"All of our Paramount Unified School District students, kindergarten to grade 12 from diverse backgrounds are entitled to equal educational opportunities, regardless of their immigration status or zip code."
- Yesenia Maria Cuarenta
November 3, 2026 General Election
Paramount Unified School District - Governing Board Member Trustee Area 4
Yesenia Maria Cuarenta, in Her Own Words:
Improving Student Outcomes:
This year on March 11th, I voted NO on layoffs affecting teachers and critical support staff, and I will continue putting students, teachers and classrooms first. I firmly believe in the potential of ALL of our students in the Paramount Unified School District (PUSD). When the Board of Education considered layoffs affecting teachers and critical support staff, I stood firm for protecting teachers and support staff that work directly with our students. This is my priority, especially when difficult financial decisions are being made.
I will continue to advocate for stronger academic achievement, improving students' mental health and well-being, increasing parent involvement, community engagement and creating safer routes to schools. Our students must remain at the center of every decision made by the Board of Education. Our district resources should prioritize students, classrooms, teachers, and the critical support staff services our students need to succeed.
As the elected Board of Education member representing Trustee Area 4, I remain committed to listening to our district community and working to help every student reach their full potential.
Proven Leadership:
I believe effective leadership requires listening to students, parents, teachers, administrators, school staff and my colleagues on the PUSD Board of Education before making decisions. Strong governance requires communication, collaboration, accountability and transparency. I will continue making their voices an important part of my decisions.
Since my election to the Paramount Unified School District (PUSD) Board of Education in 2018, I have worked to ensure that students of ALL backgrounds have access to safe, supportive schools and meaningful opportunities to succeed. In addition, during challenging and financial circumstances, those principles become even more important.
Financial Accountability:
I have fought to protect teachers and critical support staff, and I will continue prioritizing district resources where they have the greatest impact on students. Financial stability requires making difficult choices about how district resources are spent. This year when the Board of Education considered layoffs affecting teachers and critical support staff, I voted NO. My vote reflected my belief that fiscal responsibility and protecting services for students are not competing priorities. Our budget decisions should prioritize students, teachers, classrooms, and essential support services.
Financial accountability requires more than balancing a budget. It requires establishing clear priorities, scrutinizing expenditures, planning for the future, and ensuring that available resources are directed toward the district’s educational mission. As a member of the Board of Education, I believe it is my responsibility to carefully evaluate district spending, identify efficiencies, question expenditures that do not sufficiently advance student outcomes. We must protect the educational programs, teachers, and support staff who work directly with our students whenever possible. I pledge to continue advocating for responsible budgeting that protects the district’s long-term financial stability while keeping student achievement and classroom needs at the center of our financial decisions.
Community Engagement:
The Board of Education represents the communities it serves. I believe students, parents, teachers, administrators, staff, and community members deserve meaningful opportunities to understand and participate in decisions affecting their schools.
This is especially important when the school district faces difficult financial decisions. Our budget priorities, major expenditures, contracts, staffing decisions, and proposed reductions should be presented transparently so our community understands both the financial circumstances and the choices being considered. I will continue to advocate for open communication, transparency, and meaningful community participation in the decisions of the Board of Education.
Long Term Planning:
I will continue working to protect Paramount Unified School District's long-term financial stability while prioritizing students, teachers and essential support services.
Long-term financial stability requires the Board of Education to look beyond a single budget year. Since joining the Board of Education in 2018, I have supported thoughtful planning focused on fiscal stability, transparency, accountability, and student success. The school district faces financial challenges that require careful evaluation of staffing, programs, contracts, administrative structures, and other expenditures. Long-term planning means making responsible decisions today while protecting the educational opportunities our students will need tomorrow. My priority is to maintain a financially sustainable District while keeping students, teachers, classrooms, and essential student-support services at the center of our budget decisions.
I respect the opinions of my colleagues on the Board of Education as we work together to identify responsible solutions that support both long-term fiscal stability and strong educational opportunities for PUSD students.
My commitment and pledge is to continue to organize, build coalitions, and fight for the resources and support that the schools, students, parents, teachers, certificated and classified staff of the PUSD district deserve.
