Editor's note: This story is one in a series on the Nov. 3 general election. For more coverage, visit vcstar.com/news/elections.
This year, three seats are up for election to the Ventura County Board of Education, but only two of them will be on the November ballot.
The board of education shares oversight, with the elected county superintendent of schools, over the Ventura County Office of Education. Board members, also known as trustees, are elected to four-year terms, with each trustee representing one of five geographic areas of the county.
Trustee Rachel Ulrich, who represents Ventura, the Ojai Valley and parts of Oxnard, is unopposed and will not be on the ballot.
There are two candidates in Area 2, which covers the Conejo Valley and parts
of Camarillo: incumbent Mike Teasdale and challenger Debra McIntyre-Sciarrino. In Area 4, which includes Simi Valley and Moorpark, incumbent Arleigh Kidd is stepping down. The two candidates to replace him are Kristina Pine and Scott Dettorre.
The Star asked each candidate to answer a brief questionnaire. Their responses are below, with editing for space and clarity. Board of Education positions are nonpartisan, but The Star asked candidates and checked voter rolls to include party registration information for readers.
Early voting and by-mail voting are underway already. Ventura County's vote center locations will open Oct. 24 and Election Day is Nov. 3.
VCBOE Area 2
Debra McIntyre-Sciarrino
Age: 64
Occupation: Public school educator
City of residence: Thousand Oaks
Party registration: Democrat
Education: Master's degrees in curriculum and instruction from Pepperdine University and counseling and guidance from California Lutheran University
Military service: None
Political experience: None
Website: debraforschools.com
What is your top priority and how do you intend to accomplish it if elected?
My top priority is ensuring that student need drives every decision made by the Ventura County Board of Education. For 35 years, I have served public education as a teacher, counselor, assistant principal, principal and district administrator. That experience has taught me that every student can succeed when provided the right opportunities, resources and support.
If elected, I will advocate for fiscally sound, sustainable decisions that align resources with priorities and provide the greatest benefit to students. I will ask a fundamental question when considering policies and expenditures: How will this decision improve opportunities and outcomes for students?
I also believe meaningful progress requires respectful, kind and collaborative relationships. I will listen to educators, staff, families, students and community partners, seek common ground and work collaboratively to address challenges. Having lived in Ventura County for over 30 years and raised my children in local public schools, this community is home.
Mike Teasdale
Age: 74
Occupation: Retired business executive
City of residence: Thousand Oaks
Party registration: Democrat
Education: Bachelor's degree University of Massachusetts
Military service: None
Political experience: Ventura County Board of Education Area 2 from 2018 to present
Website: miketeasdale.com
What is your top priority and how do you intend to accomplish it if elected?
I have two priorities: The first is to give every child a fighting chance to pursue their dreams by supporting programs for youth transitioning back into society from juvenile detention. I co-led an effort in Sacramento to provide $80 million to build life skills for incarcerated youth. I will also continue to support appropriate funding for children with special needs and career education.
Secondly, I will strengthen accountability and restore confidence in the Ventura County Office of Education. Having led the effort to unveil the corruption at the county office, I will pursue the implementation of recommendations from the forensic audit, as well as work with lawmakers to change the California Education Code so this type of behavior cannot be repeated. Additionally, I will put in place a satisfaction survey to provide feedback to the county office to ensure quality services and effective training for our local school personnel.
VCBOE Area 4
Scott Dettorre
Age: 69
Occupation: Retired fire captain
City of residence: Moorpark
Party registration: Republican
Education: Bachelor's degree from CSU Northridge
Military service: None
Political experience: Moorpark Unified School District Board of Education from 2016 to 2024
Website: scottd4vcboe.com
What is your top priority and how do you intend to accomplish it if elected?
My top priority will be restoring integrity and transparency to the office of the trustee. Our parents, students, taxpayers, teachers and staff deserve nothing less than a trustee who is here to serve them and not him or herself. I will be diligent over the budget, demanding accountability. I will work closely with our local school districts to accomplish our educational goals and mission, with inclusivity for all our students while pursuing greater proficiency scores in math and language.
I will do this by drawing on my more than 40 years of experience and integrity in public service, which include serving on the Moorpark Unified School board for eight years working with governmental budgets and serving on the firefighters union board for more than fifteen years where I developed my ability to build consensus and collaborate for the greater good. As a fire captain, I bring experience in crisis management.
Kristina Pine
Age: 43
Occupation: Teacher
City of residence: Simi Valley
Party registration: Democrat
Education: Master's degree in education leadership from Columbia University
Military service: None
Political experience: Simi Valley Unified School District Board from 2022 to 2025
Website: kristina4board.com
What is your top priority and how do you intend to accomplish it if elected?
As a VCOE trustee, my top priority will be ensuring that each student in Ventura County has access to a high quality education, through policy and fiscal oversight. To accomplish this, I will work to rebuild transparency and public trust so the community once again feels confident in the Ventura County Office of Education.
I will also fight for additional special education funding from the federal level, thus freeing up resources that county schools and local districts can use to continue to provide high quality programs to meet the needs of all students. Additionally, I will work to improve collaboration and communication between the county office and local districts.
Tony Biasotti is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach him at tbiasotti@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation's Fund to Support Local Journalism. The foundation plays no role in story selection. The Star retains full editorial control.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Meet the candidates for Ventura County Board of Education
