San Francisco Board of Education — One-Seat Special Election
✦ AI Race Summary
Special election to fill a single SFUSD Board of Education seat. Phil Kim, appointed to the board by Mayor Breed in August 2024 and unanimously elected board president in January 2026, is defending the seat. The race is a continuation of the 2022 recall politics: the moderate post-recall majority versus the United Educators of San Francisco (UESF) teachers union, which has openly described Cheung's candidacy as part of a "school board takeover" strategy. Algebra-in-8th-grade restoration, the budget crisis, and the district's path back to "positive" fiscal certification by July 2027 are the central issues.
Candidates · sorted by endorsements
Lifelong educator. Came to California through Teach for America; has led STEM programs across 20+ states and 300+ schools. Master's in Education Policy; pursuing a doctorate. Appointed to the board in August 2024 by Mayor Breed; unanimously elected board president in January 2026. Under his leadership the board adopted a new K–8 math curriculum, set measurable goals for 3rd-grade literacy and 8th-grade math, and dragged SFUSD's fiscal certification from "negative" to "qualified." One of four commissioners who voted to restore algebra to 8th grade — ending a 12-year ban — on a 4–3 vote.
Abundance Network · Endorsed
BAJC-Action · Endorsed
Hindu United Vote · Endorsed
United Democratic Club · Endorsed
SFUSD parent. Currently chief advancement officer at Open Door Legal; previously led Wu Yee Children's Services, the city's largest Head Start provider. Director at Parents for Public Schools SF. Second run for the school board (lost in 2024). Entered the race in March 2026 immediately after the UESF teachers strike. Platform emphasizes early-childhood interventions, classroom investment, and union-aligned governance.
SFUSD parent and former adult ESL teacher. Founder of the San Francisco Education Alliance. First-time candidate for the board. Platform centers on fixing SFUSD's payroll system and opposing school closures, arguing that "school closures drive the enrollment crisis."