News Release - For Immediate Release

 Trustee Mokashi's unwavering commitment to her priorities, particularly collaborative decision-making with our educational partners, is a testament to her belief in the power of collective input. She is dedicated to improving fiscal oversight and fostering an equity-centered education for every child, including our most vulnerable students. This approach ensures that every voice is heard and valued in shaping the future of our schools.

 (Pleasanton, CA)-Pleasanton Unified School District (PUSD) Trustee Kelly Mokashi has announced her candidacy today for a second term on the PUSD Governing Board. Elected at-large in 2020, she now represents Trustee Area 3, which covers the neighborhoods surrounding Walnut Grove Elementary School, Alisal Elementary School, Harvest Park Middle School, and Amador Valley High School.  

 One of Trustee Mokashi’s priorities is focused on improving the collaboration between all educational partners, including partnerships with families, parent-teacher associations, and labor unions, including the Association of Pleasanton Teachers (APT) and California Schools Employee Association: Chapter 155 (CSEA).  Mokashi advocates for putting more structures and practices in place for increased collaborative decision-making opportunities instead of the traditional top-down approach. Similarly, Mokashi is eager to work collectively with the district and the other trustees to identify PUSD’s staffing and instructional needs, rebounding from contentious labor negotiations while considering the challenges of continued downward enrollment.  To that end, Trustee Mokashi supports a less top-heavy administrative structure when the district faces imminent substantial budget cuts, especially when the district has had deficit spending for several years.   

 The past president of the Association of Pleasanton Teachers (2022-2024), Cheryl Atkins, says, “Kelly Mokashi is genuine and shows true leadership. Over the past two years, I've witnessed her unwavering commitment to our schools. Kelly doesn’t shy away from tough questions or taking a stand, even if it means being the lone voice. She comes to every board meeting fully prepared and ready to advocate for all students, especially the most vulnerable. Her willingness to listen and explain her perspective, even in disagreement, sets her apart as a true champion for our community.”  

 “There is much work that lies ahead for our district,” Mokash stated, including a continued need for increased oversight of the decisions that impact financial allocation and spending, resolving ongoing issues with overspending contractual services and expensive litigation related to special education services. In the coming term, Trustee Mokashi plans to focus on these financial challenges and continue her efforts to foster equity-centered education, working to explore more options for our underperforming students, including our multilingual learners and students with disabilities. With two of her children receiving special education services, “I know firsthand the importance of working tirelessly with teachers, administration, and counselors to navigate the educational experience for the best learning outcome” for each child.

 According to Annabelle Kim, a former Student Board member, Trustee Mokashi’s “wealth of experience and dedication to students makes her an invaluable asset to Pleasanton. Her realistic and forward-thinking ideas have created momentum for significant changes. As a trustee, she has been instrumental in ensuring that district policies and practices are in line with true diversity, equity, and inclusion processes. Her endorsements from various educational stakeholders, including teachers, parents, and students, further attest to her credibility and the widespread support for her re-election bid. These endorsements should reassure you of her capability and the confidence she inspires in the community.”

 Some of Trustee Mokashi's other leadership efforts advocated to provide one-time funding for sports coaches and leading efforts to bring back intramural sports post-COVID. At the state level, Trustee Mokashi has proudly represented PUSD as a CSBA (California School Board Association) Delegate, working with other district trustees advocating for statewide policy change, including for Senate Bill 114 regarding Kindergarten through second-grade universal screening for reading difficulties, including the risk of dyslexia. 

 Trustee Mokashi works at Fremont Unified School District as a Community School Coordinator at Cabrillo Elementary.  She is a seven-year resident of Pleasanton and the mother of three children attending Harvest Park Middle School and Amador Valley High School. Her diverse work background, with nearly thirty years working in public school systems nationwide, including a long career in the educational technology industry, has equipped her with the necessary skills and knowledge to serve as a PUSD Trustee. She holds a double master's in school administration from Rutgers University, New Jersey, and a master’s in curriculum and technology instruction from Houston Baptist University, Texas. She has multiple state credentials in art education, administration, and supervision, instilling confidence in her ability to lead.  

 For more information about Trustee Mokashi's re-election bid or to show your support, please email her at klmokashi@gmail.com.