The Sunnyvale School District had two Board of Education positions open for the November 5, 2024 General Election. The term for board positions is four years (2020-2024).
The following candidates are running uncontested for these seats:
- Isabel Jubes-Flamerich (Trustee Area 2, incumbent)
- Peggy Shen Brewster (Trustee Area 4, Challenger)
Board Member Nancy Newkirk did not run for re-election.
Nancy Newkirk
Board member Nancy Newkirk is stepping down after 29 years of service. She has been a dedicated board member since 1995. During her service, she attended approximately 609 board meetings, helped oversee five bond measures, helped oversee the establishment of both the Juntos and Fairwood Programs of Choice, and supported renovations, modernizations, and improvements at all 10 schools. Her son and daughter are proud alumni of the Sunnyvale School District.
She received a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Florida and was trained in early childhood education. She holds a credential in Family Development. She previously served as a Master Teacher at the Ohlone College Lab Preschool Program and as Head Teacher with HeadsUp! Child Development Center in Palo Alto. She volunteered as a First 5 Family Ambassador in Sunnyvale, a youth bowling coach at Homestead Lanes, and as a Music for Minors Docent. She has been a member of the Sunnyvale Collaborative for Healthier Youth, Safe Routes to School Advisory Committee, Santa Clara County Office of Education’s Inclusion Collaborative, Local Planning Council of Santa Clara County, School Health Advisory Committee-Conditions of Children Obesity Task Force, Santa Clara County Equity Network, and the California School Boards Association’s Delegate Assembly.
Isabel Jubes-Flamerich (Trustee Area 2)
Isabel, a mother of two teens, is a multimedia designer, architect, educator, children and environmental advocate, and immigrant (ESL) with a strong commitment to public education. She believes education is vital for a thriving society. For years, Isabel has advocated for children and the environment, emphasizing the need to create the world we desire. Public education, she insists, is the key to societal improvement.
She has a BA in Architecture from Venezuela, a minor in computer sciences, an MA in Architecture and Environmental Design from UC Berkeley, along with additional postgraduate studies in sustainability, and arts, among others. Isabel integrates climate awareness into her design work. She’s taught architecture at community colleges, witnessing firsthand how education empowers minorities. She hosts a bilingual radio show promoting academic achievement.
Currently serving as a board president, she has completed multiple trainings like the Masters In Governance and is actively involved in advocacy and legislation. She has co-chaired the school bond measures, advocating for greener, healthier learning environments for school district capital projects, with a fiscally responsible plan for the community. She’s chaired educational excellence awards and serves on various boards at the local and state levels that advocate for equity in education.
Isabel’s involvement extends statewide, and nationally, participating in events, training, and conferences advocating for public education, children, the environment, and equity. She believes in effective communication with lawmakers to find solutions.
Peggy Shen Brewster (Trustee Area 4)
Peggy Shen Brewster is the proud mother of two children who attend Bishop Elementary and will attend Columbia Middle School. She served on the Bishop Elementary School Site Council and led the transition of Bishop’s parent organization from a PTO to PTA, for which she was the founding president.
Peggy taught 8th grade English Language Arts and 2nd grade for 8 years. She earned a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential and a Single Subject English Credential from San Jose State University and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and English from Santa Clara University.
Peggy joined the Support Sunnyvale Schools committee to pass the Sunnyvale School District Measures C and Y, in March and November, respectively. She worked with the schools and community to generate support for the measures, both of which passed resoundingly and will raise millions of dollars for our schools.
Peggy is Vice President of the Sunnyvale Education Foundation (SEF), a non-profit organization that supports enrichment for students in all schools in the District. She served as SEF’s first Grants Administrator, improving the system for awarding and documenting grants, and supporting a shift from equal distribution of funds to each school to equity-based funds allocation.
In 2022, Peggy founded Sunnyvale for Equity in Education (SEE). SEE has improved transportation for high school students in north Sunnyvale and encouraged the Fremont Union High School District’s move from at-large to by-trustee-area representation.
Peggy is committed to public education and believes schools should be inclusive communities that provide instructional rigor, hands-on learning opportunities, and emotional support so that all children can lead joyful and purposeful lives. She looks forward to working collaboratively and creatively for all SSD students’ success.
This Board Election will be the second since Sunnyvale School District transitioned from at-large elections to by-Trustee Area, which required the District to create five geographic trustee areas within the District, each assigned to one seat on the Board. Voters within each trustee area will vote only for candidates for the seat on the Board assigned to their trustee area. To see a map of the trustee areas go to https://www.sesd.org/Page/5556.
