Here’s where Clovis Unified school board candidates stand on changes, culture, academics
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Clovis Unified Elections
This November, the Clovis Unified board has four open seats and two races - incumbents Steven Fogg and Yolanda Moore are running unopposed. Click the arrow below to read the profiles of the candidates.
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Voters this election will decide two seats on the Clovis Unified school board, with two other seats already settled because the incumbents are running unopposed.
Three candidates are vying to replace outgoing Trustee David DeFrank in Area 2, the district’s most competitive trustee race. The candidates include DeFrank’s wife, author Molly DeFrank, Wilma Tom Hashimoto, executive director of CASA of Fresno and Madera counties, and Janet Kardashian, who taught in Clovis Unified for 55 years.
In Area 4, which includes Clovis High School, incumbent and board president Hugh Awtrey is seeking a second full term against challenger Gina Vue, a clinician and Clovis Unified parent.
In Areas 5 and Area 7, incumbents Steven Fogg and Yolanda Moore are running unopposed, meaning they will automatically win the reelection without their names showing up on the ballot.
The Bee talked to every candidate in person or via email. Here’s what you need to know about Clovis Unified school board races.
Clovis Unified Area 2
- Occupation: Author
- Age: 40
- Education: Bachelor of Arts in international relations from the UC Davis
- Previous elected office held: N/A
- Campaign website: defrank.co
The Bee’s Q&A with DeFrank: ‘Clovis does not need a change in culture.’ Author wants to succeed husband on school board
Why do you want to be a Clovis Unified trustee?
My six kids spend seven hours a day in Clovis schools, so you can know that I am invested in what they are being taught. It is critical that parents are represented on the school board. I’m the only parent of current Clovis Unified students in the race. I’ve seen Clovis schools from many angles. As foster parents, my husband and I have parented kids with a wide range of abilities and behaviors. No matter the student, I’ve seen teachers, administrators, therapists, coaches, and psychologists come alongside kids to help them achieve their best. What we have in Clovis is special, and I want to help protect that. I am running to give back to the district that has given our family so much.
What are your goals, if elected, and how would you achieve them?
My primary goal is to maintain high standards in Clovis Unified, where every kid gets a fair break. Doc Buchanan’s charge is the heartbeat of our district, and it will take hard work to protect that. My other goals as trustee would be academic excellence, protecting Clovis from outside influences, and advocating for adequate funding for federally-mandated special education programs.
What are the changes you would like to bring to the school board and district’s culture?
Clovis is different because it emphasizes high-quality relationships from the top down: teachers genuinely love their students. Administration genuinely respects and listens to their teachers. Parents and schools partner together—because that’s what is best for kids. Teachers in Clovis cultivate a culture of respect in their classrooms, based on relationships. Clovis does not need a change in culture. It needs leaders who understand what an incredible culture we have, and who are willing to work to preserve it.
- Occupation: Executive Director, CASA of Fresno and Madera counties
- Age: 62
- Education: Bachelor of Science in business administration from the University of Southern California; Master in education, administration and supervision from California State University, Fresno
- Previous elected office held: N/A
- Campaign website: www.votehashimoto.com
The Bee’s Q&A with DeFrank: Foster kids advocate running for Clovis Unified school board. ‘I understand children’s needs’
Why do you want to be a Clovis Unified trustee?
I lived in Clovis since 1985. When the seat became available, I thought about it long and hard, and turned to my faith. I’m an educator who’s been in the classroom, I’ve been at a school site. I understand children’s needs. I’m a child advocate. For 34 years, I’ve worked in different systems, and I’m already involved with the community and have served at multiple organizations and boards.
What is the expertise you would bring to the board?
I am a board member for various boards and commissions, so I know my role, the expectations of me and my responsibilities. I know my boundaries, and what I mean by that is supporting the superintendent and the administration. We need to work together. My quote has always been, “My North Star is that we make decisions every day at this job based on what’s best for the kids.” It’s not what’s best for Wilma, not what’s best for office staff. We’re advocating for children.
What are the issues you would like to address, if elected?
We know that COVID, that online instruction, didn’t work for a lot of children, especially for my foster youth. Three years down the road, now we need to get back to the focus of academics. For younger children, it might be interpersonal skills. The other part is mental health. It’s more prevalent than prior to COVID. I believe that the superintendent and the cabinet are already addressing that. As a board member, my role would be to support the superintendent and the cabinet.
- Occupation: Retired teacher
- Age: 78
- Education: Bachelor’s from the University of California, Los Angeles
- Previous elected office held: N/A
- Campaign website: www.kardashian4clovisschoolboard.com
The Bee’s Q&A with Kardashian: Retired teacher runs for trustee to ‘uphold core values of Clovis Unified,’ back parental rights
Why would you like to become a trustee?
I am running for this office to build excellence on a legacy inspiring everyone to value education! A large and notable difference between me and my opponents is 55 years of vast and diverse teaching experiences (including special education) I have invested in the Clovis Unified School District. I have a proven record of teaching all students to experience high academic achievements, and I shall continue to work hard to uphold the core values of Clovis Unified and protect, preserve, and propel the district into even greater achievements.
What are your priorities?
Safety has always been my No. 1 issue that needs to be addressed. Through education, students are being taught that we care about their safety, and these rules are to keep everybody as safe as possible. It requires an entire community to be on board, and communication is vital. Another issue that now needs everyone’s attention is fentanyl. We need to protect every school before something unfortunate occurs, and that means education as early as possible so that we can reach the minds and attention of our children to understand the risks.
How do you see the state law vs. Clovis local values?
We all are required to abide by the state laws. Legislation is for everybody to follow the rules. With that, more recently, has surfaced the issue of parental rights. I am a supporter of parental rights. I know that nobody loves and cares for the well-being of any child more than the child’s parent. The first person who’s going to notice a change or something that’s out of alignment with the child’s normal behavior is going to be the parent, and every parent needs to be informed about what’s going on in that child’s life in order to offer the love, care, support, and the proper options for helping that child be comfortable.
Clovis Unified Area 4
- Occupation: Insurance broker
- Age: 59
- Education: Bachelor’s in business from California State University, Fresno
- Previous elected office held: Clovis Unified School Board Trustee (2019-current)
- Campaign website: www.hughawtrey.com
The Bee’s Q&A with Awtrey: Clovis Unified board president says priority is raising student test scores, achievement
What are your priorities for Clovis Unified, if reelected?
Safety is an issue that is important for all our students. Over the last few years, we have made significant improvements with classroom doors not being locked, and the district is currently installing a system where all unmanned doors at a site are able to be locked with a push of a button. Student achievement is also a priority. COVID left our students’ performances on state testing below our normal levels. There has been a lot of work done to get our students back to performing where they were prior to the pandemic. The last item that we must continue to work on is funding. We need to persist in lobbying Sacramento for fair and adequate funding.
What are the biggest challenges facing Clovis Unified?
Two of the biggest challenges looking forward are funding and student population growth. Funding is a big issue for us and we do not have much control of it. Sacramento is continually changing the funding method, and most of the time it is not to Clovis Unified’s advantage. We must always be looking at ways to save money and also work with our fellow school districts to educate Sacramento politicians about the need for steady and adequate funding.
How is Clovis Unified working with localities to keep up with student growth?
We work closely with the City of Clovis, City of Fresno and the County of Fresno to keep abreast of future developments. It takes a school district many years to buy a property and design and build a school. Without close cooperation with these local governments, we would be behind and playing catch-up. It is a complicated balancing act that the Clovis Unified administration facilities group must work at every day.
- Occupation: Clinician, educator, business owner
- Age: 38
- Education: Unknown
- Previous elected office held: N/A
- Campaign website: www.ginavue.com
The Bee’s Q&A with Vue: ‘The main challenge is safety.’ Clinician challenges board president for Clovis Unified trustee seat
Why do you want to be a Clovis Unified trustee?
Education is very important to me. I’m a first-generation American, and taking full advantage of public education definitely transformed my life. My parents came from Laos, and I was able to go to school as a woman, to be able to advocate for myself, and now this is my country. I want to be able to present the same opportunity to all students.
What are the biggest challenges facing Clovis Unified?
The main challenge is definitely safety. As a parent, I drop off my children at school every morning. They’re there from 8 a.m. until I pick them up after 3 p.m. Not knowing their well-being, not knowing how they’re being treated, not knowing their safety, is a little alarming. Safety is not just the physical well-being of my child, it’s also my child’s ability to recognize when they’re being triggered, and to seek resources for help.
What’s your philosophy in campaigning and being a member on the board?
I’m more focused on the people. I listen to them and learn about what they want, and give them choices. I don’t want to be a typical candidate who says “This is what I am for” and goes into the board and doesn’t even vote the way the person said. Maybe your colleagues had given a different perception, or being given new information. It’s about evaluating the best interest for students, and then the next lens is the parents and the teachers, and what our community wants, and then going from there.
Area 5
- Occupation: Ophthalmologist, business owner
- Age: 62
- Education: Medical degree from the University of Utah, School of Medicine
- Previous elected office held: Clovis Unified School Board Trustee (2016-current)
- Campaign website: N/A
The Bee’s Q&A with Fogg: Clovis Unified trustee says voting change is ‘worst thing that’s happened to our district’
Why are you running for re-election?
Our board now is relatively young. I’m the most senior member of the board and it’s only been eight years since I was elected. It’s my obligation and duty to help train new board members how we work in Clovis Unified. We don’t fight about things, we discuss them as adults. We are unified in student achievement.
Clovis Unified is changing from an “at-large” to a “trustee-region” voting system. How could it change the board?
That’s probably the worst thing that happened since I’ve been on board. In the past, I would visit schools from all over the district. They’re all mine. There’s no school that wasn’t important to me because the whole district was mine. They all elected me and I was responsible for everybody. Now, it becomes divided and conflict increases, it’s not about the whole district anymore.
What are the biggest challenges facing Clovis Unified?
The biggest challenge we have is our success. The builders want to make Clovis Unified a destination school district. We demand a lot from our staff, teachers and students. We expect a lot. Because of that we are growing very rapidly. We’re not going to stop people from moving in, but it is a real challenge of how we balance it.
Area 7
Yolanda Moore
- Occupation: Physician Associate, business owner
- Age: N/A
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in biology from California State University, Sacramento; Master’s degree in physician assistant studies from Marquette University
- Previous elected office held: Clovis Unified School Board Trustee (2020-current)
- Campaign website: www.moore4cusd.com
What were your biggest accomplishments during your first four years on the school board?
There are several positive highlights that I am proud to have been a part of during my first term but to name a few: our safe and early return of students during the pandemic, particularly our most academically vulnerable students. The hiring of our superintendent, Dr. Folmer who demonstrates incredible leadership of our district. The naming of two of our newest schools reflects the diverse but rarely heard history of CUSD.
I don’t believe any success or accomplishments within the board or district can be attributed to an individual, it’s always a team effort. Our board consists of seven individuals with different perspectives and experiences coming together to govern in a way that ensures success for all who make up Clovis Unified. Having a unified vision for equitable student achievement is a priority.
What can the district and the board do to ensure fair representation of its diverse student population?
As the first African-American and woman of color to serve on the CUSD governing board, I am honored to represent all of our families, especially those who have historically been underrepresented. After almost four years of service, while still learning, I am more knowledgeable and just as committed to maintaining the high standards of Clovis Unified and continuing to be a voice for our students, families, and employees.
