Candidates for Fresno County Superintendent of Schools this week addressed declining school enrollment, the use of artificial intelligence in classrooms and the region’s early literacy crisis at a forum hosted by The Maddy Institute.
The forum, which was streamed Thursday, gave the candidate pool of seasoned school administrators an opportunity to lay out their priorities if elected to lead the Fresno County Office of Education.
Michele Cantwell-Copher, the incumbent, is seeking a second four-year term as county superintendent. Former Clovis Unified Superintendent Eimear O’Brien and Johnny Alvarado, assistant superintendent of Parlier Unified, are also running for the seat.
Cantwell-Copher touted student learning gains in the county that happened during her time in office, noting, “We have some of the highest test scores in the state of California in terms of growth.”
O’Brien and Alvarado both said, despite progress since the pandemic, students in Fresno County face an ongoing “literacy crisis” and vowed to prioritize improving the rate of students who can read at grade level.
“About 60% of our third-graders aren’t reading at grade level. That’s unacceptable,” O’Brien said. “My top priority is every child reading by third grade.”
Alvarado said, for the past eleven years, about 55% of Fresno County students annually show they can’t read or write at grade level, while about 68% achieve grade-level math scores.
“This is a problem that we need to talk about,” he said.
Eimear O’Brien asnwers a question during the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Candidate Forum Thursday night, April 2, 2026 in downtown Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com Attendance, enrollment
With federal funding for schools being tied to average daily attendance, districts all over the state have grappled with how to address declining attendance.
As far as the prospect of mitigating any potential school closures in Fresno County, Alvarado said that while sites being shuttered is a “necessary evil” sometimes, the key is gathering community input in a timely manner.
“What districts need to do is they need to be introspective of why students might be leaving their school districts and begin to make changes so that doesn’t happen. But if it does, we need to involve the community in the decision,” Alvarado said.
Cantwell-Copher said Fresno County hasn’t seen much change in overall enrollment numbers, though some districts such as Fresno Unified are losing students as families move to other parts of the county. She said the decision to close a school ultimately falls on local districts, though the office of the superintendent can help with decision-making.
O’Brien reflected on her time leading Clovis Unified, noting that the district would look at projections and data on birth rates, construction and enrollment trends within the district before tackling major construction projects. She said more districts need to take on similar approaches to advance planning.
“It’s the same with declining enrollment. We have to backtrack and really encourage and support districts in having long-range planning so we can try and mitigate those kinds of consequences,” O’Brien said.
The candidates were also asked how they’d address concerns about the impact of federal immigration enforcement on schools.
Alvarado focused on the importance of meeting families where they are and emphasizing that Fresno County campuses are safe places.
Cantwell-Copher said families’ fears are “legitimate feelings” and that they need reassurance by way of positive school climate and parent engagement.
O’Brien said it’s important for students to look forward to being in school and critical for districts to help educate families amid ICE concerns.
Johnny Alvarado addresses a question during the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Candidate Forum Thursday night, April 2, 2026 in downtown Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com AI and cellphones in classrooms
All three candidates said that artificial intelligence is not something that can be ignored. O’Brien and Alvarado said individual districts need to develop parameters around AI. O’Brien said teachers need to be trained on how to ethically use and implement AI in classroom instruction.
Cantwell-Copher said the office of the superintendent is “enthusiastically embracing AI.”
“We’re using it first and foremost to make ourselves more efficient,” she said. “Secondarily, we’re making sure our teachers are comfortable using AI in our classrooms. We’re looking at guardrails for students so they can responsibly and safely use these amazing tools.”
The candidates also considered how they would work to limit smartphone use in classrooms — in accordance with Assembly Bill 3216, which Governor Gavin Newsom signed in 2024. The law requires school districts to adopt policies limiting cell phone use during school hours by July.
All three candidates said everyone — from students and parents to teachers and administrators — need to collectively be on board to make any on-campus smartphone policy work.
Michele Cantwell-Copher addresses a question, with Eimear O’Brien at background right, during the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools Candidate Forum Thursday night, April 2, 2026 in downtown Fresno. ERIC PAUL ZAMORA ezamora@fresnobee.com
This story was originally published April 4, 2026 at 5:01 AM.
The Fresno Bee
Nick Fenley is a reporter covering education, lawsuits, breaking news and more for The Fresno Bee. He’s originally from the Imperial Valley and earned an English degree from San Diego State before studying at the University of Vermont. He has been with The Bee since 2025 after relocating from Arizona.