The former superintendent of Palm Springs Unified is seeking a return to the district — as a school board member.
Tony Signoret, who retired in June 2025, announced he is running in the Nov. 3 general election to represent Trustee Area 4. That seat is held by Charlie Ervin, PSUSD’s board vice president and clerk, who has represented the area since 2022. Ervin does not appear to have publicly said whether he’ll run for a second term.
In a press release, Signoret said he is running not for “personal gain, but out of a genuine commitment” to PSUSD students, families and educators. His campaign, he said, will focus on strengthening student achievement, safe and supportive schools, transparent governance and stronger community ties.
“This campaign isn’t about politics — it’s about protecting our schools from politics — and keeping the focus where it belongs: on our kids,” Signoret said in a press release Tuesday night, May 19.
Though California is having an election soon, the June 2 primary, school board and city council races in the Coachella Valley aren’t on that ballot. They will all be on the Nov. 3 general election ballot instead.
Just a few days into his retirement, Signoret told The Desert Sun he had felt a responsibility as superintendent to speak out when rhetoric and policies from the Trump administration affected PSUSD’s students and families, particularly what he called “targeted attacks on our immigrant community.”
“I could not, with a straight face, look at them in the eye and say, ‘I support you, but I’m not going to say anything about it,’ Signoret said in July 2025. “That just is not in my nature.”
Signored dedicated more than 31 years of his career to PSUSD, beginning as a bilingual teacher at Agua Caliente Elementary School in Cathedral City. He later moved into administration as an assistant principal, principal and then the district’s director of certificated human resources.
He spent two years as assistant superintendent of human resources at Desert Sands Unified School District, then rejoined PSUSD in 2017 to serve in the same role. He was appointed interim superintendent in July 2023 and officially assumed the role that November — and became the district’s first Latino superintendent.
Despite the board’s unanimous vote to extend his contract through June 30, 2027, Signoret announced his retirement in June 2025, driven by a desire to spend more time with his family, he said at the time.
Raised in Mexico City, Signoret is fluent in Spanish. He has been a Palm Springs resident since 1993. He and his wife, Silvia, have fostered more than 30 children, adopted eight and raised 10 children, all of whom attended or graduated from PSUSD schools.
He earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Chapman University and a doctoral degree in organizational leadership from the University of La Verne.
His campaign has announced endorsements from the two labor groups representing PSUSD’s employees: Palm Springs Teachers Association, the teachers union, and Teamsters Local 986, which represents its classified employees, or nonteaching staff. Other endorsements include former and current city council members from Palm Springs and Cathedral City, as well as various other community leaders and local organizations.
“I’m not one to sit on the sidelines. I couldn’t do that for long, that’s for sure,” Signoret said in July. “But they’ll see me come back in some way, and it will be community-oriented. I guarantee you that.”
Jennifer Cortez covers education in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at jennifer.cortez@desertsun.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Former Palm Springs Unified superintendent running for school board
Reporting by Jennifer Cortez, Palm Springs Desert Sun / Palm Springs Desert Sun
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