My name is Austin Block, and I am running to serve as a Board Member for the Newark Unified School District. I am a high school history, economics, and government teacher with more than 7 years of experience in San Jose and Fremont schools.  I speak English and Spanish and have a track record of communicating with families and building connections between school and community. As a government teacher, civic engagement and public service are two of my core values, and I hope to serve the Newark community as a dedicated school board member.

If elected, I commit to listening respectfully, being accessible, and letting community input influence my decision-making. Newark Unified is facing significant challenges when it comes to the structural deficit, declining enrollment, and teacher and staff shortages, but I will give my best effort to help the district navigate these difficulties. I will focus on reducing staff turnover, building morale, and seeking new ways for the district to increase its total revenue.

There are three seats up for election on the school board this November, and I strongly support candidates Gabriel Anguiano Jr. and Phuong Nguyen for the other two seats. They are excellent advocates for Newark students, with significant experience in education and local government. They will be outstanding leaders of the Newark Unified School District.