Key Facts
Background
Jorge Lerma earned his bachelor’s degree in arts and humanities, master’s degree in science, and his teaching credentials from California State University East Bay [1, 2]. After graduating, he joined Teacher Corps, a federal program for college students of colors to become teachers in low-income areas [3]. He is the founder of Centro Infantíl de la Raza and La Escuelita, the first bilingual and bicultural schools in the area. He is the co-founder of Education Coalition of Hispanics in Oakland and works with organizations such as the Latino Task Force, Latino Education Network, Education Coalition for Hispanics in Oakland. Currently, he is the chairperson of the Oakland Children’s Oversight Commission, which is responsible for Oakland’s public funding for educational programs [1].
Key Issues
Teachers
Lerma wants to have more Latino teachers employed in the district, and supports programs like TRIO PLUS, which provide subsidized housing for teachers in an effort to have more teachers of color in Oakland [1].
Curriculum
Lerma wants to address pandemic learning loss, especially in literacy, by increasing funding for early childhood programs and transitional kindergarten [1]. He advocates for increased resources in intensive tutoring, small-group instruction, and afterschool programs [3].
Endorsements
East Bay Times; Metropolitan Greater Oakland Democratic Club; Latino Education Network (LEN); Education Coalition of Hispanics in Oakland (ECHO); Metropolitan Greater Oakland Democratic Club (MGO Dems); Hon. Libby Schaaf, Oakland Mayor; Hon. Dan Kalb, Oakland City Council/candidate for State Senate; Hon. Gary Yee, former OUSD Superintendent; Hon. Dee Rosario, East Bay Parks Board of Directors; Mike Hutchinson, School Board Director; Clifford Thompson, School Board Director; Sam Davis, School Board Director; Noel Gallo, City Councilmember; Cynthia Adams, Oakland NAACP President