Rachel Hurd Announces Re-Election Campaign for San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board of Education, Area 5

SAN RAMON, CA — Rachel Hurd today announced her campaign for re-election to the San Ramon Valley Unified School District (SRVUSD) Board of Education, representing Area 5.

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Hurd, who was first elected to the Board in 2006 and subsequently re-elected in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022, has served the San Ramon Valley community for two decades. Throughout her tenure, she has focused on putting students first, maintaining the district's financial health, and fostering open, transparent and respectful communication with students, families, educators, staff and the broader community.

“After 20 years serving as a Trustee for San Ramon Valley Unified School District, I remain as committed as ever to making sure every student has the opportunity to thrive,” said Hurd. “I am running again because I believe I still have valuable contributions to make, and I have been encouraged by people whose judgment and opinions I respect to continue serving our community.”

Hurd said the coming four years will require particularly strong fiscal stewardship and experienced leadership. SRVUSD is among the lowest-funded unified school districts in California, making responsible management of the district's resources an ongoing challenge. The district also depends significantly on the generosity of local families and community members through donations, as well as continued local support for parcel taxes and facilities bonds.

“Maintaining the financial health of our district will be one of the Board's most important responsibilities over the next four years,” Hurd said. “Between May 2024 and January 2025, we made significant budget reduction decisions to address deficit spending, but some of the staffing reductions sunset at the end of the 2027-2028 school year. At the same time, we need to remain competitive in total compensation in order to attract and retain the excellent teachers, administrators and staff who make our schools successful.”

While Hurd is focused on the district's financial challenges, she also sees significant opportunity ahead—particularly in the expansion of Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) protocols across the district. Through its multi-year Focus Schools framework, SRVUSD has tested and demonstrated high-impact instructional practices, including MTSS protocols that rely on the use of screening tools, curriculum, and intervention approaches that are aligned with evidence-based practices, along with Common Learning Time structures, Coordination of Services Teams, and data-driven professional learning community cycles. The district is now expanding that work to every campus under the unifying framework of Strategy for Success.

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“Our goal is a system that serves every student,” Hurd said. “That requires having effective screening, strong core instruction, timely interventions and a clear process for responding when students need additional support. Multi-Tiered Systems of Support, and before that Response to Intervention/Instruction, have been discussed for years, but we are finally creating structures to do this at all campuses. I want to see this work come to full fruition.”

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Hurd entered public service as a parent volunteer and school advocate. Before joining the Board, she served in leadership roles at her children's schools, the San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs and the 32nd District PTA. She also served on SRVUSD committees addressing facilities, special education and the development of the district's Special Needs Liaison position.

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As a Board member, Hurd has developed expertise in school funding, general obligation bonds and parcel taxes, special education, and reading disabilities. She currently serves as a liaison or representative to the Deep Learning & Innovation Steering Committee, Equity Steering Committee, Special Education Local Plan Area Community Advisory Committee, TRAFFIX Board of Directors, San Ramon Valley Council of PTAs and Contra Costa County School Boards Association. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the California School Boards Association as its Region 7 Director, representing the East Bay.

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Hurd's commitment to education is also personal. Two of her three children struggled with dyslexia, which introduced her to learning differences and special education and helped shape her long-standing advocacy for students with diverse learning needs. Her children are now grown, and she and her husband, Alec, are enjoying their first year as grandparents.

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Beyond the school district, Hurd serves as Executive Director of Leadership San Ramon Valley, a local nonprofit focused on community engagement and leadership development. She is also active with the Rotary Club of Dougherty Valley/San Ramon and Decoding Dyslexia CA. In 2019, the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce named her Citizen of the Year in recognition of her cumulative service to the community.

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“Serving on the Board has taught me that lasting progress comes from listening carefully, understanding the full picture and working respectfully with people who may have different perspectives,” Hurd said. “I am proud of what our community has accomplished together, and I am excited about what we can accomplish next. I look forward to listening to the priorities of students, families, staff and community members throughout this campaign and earning their support for another term of service.”

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Rachel Hurd's campaign website is RachelHurdforSRVUSD.com. Community members can learn more about her experience and platform, sign up for campaign updates, endorse her campaign, or contribute to the campaign through the website.

About Rachel Hurd

Rachel Hurd has served on the San Ramon Valley Unified School District Board of Education since 2006, representing Area 5. A longtime community volunteer and education advocate, she holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from UC Davis and worked in aerospace before devoting herself to raising her family and supporting local schools. She is the Executive Director of Leadership San Ramon Valley and serves as a Region 7 Director for the California School Boards Association. In 2019, she was named Citizen of the Year by the San Ramon Chamber of Commerce.