2024 LAUSD ELECTION

Fifth Challenger Joins LAUSD School Board Race In BD3

While claiming to be “an accomplished educator” Raquel Villalta excluded herself from the classroom by refusing to vaccinate against COVID.

“The health and safety of students and employees is everyone’s responsibility. Thank you for doing your part to keep all of our students and employees safe.”

– LAUSD

Raquel Villalta

Responding to my invitation to “tell me a little bit about yourself and your positions,” so that I could write an article about her entry into the 2024 LAUSD School Board race, Raquel Villalta directed me to her website. Eager to see where this new candidate stood on the issues, I clicked first on the section marked “Vision.” This is what it had to say in its entirety:

“Vision for our Schools:

Raquel Villalta places a strong emphasis on schools prioritizing student achievement by setting high expectations and providing necessary assistance to struggling students. It is essential to refocus on promoting academic rigor, teaching core subjects effectively, and involving parents in the curriculum selection process.”

The first sentence is harmless but essentially meaningless. Is there a candidate running for a school board position who advocates for lowering student expectations or reducing assistance for struggling students?

At first glance, the second sentence continues in the same vein but then descends into language that appears to be coded toward attracting the attention of culture warriors who have declared war on our public education systems. Is Villalta’s call for “teaching core subjects effectively” another “brave” stance against those who want these subjects taught ineffectively or is she siding with those who like to limit a teacher’s ability to provide emotional support to their students? Her Instagram account being followed by the anti-LGBTQ+ bigots at the Saticoy Elementary “Parents” group seems to suggest the latter is possible.