Join me at

Evidence-Based Learning Coalition (EBLC)

Join me at Evidence-Based Learning Coalition (EBLC)

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Kristin Sangren for WCCUSD Area 5 Trustee

Putting student learning first

I am a college educator, a social researcher, and a parent running for Area 5 Trustee because California public education is facing a crisis that is largely overlooked, and our kids cannot wait.

Why I’m running

I come from a multigenerational family of educators, which gave me an early, personal understanding of what education means not only for individual students’ futures, but for the health and stability of a democratic society that depends on informed citizens.

I have been teaching undergraduate college students at a public university for 14 years. I have seen how students graduating from California public schools have changed over that time, and I am deeply concerned. Something is wrong, beyond simplistic justifications of “Covid learning loss.” Our schools’ strongest students graduate lacking critical reading skills, lacking stamina to read long-form text, struggling with middle-school math, and are arriving less prepared for the basic expectations of college (showing up, meeting deadlines, bouncing back from setbacks). Our students requiring more support cannot be adequately served in an environment that fails to prepare even our strongest students.

I'm also a doctoral-level social science and legal researcher. That means I bring real scientific and policy literacy, and a working understanding of how institutions actually function, to decisions about how our schools should run.

And I'm a mom to two small children who will soon start their education in WCCUSD public schools. I have a direct, personal, long-term stake in making sure our schools are run based on what actually works for student learning.

What I’ll push for

Student learning, first

Every board decision should be measured against one question: does this help students actually learn? I'll bring an evidence-rooted lens to curriculum, staffing, and budget choices.

Trust & accountability

Students, parents, teachers, and staff need to trust that the system and the decision-makers within it are working for them. I will work to build clearer accountability at all levels that gets at the root of problems, rather than giving the appearance of “doing something.” Building trust is not just about “listening” to all members of the learning community, it’s about mutual decision-making, reciprocity, and respect from all stakeholders.

Re-thinking technology

Our schools’ relationship with technology needs a hard, honest look, guided by what high-quality research actually shows about how kids learn. Banning cell phones is not enough. We need to seriously evaluate whether 7 year olds need Chromebooks, or whether that budget might be better invested in human resources. We need to ensure that decisions about technology in the curriculum are based on high-quality evidence that isn't shaped by the financial interests of the companies selling the technology.