Sonja Shaw explains why she should be California’s next Superintendent of Public Instruction | CA Politics 360
Sonia Shaw, thank you so much for making time for us. I am extremely grateful to be here with you. Our parent group all over California, our groups love you, so thank you. Uh, well, I, so I know that you have been leading Chino Valley Unified. But I, I just wanna know what ultimately pushed you to get interested in public education in the first place. Yeah, good question. I growing up I always wanted to be *** mom. That was like my main goal, um, you know, going back to my childhood just being *** mom was such, um, an important thing for me and so when I was, you know, blessed to be *** mom, I was room mom, art mom, PE mom until the school shut down and then I was exited out of the classroom mom. Um, and you know, when we started to see as parents, um, certain things that were being shared behind the computer screen and the long, um, you know, closures of the prolonged closures of the schools, *** lot of us started asking questions and so I, you know, simply asked the question, when are we gonna open and nobody can give me an answer, but I saw our governor at like football games and big things and the world was going back to normal. And so with that said, I started to reach out and go from person to person until somebody would just give me an answer and when I found out nobody had an answer and nobody had *** plan, um, it ignited something into, you know, my soul of like, hey, what’s going on? And then Ashley I saw them, um, start to attack parents’ rights, our constitutional rights to be involved. That was *** huge factor and then I started to see, um, you know, them go after my, my daughters in their sports in their locker rooms. So it really just all started to start from that point and it went beyond that after I started to learn more as I started to seek the answers that most parents in California so desperately were needing and asking. So essentially the pandemic really it activated you. I didn’t know, um, I was never involved in. In voting, I, I admit it, um, I now tell people we have *** moral obligation. These people are making decisions on our daily lives, um, and more importantly about our children, our most precious gifts, um, so when I started to see the decisions they were making, uh, I just couldn’t sit back. I’m not one to sit there and complain. I’m one to see, OK, what solutions do we have, and if we don’t, let’s provide the solutions. So, uh, first I. I wanna get into just I mean really the news of the month which is that the superintendent of public instruction, the office you’re running for, will no longer oversee the Department of Education starting in January when you may be taking office if you are elected. What is your reaction to that and how do you plan to confront it? Yeah, so I’m not surprised. I’ve seen them do these things. Um, prior, even in my position as school board president when we are doing what we were duly elected to do, um, the governor and the the majority of legislators will come down just like with our, you know, parents’ rights to know, um, policies, um, they would come down and just make *** law to try to stop us. So again, um, when it came to AB 181 taking the authority away during an election right after the primary, um, you know, and we won the primary. And um when I saw that I was like this is the biggest power grab in California and I really hope that parents see now exactly what I’ve come to know the last 6 years. It was an egregious attack on our constitution here in California and it was also an attack on the will of the voters because we have *** movement running behind and on the side of me and in the front of me when we have people just rising up and paying attention to these offices that they technically and usually don’t pay attention to. Um, so for me I wasn’t shocked but I also am very disappointed, um, you know, change is coming, they know that they’ve seen the numbers, they do the numbers all day long and they’re afraid of what we’re going to bring and that’s common sense back in the education system, this same blueprint that I have in Chino Valley that has been working and you know that excites our community to have the trust built back and they’re putting our kids, you know, their kids back in. Of the public school system, Sacramento doesn’t want that. It doesn’t keep them in power. It doesn’t keep the people in the special interest groups in power and it doesn’t deepen their pockets, so they know what I’m coming with. And again it was *** power grab, but um they know that I’m no stranger to, you know, challenging them with these things that they do. So to clarify, do you think it was because of you or why do you think that they did it? I absolutely, Ashley think it was because of me. Why now? Why? Why the timing, um, in January he spoke of it and then we saw *** bill start to go through. More people as they became aware of it were speaking up against it besides the special interest groups that usually buy into their bills, um, and they saw parents become more aware of it. They do the polling. They’ve seen where we’re, where we were at their chosen person, they had to put $6 million last minute into my opponent to get him to go to 2nd place. I mean, they’re not. Dumb when they go into their reports and their numbers and look at things. So when we won it outright, not outright, but when we won it in the primary, I absolutely believe it was because they know what we’re going to do. They can’t get rid of it. The voters have said 4 times, and you’ve covered this, that they want somebody accountable in this seat. It’s *** constitutional seat, and we ran with, you know, knowing what the seat was involved and the authority that they had with it. Um, so I’m not shocked, and I do believe it was because not only me but who I am tied to, and that’s parents all across California. Are you considering filing *** lawsuit or taking any kind of legal action before this takes effect? I. I can’t speak much to it, but of course I’m no stranger to, um, you know, uh, you know, going against and challenging them when they do unconstitutional things here in California and so yes, I am exploring that we are talking to attorneys and my goal though Ashley is to win this seat so we can have somebody in there to start to be the voice of uh education. Here in California and direct the ship back um so yes God willing I get that seat we will be exploring every opportunity continuously to challenge them for the unconstitutional power grab and to circle back to I know with you thinking that this is because they don’t want someone they don’t want you in the seat or they don’t want someone like you having power over the Department of Education, um, Superintendent of Public instruction Tony Thurmond is also against this, has spoken out against the governor. You don’t think it’s in the realm of possibility that this could be the result of the relationship between the current superintendent and the governor at this point. Like, is that off the table for you? You don’t think that’s possible? I don’t think that’s possible. I think that they’ve used him for the time that they needed him. And now they’re disposing him. His time’s up. He turned out. Why do they need him any longer? He’s not running. He turned out in the assembly, um, I believe, um, you know, because he talks about how many years he served there. He turned out in the state superintendency. What would Tony bring value to their movement? Doesn’t so I’ve seen them do that to their own. They eat their own, um, and also they are not protecting the will of the voters and the people here in California. So ultimately with the way this office is structured, I mean as your plan as you campaign and plan to run for this. How do you, what do you intend to do? What, what are some of your initiatives for public education at this point? I’m excited you asked. It’s exactly what we’re doing in Chino. When I got in there, of course, you know, people were kind of, um, in, in our staff were like, what is, you know, Sonia gonna come in and do because I was very vocal in our school board meetings. I told them change is coming. I was very clear on what I was focused on, you know, making sure parents had *** seat at the table. We know kids do best when parents are involved, making sure, um, our locker room. And our bathrooms were safe for our daughters and I also said we’re gonna focus back on reading, writing, and math. I’m very passionate about technical career, all these things to say when I sat with our superintendent, I said, what is your vision, you know, because we are the board is the boss of the superintendent we switched our majority of school board that we didn’t believe we’re pushing education in the right direction that align themselves unfortunately with our governor and the majority of the legislators here, um, and I asked them what is it that you weren’t supported in. And he told me, you know, focusing down and boiling down the standards. There’s so many standards in education and making, um, sure that we identify the essential or critical, whatever people wanna call them, and then pushing our, you know, PLC, that’s Professional learning centers, our communities, making sure we’re looking at data. We’re very, uh, data driven in Chino Valley, making sure our teachers are supported. The money’s in the classroom. Um, and I said, OK, uh, this sounds exciting, but show me. We spent *** year walking classrooms. Um, he showed me how it works. He showed me, um, I, I attended the trainings for teachers, admin, staff. I’ve read, you know, books that he was interested in, and, um, with that, when we switched our majority, our board supported it and look at the numbers we have the blueprint. Even Stanford identified Chino as *** recovery model since COVID, and the majority of districts in California unfortunately are not going in that same direction. Um, that’s the same thing that you know they know that I would bring, and we don’t need more money, Ashley. They keep asking for more money for these special interest groups, and I’m saying we have enough money. Let’s use the money, put it in the classroom first, you know, make it, make sure our good teachers are supported, our parents. are heard and our kids are thriving that threatens everything they’re doing. So specifically if elected superintendent, like what’s the first course of action you would take? Well, number one, I mean it’s no secret, making sure our girls that we follow federal Title IX. Um, do not have to face *** boy in their locker rooms in their sports. Parents, you know, have *** seat at the table and making sure education is focused on reading, writing, and math, and the state is giving the tools and listening to our districts, including our rural areas. I’ve sat with superintendents on Zooms from areas all across California and to hear the what I call the horror stories of. Buildings that aren’t working, no running water, no resources, my heart broke so to be the voice and to be the advocate for those things, I would say all kind of combine in my first line of action in California. So could we expect culture wars to continue then if you are elected superintendent just given the way obviously the legislature and governor have indicated they feel about um allowing trans athletes to participate. In girls and women’s sports, um, just as could we could see *** continuation of this conflict. Yeah, I’ll say this, um, they, they are the ones that, you know, continued the attack on our daughters and their sports and locker rooms, and if they wanna continue to fight those like myself that are protecting them, then I’ve already said this is the hill. We will not stop until every one of our daughters in California is protected. So that’s up to them if they wanna continue to fight with me on that, I will continue to fight with them. I will. Tell you I’m holding them accountable behind the scenes. I am the one that’s in the inbox making the formal complaints, making sure that I’m reaching out to federal government and giving them all the evidence of how we are violating the rights of our daughters so if they wanna continue that attack then by means, um, you know, they’re only gonna make sure more parents in California are aware that this is even happening because unfortunately by design because we’re busy trying to provide parents don’t even know it’s *** law in California that’s allowing this, as you know I mean. Students in California are struggling with reading, science, writing, and math, especially. Where does that rank though in your set of priorities as superintendent addressing the top priority. I mean, of course we can go into the boys and the girls’ sports and the parents, um, right to have *** seat at the table, but that is my priority. That’s what I’ve been focused on in Chino Valley, the headlines and all these other fights. I mean we see it because that’s what the news, you, you know, will often cover, but. I’m doing the daily work. I’m spending the hours. No one can outwork me. They couldn’t outwork me in the primary. I mean, I had, you know, close to 400,000. They had 6 million. Look at the results we got first place. We won it. Um, no one will outwork this mom who is set on making sure reading and writing and math is the focus in Chino Valley. Our standards are *** lot more higher than the California standards when it comes to graduating. We meet our local what I call communities of schools, you know, like our, um. Your, your elementaries, your junior highs that may serve different kinds of areas and we see what resources they are as *** board member, um, you know, that’s my responsibility to make sure that those those certain schools have the certain resources to get the kids where they’re at. Our kids are excelling at reading, writing, and math. Um, so those are absolutely my number one priority is to make sure that happens and of course align it with the things like I’ve told you before. How would you do that? How would you address, I, I understand Chino Valley is academically solid. But for the rest of the state that is struggling in these subjects, what specifically would you do to address that? Give the resources when it comes to like our PO, our professional learning centers, our communities, making sure that the resources to identify what we identified as the critical standards is not just coming out of Chino’s, you know, general budget. That’s the money that we can be using, um, I, I’ll go back to everybody talks about Mississippi Miracle. Well, they put, uh. You know, people that in the classrooms to help the teachers, they identified, you know, where it was that kids were struggling and put the resources there. Why wouldn’t we use that the legislators over there legislated to make sure that we had somebody available for that. Those would be the kinds of things that would be advocating in regards to policy and the tools. How would you work with the, I mean, superintendent of public instruction and the current one, Tony Thurmond will tell you that the legislature and governor, they oversee the policy, they appropriate all the money. What will you do to work with them on some of the initiatives that you’d like to pass? I will show them the results. I will show them the continuous support that we have. I will show them the examples of what we have, and then they have the ability to either support those things and if they don’t, I’ll bring it out into the public that they’re not doing what’s best for kids. I do believe, um, you know, as *** mom. Who’ve seen it, uh, for the last 6 years, we need *** balance in Sacramento. We do not have that. So if they wanna bring it out to public that they don’t wanna support what’s best for kids with the proven blueprint, then it be on them, you know, and prayfully that their communities will hold them responsible responsible as well. I’m all about holding people accountable, and you need somebody in that seat to be. Able to even bring it to light so us in our local communities can hold these people accountable right now there’s no accountability because they do everything in the dark or they do it on *** Friday and pass it on *** Monday when nobody can get involved and bring awareness to these things. I will be bringing it to awareness like you’ve never seen in California history. Voters have continued to send them to public office and right now, I mean, as you know, Democrats out register Republicans 2 to 1. The Republican Party has endorsed you even though this is *** nonpartisan office. You won’t see *** Republican next to your name, but for people who worry about your party affiliation, what do you say to voters who, who see you on the ballot? 80% of parents and people in California agree with what I have done and what I’m doing. If you sit down and have *** one on one conversation with me. Um, in our own school district it’s nonpartisan and some of the communities if you pull Democrat versus Republican, it doesn’t favor the Republicans, but the messaging at the door, the messaging in the community, the messaging that I’ve sent across California with the proven track record, I don’t talk the talk, I actually do the walk, um, I think that resonates with people. People want change. And they told me, you know, we couldn’t make it past the primaries. We did first. Why? That wasn’t just because Republicans, I didn’t have an R next to my name. I had people next to me, and the more that I’m given the chance to actually speak to the communities and speak to the state, more people jump on board for the change that California so desperately needs. I mean, you see it, you report on it, $150 billion *** year. That we see spent in education and only you know nearly 47% are at grade level for reading, math is in the thirties and we keep going on this downward spiral, but yet we have somebody willing to step in and say, hey, we have the blueprint, we have the tools, let me in and let me be able to have the chance to change that resonates with parents. Um, I’m excited because they try to divide us by. Republican and Democrat, but I’ll tell you, Ashley, prior to 6 years I wasn’t involved in politics. I didn’t know what the Republican Party was. The Democrat Party was, um, it was the Republican Party that opened their door when I was *** mother, knocking on every single door, including Newsom’s, including the state superintendent’s door, you know, and they were closing the doors. They were the ones that opened it and they were the ones that say we want to protect parents’ constitutional rights, so I. I chose *** side, but in the long run I still hold everybody accountable. I still, uh, make sure that parents have *** seat at the table, and that’s what I’m excited about. Let them try to divide. I believe I’m the unity candidate when it comes to bringing the majority of Californians together for common sense. You have two older teens. I wanna ask you, is there anything you think state leaders have done right on education? They’ve showed us that they don’t focus on education. I mean, um, other than, you know, you don’t think there’s anything that our state leaders have done well when it comes to public education. Uh, it, that’s, that’s tough because, um, local, I think we do well because we’re fighting back. Um, I do say with community college, you know, look at my daughter had an opportunity, um, to go to community college to be *** firefighter, and she’s currently attending those programs, so I’m grateful for that. I could say. Um, and I can also push back and say I’m grateful for the local communities challenging our legislators, challenging, um, you know, the obstacles that they’re given, um, and being *** voice and pushing back and saying no, um, while we link together to prove the results, but I would say if I, if I have to give them kudos, I would say number one they’re exposing what their plan is to the daily parent. Um, the normal day to day parent and I also would say community college. I’ll give them some credit with that because my daughter is enjoying every bit of being competitively, she’s competitively playing in sports, um, you know, in *** competitive program where she didn’t have to go into *** 4 year program. She could still go into *** 4 year program and she’s getting the resources and she’s loving every day, so I do appreciate that they’re focused on our community colleges. OK, is there anything else you think we should know before we let you go? I mean, I’m sure this isn’t going to be the last time we speak, but I would just tell people, look at people’s track record. Um, we need change. We need to keep leaking arms. That’s what I’m saying in fighting the good fight. They shut me out as *** mother six years ago and they told me I can’t and I won’t, and we showed them how we could and we will, and we continue to do that. We need somebody that’s *** change maker, and I believe that person is me and I’m excited and I’m grateful and I’m humbled all the time. Um, you know, as I go across California and have conversations with people, all right, Sonia Shaw, we really thank you for your time and your insight. Thank you, I appreciate this.
Sonja Shaw explains why she should be California’s next Superintendent of Public Instruction | CA Politics 360
Updated: 8:25 AM PDT Jul 19, 2026
Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified school board and mother of two teenagers, is running for California superintendent of public instruction. She shared her journey going from concerned parent during COVID-19 to political advocate in a wide-ranging conversation on California Politics 360. “Growing up, I always wanted to be a mom. Being a mom was such an important thing for me,” Shaw said. Shaw explained that the COVID-19 pandemic motivated her to get involved in education policy. “After I started to learn more, I started to seek the answers that most parents in California so desperately were needing and asking,” she said. She admitted she was not previously engaged in voting but now encourages others to participate. “I now tell people we have a moral obligation. These people are making decisions on our daily lives and, more importantly, about our children. So when I started to see the decisions they were making, I just couldn’t sit back. I’m not one to sit there and complain. I’m there to say, ‘What solutions do we have?’ And if we don’t, let’s provide the solutions,” Shaw said. Shaw gained attention in 2023 when the Chino Valley school board approved a policy requiring schools to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender. The policy faced opposition from Democratic leaders but was upheld in court rulings. If elected superintendent, Shaw said her priorities would include ensuring compliance with federal Title IX regulations, protecting girls in locker rooms and sports, involving parents in decision-making, and focusing education on reading, writing, and math. “My heart broke,” Shaw said, describing her conversations with superintendents from rural areas about inadequate school facilities. “To be the voice and to be the advocate for those things, I would say all kind of combine in my first line of action in California.” Shaw’s campaign comes amid changes to state law that place the California Department of Education under the governor’s control instead of the superintendent. Shaw criticized the move, calling it “an egregious attack on our Constitution here in California” and “an attack on the will of the voters.” Shaw would not say if she plans to take legal action from keeping the change from going into effect. Shaw said she is exploring options. “I can’t speak much to it, but of course, I’m no stranger to challenging them when they do unconstitutional things here in California. And so, yes, I am exploring that. We are talking to attorneys,” she said. Shaw emphasized her track record and bipartisan appeal, despite receiving an endorsement from the Republican Party for the nonpartisan office. “80% of parents and people in California agree with what I have done and what I’m doing. If you sit down and have a one-on-one conversation with me, in our own school district, it’s nonpartisan,” she said. When asked what the state’s Democratic leaders have done well on education, Shaw pointed to community colleges. “My daughter had an opportunity to go to community college to be a firefighter, and she’s currently attending those programs. So, I’m grateful for that,” she said. She also credited local communities for challenging legislators and pushing back against obstacles. “If I have to give them kudos, I would say, number one, they’re exposing what their plan is to the daily parent,” Shaw said. As she continues her campaign, Shaw said she remains focused on advocating for change. “We need somebody that’s a change maker. And I believe that person is me,” she said. “I’m excited and I’m grateful and I’m humbled all the time as I go across California and have conversations with people.”KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.
Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified school board and mother of two teenagers, is running for California superintendent of public instruction.
She shared her journey going from concerned parent during COVID-19 to political advocate in a wide-ranging conversation on California Politics 360.
“Growing up, I always wanted to be a mom. Being a mom was such an important thing for me,” Shaw said.
Shaw explained that the COVID-19 pandemic motivated her to get involved in education policy.
“After I started to learn more, I started to seek the answers that most parents in California so desperately were needing and asking,” she said.
She admitted she was not previously engaged in voting but now encourages others to participate.
“I now tell people we have a moral obligation. These people are making decisions on our daily lives and, more importantly, about our children. So when I started to see the decisions they were making, I just couldn’t sit back. I’m not one to sit there and complain. I’m there to say, ‘What solutions do we have?’ And if we don’t, let’s provide the solutions,” Shaw said.
Shaw gained attention in 2023 when the Chino Valley school board approved a policy requiring schools to notify parents if their child identifies as transgender. The policy faced opposition from Democratic leaders but was upheld in court rulings.
If elected superintendent, Shaw said her priorities would include ensuring compliance with federal Title IX regulations, protecting girls in locker rooms and sports, involving parents in decision-making, and focusing education on reading, writing, and math.
“My heart broke,” Shaw said, describing her conversations with superintendents from rural areas about inadequate school facilities.
“To be the voice and to be the advocate for those things, I would say all kind of combine in my first line of action in California.”
Shaw’s campaign comes amid changes to state law that place the California Department of Education under the governor’s control instead of the superintendent. Shaw criticized the move, calling it “an egregious attack on our Constitution here in California” and “an attack on the will of the voters.”
Shaw would not say if she plans to take legal action from keeping the change from going into effect. Shaw said she is exploring options.
“I can’t speak much to it, but of course, I’m no stranger to challenging them when they do unconstitutional things here in California. And so, yes, I am exploring that. We are talking to attorneys,” she said.
Shaw emphasized her track record and bipartisan appeal, despite receiving an endorsement from the Republican Party for the nonpartisan office.
“80% of parents and people in California agree with what I have done and what I’m doing. If you sit down and have a one-on-one conversation with me, in our own school district, it’s nonpartisan,” she said.
When asked what the state’s Democratic leaders have done well on education, Shaw pointed to community colleges.
“My daughter had an opportunity to go to community college to be a firefighter, and she’s currently attending those programs. So, I’m grateful for that,” she said.
She also credited local communities for challenging legislators and pushing back against obstacles.
“If I have to give them kudos, I would say, number one, they’re exposing what their plan is to the daily parent,” Shaw said.
As she continues her campaign, Shaw said she remains focused on advocating for change.
“We need somebody that’s a change maker. And I believe that person is me,” she said. “I’m excited and I’m grateful and I’m humbled all the time as I go across California and have conversations with people.”
KCRA 3 Political Director Ashley Zavala reports in-depth coverage of top California politics and policy issues. She is also the host of “California Politics 360.” Get informed each Sunday at 8:30 a.m. on KCRA 3.