FRESNO, Calif. (FOX26) — Three candidates vying to become the next Fresno County Superintendent of Schools took the stage Thursday night during a public forum hosted by The Maddy Institute.
The event brought together longtime educators Dr. Johnny Alvarado, Dr. Michele Cantwell-Copher, and Dr. Eimear O’Brien to discuss the future of education across Fresno County, which oversees 31 school districts.
During the forum, candidates addressed key issues including student achievement, campus policies and the future of bilingual education.
Dr. Alvarado, Assistant Superintendent of Parlier Unified, emphasized the need for stronger academic outcomes and accountability, pointing to concerns about students graduating without meeting grade-level standards.
Current Fresno County Superintendent Dr. Cantwell-Copher discussed the implementation of upcoming cell phone restrictions in schools, stressing that success will depend on cooperation between parents, students and educators.
Dr. O’Brien, former superintendent of Clovis Unified, weighed in on the state’s goal of expanding bilingual education by 2030, saying foundational literacy must come first before broader language goals can be achieved.
The forum was part of an effort to inform voters ahead of the upcoming election.
It was held in partnership with the Central Valley Journalism Collaborative (CMAC), Fresnoland, GV Wire and Valley Public Radio.
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