Events

What happens when a concerned mom stops complaining from the sidelines and runs for school board? Jessica Spaid says her fight for students, parents, and local control turned into a political battle she never expected.  

On this episode of the Powerhouse Podcast, host Topo Padilla sits down with Jessica Spaid, a Placer Union High School District board member and board president, to talk about California schools, parent involvement, COVID-era education policies, local government accountability, and why school board elections matter.  Jessica shares what pushed her to run in 2022, how parents in Placer County organized around school closures, masks, learning loss, and student well-being, and what happened after she unseated a longtime incumbent. She also discusses the importance of faith, courage, transparency, teachers, Career Technical Education, adult education, and the district’s work with Placer County Jail programs that help inmates earn diplomas, GEDs, and job skills.  

This conversation is about more than one school district. It’s about parents, students, community leadership, and the power of getting involved where decisions are made closest to home.  If this episode matters to you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with parents, teachers, and community members who care about the future of local education.  

Watch more from Sacramento Life TV and the Powerhouse Podcast for conversations about public safety, civic life, faith, community issues, and the stories shaping Northern California. 

Contact: Jessica Spaid

Phone: (916) 390-2694

Email: Jessica@SpaidCO.com

Website: JessicaSpaid.com

Jessica Spaid Launches Re-Election Campaign for Placer Union High School District Board. Board President seeks another term focused on students, school safety, academic excellence, transparency, and parent partnership

AUBURN, Calif — June 24, 2026 — Jessica Spaid, President of the Placer Union High School District Board of Trustees, announced today that she is running for re-election to continue her work strengthening academic excellence, increasing transparency, improving school safety, supporting students with special needs, and ensuring responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars.

Spaid was first elected to the Board in 2022 and currently serves as Board President. A longtime Auburn resident, small business owner, wife of a retired law enforcement officer, and mother of five sons, including one serving in the United States Army, Spaid said her campaign will remain focused on putting students first and strengthening the partnership between parents, educators, and the community.

“Serving our students, families, teachers, staff, and community has been one of the greatest privileges of my life,” Spaid said. “Over the past four years, we have made meaningful progress to increase transparency, improve school safety, support academic achievement, and ensure taxpayer dollars are used responsibly. I am proud of that work, but there is more to do.”

Spaid said her re-election campaign will focus on students first, parent partnership, academic excellence, transparency and accountability, and safe schools. “Parents are essential partners in their children’s education, and students succeed when families and educators work together,” Spaid said. “Our schools should prepare every student for life after graduation, whether their path leads to college, career training, military service, or the workforce.”

Spaid begins her re-election campaign with support from a broad coalition of federal, state, county, local, and education leaders, including Congressman Tom McClintock, Assemblyman Joe Patterson, Placer County Supervisor Shanti Landon, Placer County Office of Education Trustees Andrew Tagg, Dr. David Patterson, and Sergey Terebkov, former candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lance Christensen, former President of the California Community Colleges Board of Governors Dr. Lance Izumi, Crime Victims United President Topo Padilla, Placer Hills Fire Protection District Director Mark Wright, and Nevada County Supervisor and Congressional District 3 candidate Robb Tucker. 

Three of Spaid’s colleagues on the Placer Union High School District have endorsed her campaign, including Trustee Tom Duncan, Trustee Jeremy Jeffreys, and Trustee Dr. Emerson Lake.

Spaid has also earned support from local school board trustees and education leaders throughout the region, including Ackerman Charter School District Trustee Aaron Finato, Auburn Union School District Board President Greg Holt, Placer Hills Union School District Trustees Dave McEntire and Allison Harvey, Roseville City School District Trustee Jonathan Zachreson, Foresthill Union School District Board

President Casey Peoples, Roseville Joint Union High School District Board President Heidi Hall, Rocklin Unified School District Board President Rachelle Price and Trustees Dereck Counter, Julie Hupp, and Tiffany Saathoff, Loomis Union School District Board President Darcie Stratton and Trustee Mendi Chadwick, and Dry Creek Joint Elementary School District Board President Jean Pagnone.

“Jessica has been a strong voice for students, parents, transparency, and accountability,” said Assemblyman Joe Patterson. “She brings the kind of steady, thoughtful leadership our schools need.”

Spaid will officially launch her campaign with a kickoff event on Thursday, June 25, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Monkey Cat in Auburn.

“I am running to continue building strong schools, expanding opportunities for students, and making sure Placer Union High School District remains focused on what matters most: our children, our schools, and our future,” Spaid said. “I would be honored to earn the community’s support once again.”

For more information, to endorse, volunteer, or contribute, visit JessicaSpaid.com.