After deep reflection, I am writing to share that I will not be seeking reelection to a fourth term on the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District Board of Education.
Serving our community in this role has been one of the greatest honors of my professional and personal life. For nearly twelve years, I have had the privilege of working alongside dedicated colleagues, educators, staff, families, and students who care deeply about public education and the future of our community.
I have also had the distinct privilege of serving as a teacher for more than 30 years, including my continued role as a professor at Santa Monica College. The classroom has always been my home, and it is where I will continue to dedicate my energy and passion. I will always remain an advocate for public education as the great equalizer in our democracy—an institution that must remain accessible, inclusive, and committed to opportunity for all.
Throughout my time on the Board, I have been deeply committed to the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion. I believe strongly that our schools must not only reflect the communities they serve but actively work to ensure that every student is seen, supported, and given the tools to succeed.
Together, we have navigated moments of real challenge—budget constraints, labor negotiations, a global pandemic, and evolving expectations for what public education must provide. Through it all, I have remained committed to thoughtful governance, open dialogue, and the belief that our schools must serve every student with equity, rigor, and joy.
This decision was not made lightly. In part, it is guided by a desire to focus more intentionally on my health and well-being, as well as to make space for new personal and professional adventures in the years ahead. At the same time, I believe leadership also requires knowing when it is time to step aside and create space for new voices and perspectives.
In that spirit, I am proud to offer my full and unqualified endorsement of Robbie Staenberg for the Santa Monica–Malibu Unified School District Board of Education. Robbie grew up in Santa Monica and attended our K-12 public schools. After graduating from Columbia University, he spent five years teaching at a Title I high school in Oakland before returning to Santa Monica to work for our Assemblymember, Rick Chavez Zbur. He will bring both lived experience and professional insight to the Board, and he is fundamentally aligned with the values of our community and deeply committed to protecting and strengthening all that we care about in public education. Importantly, as a thirty-year old, he represents a new generation of leadership—bringing energy, perspective, and a forward-looking vision that will be both welcomed and needed on the Board.
I am proud of the work we have done to support student success, strengthen our schools, and sustain the values that define Santa Monica and Malibu. I care deeply about this district and will continue to support its mission in whatever ways I can moving forward.
I offer my sincere gratitude to the voters who placed their trust in me, to my colleagues on the Board, and to the many individuals across our district who dedicate their lives to education each and every day.
Public education remains one of our most important democratic institutions. I remain hopeful for its future and confident in the community that sustains it.
With gratitude,
Dr. Richard Tahvildaran-Jesswein