Barrera seeks California superintendent of public instruction seat

Richard Andrew Barrera, a San Diego Unified School Board member, is running for California superintendent of public instruction in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election. The nonpartisan statewide race, which appears on Pasadena ballots, also includes Sonja Shaw.

Barrera has served on the San Diego Unified School Board representing District D since 2008, according to his district biography. He has also held the role of board president. In 2024, he served as deputy superintendent and senior policy adviser at the California Department of Education.

Candidate information

Name: Richard Andrew Barrera
Party: Nonpartisan
Education: Bachelor's degree in history, University of California, San Diego; master's degree in public policy, Harvard University
Background: First-generation San Diegan; his father immigrated from Colombia and his grandparents immigrated through Ellis Island. Graduate of El Cajon Valley High School. Named School Board Member of the Year by the San Diego County School Boards Association in 2022.

Experience and public service

Board member, District D, San Diego Unified School Board (since 2008)
Board president, San Diego Unified School District
Deputy superintendent and senior policy adviser, California Department of Education (2024)
Secretary-treasurer, San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council
Community and labor organizer

On the issues

The following positions are drawn from Barrera's campaign priorities and represent the candidate's own statements.

School funding: Barrera said he wants long-term investment in California's public schools rather than short-term fixes. He said he would lead a statewide effort to increase education funding. He also said he would hold the federal government accountable for meeting obligations to programs like special education and help local districts pass their own funding measures.

Student mental health: Barrera said students cannot learn if they do not feel safe and supported. He called for expanding access to school counselors and mental health services. He also called for placing peer counseling programs in every high school and making social-emotional learning a core priority beyond test scores.

Teacher recruitment and retention: Barrera said he would expand paid apprenticeships for future teachers and cover tuition for those who commit to teaching in California's public schools. He called for strengthening partnerships between districts and higher education. He also called for workforce housing programs so educators can afford to live in the communities they serve.

College and career access: Barrera said every high school should offer college-prep courses so no student finds out too late they lack the classes needed to apply to a four-year university. He also called for expanding career and technical education, apprenticeships and vocational training.

Inclusive schools: Barrera said California's schools should protect the rights of LGBTQ students and expand dual-language immersion programs so students graduate bilingual.

Endorsements

The following endorsements were claimed by the endorsers. Sources include the California Secretary of State's Official Voter Information Guide and BallotReady profile data.