher

10 years Chapter Chair

4 years Valley East Director

As a Chapter Leader and UTLA Director, rare excellence was achieved at my school with 100% strike member participation in 2019 and 2023. The East San Fernando Valley immigrant community is being protected and defended by the Valley East Rapid Response Network, where I serve as the Immigration Justice Team (IJT) Lead. I’ve been teaching for 35 years, and National Board Certified for 23 years. I’m active within UTLA serving in the following capacities: Bargaining Team, House of Representatives, and Steering Committee. In addition, I’m a delegate for both CFT and AFT serving on the Early Childhood Education Committee. I will continue to serve the members of Valley East in fighting for contract enforcement, protecting our immigrant community, and supporting UTLA contract negotiations.

Please vote for my team of Scott Mandel, Chelsea Hinton and Marianne Quintero

2025-2026 Central Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Lupe Torres
Email
David Feldman *Area Chair Candidate
Email
Claudia Rodriguez *Area Chair Candidate
Email
Estela Rios
Email
Alex Gomez
Email
Eva Dunn *Area Chair Candidate
Email
Melissa Naponelli
Email
AFT UTLA Board of Director
Zulma Tobar
Email
Iris Mendoza
Email
2025-2026 East Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Vicky Montes *Area Chair Candidate
Email
Rafael Rodriguez
Email
Thalia Cataño
EmailFlyer
FacebookInstagramWebsite
Statement

Parent of 2 LAUSD students, Resident of Lincoln Heights
12 Year Social Studies Teacher, NBCT
3 Year East Area Steering
3 Year PACE Committee Member representing East Area / PACE Expanded Endorsement Team
3 Year CAT member for Roosevelt High School
Immigrant Justice Team Representative for East Area
Bargaining Team - East Area
CFT Representative on the RDI-TPA Statewide Workgroup 2024-2025 with CTC
Former Chapter Chair 2020-2022 / Former Vice Chair, 2015 - 2019 / Former Immigrant Rights Organizer

I am committed to standing alongside students, caregivers, and community. I know that the fight for strong public schools and union rights is far from over and I'm ready to lead with courage, experience, and an unwavering belief in the power of collective action.

I am running with Marcela Chagoya, Jennifer Marquez, and Jacqueline Dang - all amazing educators and union leaders!

Please also vote for citywide officers:
Georgia Flowers Lee
Jen McAfee
Maria Miranda
Denisha Jordan

Jacquelin Dang
EmailFlyer
FacebookInstagramWebsite
Statement

Hi, my name is Jacquelin Dang, and I am a Special Education teacher entering my sixth year in the classroom. I have a proven record of leadership and advocacy at every level of our union.

For the past three years as Chapter Chair, I’ve worked tirelessly to uplift educator voices, protect the rights of teachers and students, and strengthen our school community.

Beyond the classroom, I’m honored to serve as a 2025–2026 NEA Global Learning Fellow, bringing an international perspective to the fight for equity in education. I’ve represented educators as a UTLA House of Representatives member for three years, an NEA Representative Assembly Delegate for two years, and a CTA State Council Delegate.

My leadership extends across multiple union bodies, including the PACE Committee, the LGBTQ+ Task Force, and the East Area Steering Committee. In 2025, I was proud to receive the UTLA Local WHO Award in recognition of my unwavering commitment to our members and the fight for public education.

William Chavez
Email
Noemi (Mimi) Guzman
Email
Jennifer Marquez
EmailFlyer
2025-2026 Harbor Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Maya Suzuki Daniels
EmailFlyer
Website
Statement

My name is Maya Suzuki Daniels, and I’m running for UTLA Board of Directors to represent the Harbor Area. I teach English at San Pedro High School, where I’ve worked and organized since 2018. As Chapter Chair, I led my site through virtual teaching and school reopenings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, I serve on the Harbor Area Steering Committee, CTA State Council, PACE Committee, and the UTLA Bargaining Team.

Beyond formal positions of leadership, I’ve organized campaigns winning districtwide childcare accommodations, overturning the non-reelect of probationary educator Henry Zahid, and raising over $12,000 for UTLA members impacted by the 2025 wildfires. I also co-founded Educator Defense Network and the Harbor Area Peace Patrols. An LAUSD parent and partner to an LAUSD teacher, I’m in this for life. This is more than a campaign -- it is a commitment.

Vote Maya for Harbor BOD -- for courageous, strategic, community-rooted leadership.

maya4utla.com

Angela Chavez
Email
Phylis Hoffman
Email
Monica Caballero *Area Chair Candidate
Email
2025-2026 North Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
John U. Aquino
Email
Marie Germaine
Email
Chantile Emerick
Email
Guenevere Alapag-Spiller
Email
David De La Cruz Rosales
Email
2025-2026 West Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Beth Devakul Clark
Email
Andrea Shaloo
Email
Noriko Nakada
Email
Statement

I’m Noriko Nakada, teacher in west for 25 years, parent of 2 west area students, & long-time chapter chair at Emerson Middle School.

My UTLA activism includes initiating a testing boycott, participating in civil disobedience to protest teacher layoffs, organizing my site for both strikes, & serving on West Steering Committee. I will fight for a fair contract that protects health benefits and restructures the pay scale to recruit & retain teachers.

Our chapter chairs are engaged in important work, & I will prioritize supporting these leaders.

I stand against the unjust attacks on our vulnerable colleagues, students & families and will fight for these educators, students, & families.

Endorsed by UTLA President Cecily Myart-Cruz, vote for Noah Lippe-Klein, Maria Lopez, and Noriko Nakada. We bring organizing & lived experience needed in this moment to lead West.

Support Team Unity!
Georgia Flowers Lee, NEA VP
Jen Mcafee, Secretary
Maria Miranda, Elem VP
Denisha Jordan, Treasurer

Justin Cohen
Email
Wade Kyle
Email
Maria Lopez
Email
Jennifer Anderson *Area Chair Candidate
Larry Shoham
Email
Renee Senigram
Email
AFT UTLA Board of Director
Noah Lippe-Klein *Area Chair Candidate
Email
Statement

I have been a teacher at Dorsey for 27 years.

I also bring experience as:

a chapter chair for 10 years

a Bargaining Team member

a key strategist in UTLA’s fights for BSAP and marginalized students

This country is becoming more oppressive and authoritarian. Our movements and unions play a vital role in fighting back.

As a union, we must:

defend our health benefits

win the pay raise and contract we deserve

continue to lead on racial justice; defend our immigrant and Black communities

fight to expand mental health supports

protect LGBTQ+ youth & educators

cultivate leadership from newer teachers

prepare for statewide actions in 2026 and 2028

I am running with Maria Lopez & Noriko Nakada—2 visionary teachers & organizers.

Cecily Myart-Cruz has endorsed the 3 of us.

Julie Van Winkle (AFT VP) has endorsed our team & me for this West Area AFT position.

Please also vote for:

Georgia Flowers Lee, NEA VP
Jen Mcafee, Secretary
Maria Miranda, Elem VP
Denisha Jordan, Treasurer

Ryan Andrews
Email
* indicates that the candidate is also running for Area Chairperson

Uncontested

These candidates were unopposed and therefore elected by acclamation.

2025-2026 Valley West Area
NEA UTLA Board of Director
Brian Simily
Email
Elected
Carmen Esterman
Email
Elected
Ivannia Nolasco
Email
Elected
AFT UTLA Board of Director
Wendy Lucia Lozano *Area Chair
Email
Elected
2025-2026 South Area
AFT UTLA Board of Director
L. Cynthia Matthews *Area Chair
Email
Elected
2025-2026 East Area
AFT UTLA Board of Director
Marcela Chagoya *Area Chair Candidate
Email
Elected
2025-2026 Harbor Area
AFT UTLA Board of Director
Crystal Murray
Email
Elected
2025-2026 North Area
AFT UTLA Board of Director
Mark Ramos *Area Chair
Email
Elected
* indicates that the candidate is also running for Area Chairperson