Local Clean Energy Lawyer Declares Candidacy in School Board Race

Juan Pablo Albán, a lawyer whose son attends Blair High School, announced he is running for the Pasadena Unified School District Board of Education to represent District 7. 

“I’m happy to let you know of my announcement to run for director of Pasadena Unified, District 7 – the seat Scott Phelps is vacating,” Albán said.

Albán currently sits at Vice Chair of the School Site Council at Blair. He’s also a Clean Energy lawyer practicing in Pasadena. His wife, Courtney Stuart-Albán, also practices law and lives in Pasadena. Aside from a 10-year-old son at Blair, the couple has a daughter in 7th grade at Westridge School. 

Albán came to the United States at age 9 with his mother and brother. He said he attended high school in Houston, graduated from Dartmouth College with honors, and earned a law degree from Harvard in 2001.

On his campaign website, www.jp4pusd.com, Albán said his priority, if elected, will be to implement a six-point plan that includes improving independent oversight of PUSD without micromanagement of the Superintendent, dedicating long-term resources to increase and sustain enrollment, and establishing a “growth mindset” culture in all classes and for all students. 

The plan also includes ensuring best use of PUSD’s unused properties, closing kids’ “opportunity gaps” as early as possible, and promoting joint California school board lobbying efforts in Sacramento to increase the amount and stability of education funding.

PUSD’s General Election will be held on Nov. 8. Nomination papers for candidates seeking local School Board offices will be available from July 18 through Aug. 12 in the Office of the City Clerk, at 100 North Garfield Ave., Room S228.

Candidates may receive nominations and circulate nomination petitions to gather signatures of registered voters in order to have their names placed on the ballot for members of the PUSD Board of Education for geographic sub-districts 1, 3, 5, and 7. 

Each member of the PUSD School Board serves a four-year term. The duties of the Board include adopting the annual budget, approving expenditures, establishing district policy, authorizing employment of personnel, approving textbooks and courses of study, and approving new and innovative academic initiatives.