Key Facts
Background
Sasha Ritzie-Hernandez studied English at Laney College and attended Holy Names University for Latin American Studies [2, 4]. She was a community advocate for the DREAM Act, and in the 2014 elections, was a bilingual Instructor at Alameda County’s Registrar of Voters Office [1]. She has previously worked as a senior parent organizer with the Bay Area Parent Leadership Action Network, and currently serves as the coordinator of the Bay Area Coalition for Education Justice [1, 3]. In addition, she currently serves on the school site council for International Community School in Oakland [3].
Key Issues
Budget
Ritzie-Hernandez advocates for implementing new budget practices, including equity impact analysis before all budget related decisions. She supports auditing for all current investments in order to reduce unnecessary spending [1].
Curriculum
Ritzie-Hernandez supports increasing funding towards bilingual education programs and training on multi-cultural competency for teachers [1].
Parental Involvement
Ritzie-Hernandez supports creating more opportunities for parental involvement, including classroom volunteering and school tours. She wants to increase support for families that speak languages other than English [3].
Miscellaneous
Ritzie-Hernandez is against the expansion of charter schools due to her belief that they destabilize funding for public schools. She plans to spend time educating families about the impact of charter schools on the district in an effort to increase attendance in Oakland public schools [3].
Endorsements
Latino Task Force; Oakland Education Association (OEA); East Bay Democratic Socialists of America; SEIU 1021; Alameda County Democratic Party; Oakland Rising Action; Green Party of Alameda County; Alameda Labor Council; Educators for Democratic Schools; East Bay Young Democrats; Latine Young Democrats of the East Bay; Building & Construction Trades Council; Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club; Our Revolution; LGBTQ+ Victory Fund; Wellstone Democratic Renewal Club; Tony Thurmond, CA State Superintendent of Public Instruction; Rob Bonta, California Attorney General; Kevin Jenkins, Oakland City Council District 6; Dyana Delfín Polk, President, Peralta Community College District; Valarie Bachelor, OUSD School Board Director District 6; Jennifer Brouhard, OUSD School Board Director District 2; VanCedric Williams, OUSD School Board Director District 3; Roseann Torres, Former OUSD School Board Director District 5; Denilson Garibo, Former OUSD Student Director; Ty’Jeare Hunter, Former OUSD Student Director; Wilson Riles Jr., Former Oakland City Council Member; Nelson Tam, ADEM AD 18 Delegate; Soli Alpert, Vice-Chair, Berkeley Rent Stabilization Board; Betty Olsen-Jones, Former OEA President; Yesenia Sanchez, Alameda County Sheriff