Jolyana Jirjees, 34, the executive director of the Chaldean Community Council and a laundromat owner, is running for re-election as Cajon Valley Union School District trustee representing Area 2.
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I am running for reelection because I want to continue serving the students, families, teachers and staff of Cajon Valley. As the current trustee for Area 2, I understand both the responsibility of this position and the challenges our district faces. I am also the executive director of the Chaldean Community Council, where I work directly with thousands of families and see firsthand the challenges they face. That experience keeps me connected to the community I represent. I believe my experience on the board, my community involvement and my commitment to listening to parents and educators allow me to bring a practical perspective to the district. My priority is simple: Put students first, support our teachers and staff, listen to families and make responsible decisions that strengthen our schools and community.
The three most important issues are student achievement, retaining and supporting quality teachers and staff and maintaining financial stability. First, we must continue improving academic outcomes and make sure every student has the support needed to succeed. Second, our schools cannot succeed without strong teachers and employees. We need to retain quality staff, provide a supportive work environment and work toward competitive, livable compensation while remaining fiscally responsible. Third, declining enrollment and increasing costs make responsible budgeting extremely important. Every dollar should be evaluated based on how it benefits students and classrooms. These issues are connected: Strong employees, responsible financial decisions and meaningful academic and after-school opportunities create stronger schools and better outcomes for students.
My first priority is to continue improving academic achievement by making sure students receive strong instruction, early intervention, tutoring and additional support when they fall behind. Second, I want to strengthen opportunities beyond the regular school day, including after-school and enrichment programs that give students safe, productive places to learn and grow. Third, I want to continue supporting our teachers and staff. We need to retain talented employees by creating a positive working environment and pursuing sustainable improvements to compensation and working conditions. Accomplishing these goals also requires responsible budgeting. I want our district to focus resources as closely as possible on students, classrooms and the employees who directly serve them while continuing to listen to parents, teachers, staff and the broader community.
Improving academic achievement starts with identifying where individual students are struggling and intervening early. We should use student data to identify learning gaps, provide targeted tutoring and intervention, support strong classroom instruction and make sure teachers have the resources they need. We should also recognize that students learn differently, so one approach will not work for every child. As a board member, I would continue asking whether programs are producing measurable results and whether district resources are reaching students who need them most. I also believe parent involvement is extremely important. Schools, teachers and families should work together rather than separately. Our goal should not simply be improving test scores; it should be making sure students leave our district prepared academically and with the skills and confidence they need for high school and their future.
Absenteeism is not caused by one issue. Families may be dealing with transportation problems, health concerns, housing instability, family responsibilities or students who simply feel disconnected from school. Punishment alone will not solve those problems. We need to understand why an individual student is missing school and address the underlying barrier. I support early outreach to families when attendance begins declining, stronger communication between schools and parents, and connecting families with available community resources when appropriate. We also have to make students want to come to school. Engaging classrooms, after-school programs, extracurricular opportunities and positive relationships with teachers and staff all contribute to attendance. The district should track attendance closely, intervene early and work directly with families before occasional absences become chronic absenteeism.
Families have choices, and Cajon Valley should give them strong reasons to choose our schools. We should focus first on providing excellent academic programs, safe campuses, strong teachers, innovative opportunities and quality before- and after-school programs. We also need to do a better job communicating what our schools offer. Families cannot choose programs they do not know exist. I support stronger outreach to families throughout East County, easier access to enrollment information and continued opportunities for interdistrict transfers when space and staffing allow. Cajon Valley currently accepts interdistrict transfer applications based on available space and staff capacity. Most importantly, enrollment growth should come from building trust. When parents believe their children are safe, supported, challenged academically and given opportunities they cannot easily find elsewhere, they become some of the district’s strongest advocates.
I believe every budget decision should begin with one question: How does this benefit students? The district has a responsibility to taxpayers to spend carefully while protecting the programs and employees that directly affect student success. I support transparent budgeting, long-term financial planning, maintaining appropriate reserves and regularly reviewing programs and contracts to determine whether they are producing results. If we faced a budget shortfall, I would first look for administrative efficiencies, unnecessary expenses, duplicative programs and opportunities to reduce costs without affecting classroom instruction. Cuts affecting students, teachers and essential services should not be the first option. I would also look for grants, partnerships and other available funding. Budget decisions can be difficult, but they should be made transparently, strategically and with the long-term financial health of the district in mind. Cajon Valley publicly posts its annual budget documents.
Special education is an essential responsibility, not an optional program. Budget challenges should never change our commitment to providing students with disabilities the services and educational opportunities they are entitled to receive. The district should prioritize effective early intervention, properly trained teachers and support staff, manageable caseloads and timely implementation of students’ IEPs. We also need strong communication with parents because families should be partners in decisions affecting their children. At the same time, the district should continually review programs and expenditures to make sure resources are being used effectively and reaching students directly. We should aggressively pursue available state and federal funding and advocate for adequate special education funding. When resources are limited, our focus should remain on protecting essential student services while finding efficiencies elsewhere in the budget.
Our responsibility as a school district is to educate every child and ensure students can attend school in a safe environment. The district should follow California and federal law while providing staff with clear training, so there is no confusion about procedures if immigration enforcement occurs at or near a school. California law now requires specific procedures regarding access to nonpublic school areas and notification when immigration enforcement is present. As an immigrant myself and through my community work, I understand how fear and uncertainty can affect families. Schools should clearly communicate students’ educational rights, protect confidential student information as required by law, provide information in languages families understand and connect families with appropriate resources. A child’s education should never be disrupted because that child is afraid to attend school.
Technology should be a tool for learning, not a replacement for teachers, critical thinking or human interaction. I support technology when it helps teachers teach more effectively, gives students access to information, supports students with disabilities or prepares students for the world they will enter. I also support responsible use of AI. Students should learn how to use AI appropriately, understand its limitations, verify information and never use it as a substitute for doing their own work. At the same time, we need reasonable boundaries. Cell phones and other devices should not become classroom distractions. Teachers need clear policies they can realistically enforce, and parents should understand those expectations. Technology will continue evolving, so our responsibility is not to avoid it, but to teach students how to use it safely, ethically, responsibly and productively.
Read more Q&A: Meet Alma Sarmiento, candidate for National School District trustee in Area B
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