Endorsements

Hon. Gaddi Vasquez
Former U.S. Ambassador; Former Head of the Peace Corps;
Former Member, OC Board of Supervisors

Hon. Lou Correa
Congressman

Hon. Don Barnes
Orange County Sheriff

Sylvia Mendez
Civil rights activist whose family successfully fought to integrate Orange County schools in the case of Mendez v. Westminster; Presidential Medal of Freedom recipient (2011)

Hon. Dave Long
President, Dave Long & Associates; Former California Secretary of Education; Former Riverside County Superintendent of Schools

Hon. Bill Habermehl
Former Orange County Superintendent of Schools

Hon. Beckie Gomez
Member, Orange County Board of Education

Ron Simon
Founder and Chairman, RSI Holding

Bill Cheney
President and CEO, SchoolsFirst Federal Credit Union

Mark Percy
President, CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County

Lucy Dunn
Former President and CEO, Orange County Business Council

Joe Kazemi
President, Sterling Collision Center

Dr. Richard Arum
UCI Professor of Education and Former Dean of the UCI School of Education

The Rev. Jack Miranda
Executive Director of The Jesse Miranda Center for Hispanic Leadership

The Rev. Lee de Leon
Associate Pastor and President of Templo Calvario Community Development Corporation; founding board member of Edward B. Cole Senior Academy

Jorge Molina
City Engagement Pastor, Mariners Church

Mario Rodriguez
Founder and Chairman, Hispanic 100

Dr. Greg Franklin
Former Superintendent, Tustin Unified School District; Chair of the Dean’s Superintendent Advisory Group, USC Rossier School of Education; and Chairman, Southern California Superintendents Association

Michael Matsuda
Superintendent, Anaheim Union High School District

Eleanor Rodriguez
Principal; Adjunct Professor, Chapman University; Member, Latino Youth Leadership OC

Janice Munemitsu
Author, “The Color of Kindness”

Richard Sanchez
Former Executive Director of the OC Health Care Agency

Dr. Jeff Hittenberger
Professor, School of Education, Vanguard University

Randy Barth
Founder, President and CEO of Think Together

Don Thompson
Executive Director, Thompson Family Foundation; Board Member of TLC Charter School in Orange

Ariel Mesa
CEO and President, Elevate Orange County

Jerry Almendarez
Superintendent Santa Unified School District

California Teachers Association

California School Employees Association

“As a pastor of the church, it has been a joy to invest in the next generation of students by serving alongside Dr Mijares and his team at the Orange County Department of Education to encourage and provide tangible support like food, and other amenities, including the use of our facilities for graduations and professional development, during the pandemic.”

Jorge Molina
City Engagement Pastor at Mariners Church

“Thank you for inviting Saddleback Church to partner with you in serving and caring for families. In appreciation of your community leadership, it is our privilege and honor to serve alongside you.”

David Chrzan
Mission Pastor

Rana Muncy
Mission Director

“I am very grateful for Dr. Al Mijares’ bold leadership in championing religious freedom in our public schools. Through the OCDE website he has made available videos and materials explaining students’ and teachers’ freedom of religious expression. He also demonstrated his convictions by writing a letter to every superintendent in Orange County urging them to welcome students’ religious faith in the classroom. I really appreciate his strong advocacy for religious freedom.”

Eric Buehrer
President of Gateways to Better Education

“Al is a man of integrity focused on doing the right things for all students!”

Ramon Miramontes
Superintendent of Buena Park School District

“I have known Dr. Al Mijares to be a leader of integrity and deep care for students.”

Jim Coombs
Superintendent of Lowell Joint School District

“The character and leadership of Dr. Al Mijares is inspiring.”

Tommy Cota
Senior Pastor of Hope Alive Church

“Al is a man of integrity — that does truly say it best!”

Ray Hernandez
Principal in the Tustin Unified School District

“Al is the embodiment of a service leader, a true champion for equity, and a passionate educator.”

Edgar Montes
Director, CARPE Southern California College Access Network

(Organizational affiliation for identification purposes only)