Meet Krista

A woman with glasses and long brown hair sitting at a table in a bright kitchen or dining area, wearing a blue and white striped shirt and smiling.

For many in Claremont, I am known as a theatre teacher. That role has been one of the greatest honors of my life.But my work in education extends far beyond one classroom, one school, or even one state.

For more than four decades, I have served public education at the local, state, and national levels — guiding budgets, shaping policy, mentoring leaders, and advocating for sustainable funding.

I am running for the Claremont Unified School District Board of Education because I bring experience that translates directly into thoughtful, steady governance for our district.

I am running for the Claremont Unified School District Board of Education because I bring experience that translates directly into thoughtful, steady governance for our district.

  • For eleven years, I served on the National Governing Board of the Educational Theatre Association, including two years as President. In that role, I helped guide a $15 million nonprofit organization that serves more than 6,000 schools across the country.

    When the organization needed new leadership, I co-chaired a 13-month national search for an Executive Director, reviewing more than 250 applicants and helping steward a thoughtful, transparent selection process. I served five years on the Financial Committee, helping the association navigate the fiscal realities of COVID while maintaining services to schools nationwide.

    As President, I was the public face of the organization — working with educators, donors, and stakeholders — and I continue to travel to Washington, D.C. to advocate directly with legislators for sustainable arts funding in public education.

    This work required strategic planning, fiduciary responsibility, collaboration across diverse viewpoints, and long-term vision — the same skills required of an effective school board member.

  • My advocacy work in California spans more than 30 years.

    I have served on the Board of Directors of California State Thespians since 1993 and was State President from 2001–2012. Since 2010, I have served on the Board of the California Educational Theatre Association, including as Board President from 2016–2018.

    I worked alongside state leaders to help restore Theatre and Dance credentials through SB 916, which took effect in 2022 — expanding opportunities for students and teachers statewide. For 25 years, I have met with legislators in Sacramento to advocate for education policy and funding that support students and strengthen schools.

    In 2021, I collaborated with arts leaders across California to help move Proposition 28 onto the ballot through coordinated advocacy and grassroots organizing. The passage of Prop 28 has been a transformative investment in arts education in our state — and I am proud to have been part of that effort.

    These experiences have given me a working knowledge of how policy moves, how coalitions are built, and how funding becomes reality.

  • For 41 years, I have been a public-school theatre educator — 27 of those years at Claremont High School.

    During that time, I served as Visual & Performing Arts Department Chair and as the District Arts Lead, contributing to both site and district committees. I helped launch Claremont High School’s International Baccalaureate Theatre program and served as a staff leader within IB. I also served on administrative hiring committees, giving me insight into the importance of selecting and supporting strong educators.

    I created the Stage Technology position at CHS and partnered with Baldy View Regional Occupational Program (ROP) to hire and train instructors — expanding career pathways for students. I co-wrote the Pre-Advanced Placement (AP) Theatre curriculum for The College Board from 2015–2023, helping shape national standards. I remain a Mentor Teacher through the Foothill Consortium, supporting new teachers through their first two years in the classroom.

    Perhaps most meaningful to me, I built bridges across generations — engaging CHS alumni from six decades to mentor, train, and support current students. Education is strongest when it is rooted in community.

  • Running a large public-school theatre program required more than directing plays — it required operating as a small business within a public system.

    Each year, I raised and managed a $175,000 program budget. I oversaw fundraising, marketing, staffing, scheduling, and long-term strategic planning. I worked collaboratively with the community-based Theatre Renovation Committee to help secure $1.5 million in matching funds alongside a state Career Technical Education grant — ensuring our facilities matched our students’ ambitions.

    I also worked with Career Technical Education leaders at the California Department of Education to develop curriculum within the Arts, Media, and Entertainment career pathway — aligning instruction with workforce readiness.

    This work demanded transparency, accountability, and careful stewardship of public and private funds — responsibilities central to school board governance.

  • Since leaving the high school classroom, I have continued my service to public education.

    Since 2021, I have served on the faculty at CSU East Bay in the Theatre Credential Program, preparing future educators for today’s classrooms. I keynote nationally on topics such as strategic planning, working effectively with administration, arts advocacy, board succession planning, recruiting strong board members, and developing sustainable ecosystems for arts programs.

    I also developed a teacher leadership academy, now taught throughout the country — because strong schools depend on strong leaders.

  • My commitment to Claremont extends beyond the school.

    I am a member of Rotary International and the Claremont Chamber of Commerce and serve as Chair of the Independence Day Committee. I sit on the Advisory Board of Ophelia’s Jump and volunteer for the Pilgrim Festival. I have worked as an election poll worker and volunteer on campaigns at the local, state, and national levels.

    Civic engagement is not seasonal work for me — it is a lifelong practice.

the work I have done — and how it has prepared me to serve:

I AM Ready to Serve Claremont USD

I AM Ready to Serve Claremont USD

Claremont shaped my life. Now I am ready to bring decades of governance experience home — to serve our students, our educators, and our community with integrity, steadiness, and vision.

Claremont shaped my life. Now I am ready to bring decades of governance experience home — to serve our students, our educators, and our community with integrity, steadiness, and vision.

Experience matters. I have:

  • Governed at the national level.

  • Advocated at the state level.

  • Led at the district level.

  • Managed complex budgets.

  • Builtcoalitions.

  • Worked across differences.

Most importantly, I understand public education from the inside — as a teacher, a leader, an advocate, and a steward of public trust.

Most importantly, I understand public education from the inside — as a teacher, a leader, an advocate, and a steward of public trust.