Pasadena School Board Candidate Calls for Greater Transparency and Parent Input

Juan Carlos Pérez, a longtime Pasadena resident and parent of three, has launched his campaign for the Pasadena Unified School Board District 2 seat, championing what he sees as the needs for greater transparency, accountability, and community involvement in District decisions.

Pérez, who has one child in a charter school and another who attended Blair High School, said he was spurred to run after observing recent Board meetings where he felt parent voices were not adequately considered and District performance was overstated by the incumbent.

“I’ve spoken with a lot of the parents who were impacted by some of the decisions that Jennifer Hall Lee made, particularly at Longfellow,” Pérez said, referring to his opponent and incumbent Board member.

He added that many parents felt “there wasn’t a lot of transparency” regarding the decision to relocate students from Longfellow to Allendale, near Blair’s campus.

“They were really talked to at the very end of the process, by which point they felt ignored,” Pérez said of the affected families.

Pérez said he was concerned when he heard the incumbent’s characterization of Pasadena schools as “exemplary,” which he felt did not align with the District’s actual performance and low proficiency scores.

As a marketing director for a Pasadena-based software company, Pérez advocates for more data-driven decision-making on the School Board. He said he believes this approach could lead to better outcomes for students.

“I tend to make most of my decisions based on data because I often find that what our impressions might be about our audience or our market is very different from what the data tells us,” he explained.

Pérez’s background includes experience as a teacher at various educational levels. He has taught elementary, high school and college students, mentored veterans at Wesleyan University and business professionals through South by Southwest (SXSW), and currently serves as a substitute teacher at a local private school.

Born in Peru, Pérez immigrated to the United States at a young age. He earned his bachelor’s degree with high honors from Wesleyan University before pursuing graduate studies in comparative literature at the University of California, Berkeley, with a focus on medieval French, German, and Latin.

As a parent of an LGBTQ+ and autistic child, Pérez said he is committed to fostering inclusive environments in Pasadena schools. He has spoken at South by Southwest on issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, and immigration.

Pérez pointed out the importance of preparing students for technological advancements. 

“I feel like we need to do more to prepare the students for what’s ahead of them technologically,” he said, advocating for education on artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies.

Pérez’s platform includes support for school choice, a stance informed by his experience as both a traditional public school and charter school parent in the District.

“That’s another thing that seems to resonate with a lot of the parents I’ve talked to, the freedom to choose what’s best for your child,” he noted.

Addressing potential concerns about divisiveness, Pérez stressed his commitment to all students in the District. 

“I really am a champion for all PUSD students,” he said. “I believe that a fair and equitable education is a priority and it should be a priority for every child in the entire PUSD system.”

Pérez also highlighted his stance on a recent parcel tax issue, which he supported, including charter schools, in increasing the likelihood that the measure passed. “Thereby securing funding for the District, as recommended by the advisor hired by the school board,” he added.

The election for the Pasadena Unified School Board District 2 seat will take place in November. Pérez said he looks forward to engaging with voters and “building a people-powered campaign to give our community a voice.”

Pérez lives in Altadena with his wife, Beth, their children, and their rescue dogs, Xavi and Harlow. 

For more information, voters can visit his campaign website at Pérez4PUSD.com.