Shaw seeks state superintendent post Nov. 3

Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified School District board, is running for California Superintendent of Public Instruction in the Tuesday, Nov. 3, general election. The nonpartisan race also includes Richard Andrew Barrera.

Shaw said on her campaign website that California's education system is failing students. She said half of students cannot read or write at grade level and called for schools to refocus on reading, writing and math.

Candidate information

Residence: Born and raised in Chino, California
Education: Educated in Chino Valley schools; graduated from Ayala High School; did not attend college
Professional background: Owner of a professional photography business; owner of AMP Fitness since 2014; previously held a California real estate license
Community: Leads a community-based Bible study

Experience and public service

Shaw has served as board president of the Chino Valley Unified School District since 2022, according to the district's website. She has also served as a representative on the Baldy View Regional Occupational Program Commission since 2022.

On the issues

The following positions are Shaw's own statements, drawn from her campaign website and her campaign issues page.

Education standards: Shaw said a "back-to-basics approach, proven effective in local districts, can transform our schools." She called for recruiting and retaining top educators and centering curriculum on practical skills. She said California's schools can lead the nation again "but only with bold education reforms that put children's needs first and restore trust in education."

School closures and mandates: Shaw said prolonged school closures disrupted learning and burdened families. She said mask and vaccine mandates ignored families' well-being and silenced parents' voices. She said the kind of leadership that challenged those mandates locally will work to deliver change at the state level.

Gender policies in schools: Shaw said policies allowing boys to undress in girls' locker rooms and play on girls' sports teams undermine fairness and safety. She said girls deserve to compete on equal terms and should feel secure in private spaces. She said classrooms are "becoming battlegrounds for radical agendas, pushing divisive content that overshadows core education." She said proven leadership has already restored balance in local districts and that California needs that approach statewide.