Hornet Media and the Fullerton Observer interviewed Vanessa Estrella, running for the Fullerton School District Area 5 , at a candidate forum at Fullerton College on Oct. 7, 2024. The Fullerton Observer reached out to all candidates running for this office for the opportunity to take part in a video interview at the forum and interviewed those who responded.

This video series is a joint production of the Fullerton Observer, a volunteer-run community newspaper, and Hornet Media, the student-run media outlets housed in the Fullerton College journalism program. 

Interviews have been edited for length and clarity but have not been independently fact-checked. 

View live coverage of local elections returns on Nov. 5, 2024, at 7 p.m. on Hornet Media’s YouTube channel @fchornetmedia 

Video Transcript:

Hornet Media / Fullerton Observer 

So how many of the school board meetings have you attended this last year? 

Vanessa Estrella 

I have this last year. I believe. I have attended every school board meeting. I’ve seen you there. 

Hornet Media / Fullerton Observer 

And what programs or services does the that you found? The school lunch and school district has gotten right before it. 

Vanessa Estrella 

And school district is a phenomenal district. I love our Fullerton school district and they have great RTI and. Sorry, I’m social emotional learning programs that they have implemented inside of the classroom with our students that I feel like they’re doing a fantastic job. 

Hornet Media / Fullerton Observer 

So where would you want the district to improve? 

Vanessa Estrella 

Well, there’s a few there are a few things that I would really love to have the district improve mental health resources, having more counselors at the district. We do have mental health resources of the district, but I feel like the demand outweighs what we have available and it is just not enough. Closing Achievement Gaps. I would love to be able to have I mean, we have persistent achievement gaps in our district and it is something that I feel like could be addressed with more one on one tutoring for our children after school and sorry, I just got back from a trip and I’m still I’m still trying to get back to just to focus. 

Hornet Media / Fullerton Observer 

So what do you see as one of the biggest barriers right now to student success in the elementary school district? 

Vanessa Estrella 

One of the biggest barriers that I see in our Fullerton school district is just the fact that there is a lot of inequality in our schools. The school district has a great reputation and they have definitely earned it because we have a great school district. But there are different there are definitely achievement gaps and barriers within our school district. And I feel like there is no such thing as a one size fits all solution because every child learns differently and every child is differently. And what I would love to be able to do is partner with and collaborate with parents, with our students, with our teachers so that we can find solutions to these inequalities. 

Hornet Media / Fullerton Observer 

Okay. So if the California economy continues in the current downturn, what programs or services would you would you consider to cut first? 

Vanessa Estrella 

Well, if cuts were necessary, I believe in protecting the core instructional programs that we have, but then also reassess to see what is working and what isn’t. I personally believe that the role of a school board member is to be the voice and ear of our communities. So I would love to include our community and have them collaborate with our school district to see what programs they would like to have implemented and which ones we feel like maybe aren’t working and work together so that we can come come up with a solution. 

Hornet Media / Fullerton Observer 

If you could magically change one thing in the school district besides money, what would you change? 

Vanessa Estrella 

Well, if I had a magic wand, I think I would bring equity to each and every one of our schools because I feel like it’s not about equality in our schools. Some schools, as you know, have more than others and have some more needs. And I would love to be able to bring equity to each and every one of our schools and partner, again, with our teachers, collaborate with our district and our parents. So that we can bring those resources that are desperately needed in District five. 

Hornet Media / Fullerton Observer 

Is there one particular example that you think. 

Vanessa Estrella 

Of the name? Well, you know, every every year they send out the schools, send out those surveys, and parents are always talking about how their culture is not represented, how they would like to see certain resources brought into their school district that are or some programs that are maybe available at a different school. So I feel like we need community connections brought into the school district. And that’s why one of the key points that I’m running with as parents involvement, I know we’ve had, oh my God, an issue with parent involvement as far as my mother in law can remember. And she went to school. She’s 80 years old. She’s lived in Fullerton for many, many years. And it’s always been an issue. But I would love to be able to bring parent involvement and figure out how we can include parents, teachers and bring equity into every single school. 

Hornet Media / Fullerton Observer 

So who donated to your campaign and which endorsement for your campaign are you the most proud of? 

Vanessa Estrella 

Oh my God. I’m going to tell you that I am so proud that I have received over 100 donations, whether it’s from $5 to $100 from a variety of people. The endorsements that I’m most proud of are definitely the teachers endorsements that I have, that from teachers that live in my district, from parents that live in my district. And I definitely have elected electeds that are current electeds that are endorsing my campaign. I have the Democratic Party wave. Will young Dems. 

Hornet Media / Fullerton Observer 

So how how do we how do you propose to have fair opportunities for everyone to access special needs programs throughout all the schools, specifically students with mental and physical disabilities? 

Vanessa Estrella 

Well, I feel like we need we definitely need consistent policies and resources across all schools so that every child is able to get the resources that they need. And by that, I mean having the right staff, having the right equipment, having all the resources, the facilities, the training. I mean, it’s a lot. It takes more than one person to be able to help these children. And as a parent of a child with an IEP, I understand how important it is to be able to advocate for your child and to teach your child to be able to advocate for themselves. And that is something that I’m very proud of, of my my daughter. She is a great self advocate and definitely resources. Thank you. 

Hornet Media / Fullerton Observer 

So what kind of help or resources can the district be providing for immigrant students who status in the U.S. is still being decided? 

Vanessa Estrella 

Oh, my goodness. That is a really good question. I believe I mean, we I don’t know if the district is able to do legal resources, but definitely partnering with, you know, law offices where we can provide them with all the resources that they need. I feel like it’s important. Sorry. I feel like it’s the light turned off. I feel like it’s an important. That’s okay. I feel like it’s important for parents from immigrants to feel safe. I came into the United States as an eight year old undocumented child, and I know how important it is to feel safe in a school and to know that your parents can ask. Go to the front desk and ask for whatever resources without the fear that they are going to get deported or that they are going to get. Because we have a lot of parents who are afraid to ask for resources, and that shouldn’t be the case. That shouldn’t be the case. Our district, I know our district is very open and willing to help, and I am so again, I love our district. I feel like we have a fantastic school district. And those are I believe we do have resources in our school to be able to provide for families.