Walnut Creek teachers back Aileen Ong for school board

The Walnut Creek Teachers Association has endorsed first-time candidate and current WCSD parent Aileen Ong for the Nov. 3 Walnut Creek School District Governing Board election. The endorsement centers on Ong’s push for clearer communication, stronger educator input and more transparent planning around future district funding.

Why it matters: - The Walnut Creek Teachers Association endorsement gives Ong a visible boost in a local school board race where communication, parent input and educator voice are central issues. - Ong is pitching herself as a board member who can help rebuild trust between district leaders, families and teachers. - The race matters for how Walnut Creek schools handle staffing, programs, class sizes and future ballot measures.

What happened: - The Walnut Creek Teachers Association endorsed Aileen Ong for the Walnut Creek School District Governing Board election on Nov. 3. - WCTA said its panel interviewed five candidates before choosing Ong. - WCTA President Mikhail Ress-Nathans said the endorsement reflected Ong’s collaborative approach and interest in community input. - Ong is a first-time candidate and a current WCSD parent.

The details: - WCTA cited Ong’s respect for educators’ voices in district decisions. - Ong said the board needs more members with children currently enrolled in district schools. - Ong said the district should listen more to educators and parents who see the effects of board decisions firsthand. - Ong said she was motivated to run after a communication breakdown last spring, when the Tice Creek principal’s abrupt departure left parents and staff with unanswered questions. - Ong said good communication should be the minimum standard for schools. - Measure L, a school parcel tax, would have funded teacher retention, academic programs and smaller class sizes. - Measure L won 64% of the vote in the June primary election, short of the two-thirds needed to pass. - Ong said the district should build the case for any future funding measure before it reaches the ballot and should clearly explain needs and how money would be tracked. - Ong brings more than 20 years of strategic communications experience. - Ong says that background would help her translate complex issues for the board and the community.

Between the lines: - The endorsement signals that labor support is likely to reward candidates who emphasize transparency and shared decision-making, not just traditional school governance experience. - Ong’s message suggests voters may be receptive to a candidate framing communication as a core district problem, not a soft issue. - Measure L’s failure to clear the supermajority threshold shows future funding proposals may need earlier public education and clearer accountability to win.

What's next: - Ong will continue her campaign for the Nov. 3 election. - Future district funding measures will likely need stronger public outreach if leaders want broader support. - The board race will test whether voters favor Ong’s call for more direct input from parents and educators.

The bottom line: - WCTA’s endorsement puts Ong in the race as the candidate most explicitly tied to clearer communication, more transparency and stronger teacher and parent voice in WCSD decisions.