Editor’s note: This story is one in a series on the June 2 primary election. For more coverage, visit www.vcstar.com/news/elections.
In the race for Ventura County Superintendent of Schools, incumbent César Morales is running for his second full term against educator Maggie Marschner and board of education member Karen Sher.
The local superintendent of schools leads the Ventura County Office of Education, which employs more than 700 individuals and provides training and support services to the county’s 19 school districts and 12 charter schools.
Early voting begins May 4, the same day election officials plan to start mailing ballots to registered voters. Ventura County’s vote center locations will open May 23.
Maggie Marschner
Occupation: Educator
Age: 44
Party affiliation: Independent
Education: Bachelor’s in English and master’s in secondary education from Regis University
Elected office: Co-chair of the Teachers and Leaders Council of Nevada from 2016 through 2019
Criminal convictions, bankruptcies or pleas: No
Campaign website: maggie4ventura.com
What is your top priority as superintendent, and how do you plan to accomplish it?
My top priority is that every student reads proficiently and performs math at grade level; this foundation is essential for success in college, in career pathways and in the skilled trades.
How do you plan to respond to the challenge of declining enrollment?
I would work to align district budgets with enrollment realities, prioritizing people and student pathways while strengthening programs that connect students to meaningful post-graduation opportunities and keep Ventura County schools a strong choice for families.
Editor’s note: Marschner was principal of La Reina High School and Middle School in Thousand Oaks from 2019 until its closure in 2024.
César Morales
Occupation: Ventura County Superintendent of Schools
Age: 50
Party affiliation: Democrat
Education: Bachelor’s degree in Spanish literature and master’s degree in educational administration from Loyola Marymount University and doctoral degree in education from UCLA
Elected office: Ventura County Superintendent of Schools from 2021 through present
Criminal convictions, bankruptcies or pleas: No
Campaign website: drmoralessuperintendent.com
What is your top priority as superintendent, and how do you plan to accomplish it?
My priority is maintaining the financial health of the Ventura County Office of Education, the county’s 19 school districts and 12 charter schools amid state and federal revenue volatility and declining enrollment. While each school district is independently managed, I will provide support and guidance to district leadership to identify signs of fiscal distress while emphasizing the importance of aligning staffing levels to actual enrollment.
We are fortunate that most of the school districts are on solid financial footing. Additionally, I will leverage partnerships with nonprofits and other state and county agencies to maintain essential services for families without increasing administrative costs. By operating efficiently, schools will maintain valuable programs that help students achieve their academic and career goals while supporting their social and emotional well-being. I will also provide free or low-cost professional development for teachers and school staff and support appropriate cost-of-living salary adjustments for school employees.
How do you plan to respond to the challenge of declining enrollment?
As a result of Ventura County’s shrinking population, the number of students in our schools is projected to decline by 16% by 2031. Since public school funding is based on the number of students who attend, this will create significant financial challenges for our school districts and charter schools.
To help them prepare, I am implementing a comprehensive response focused on transparency, efficiency and professional development. My primary strategy involves ensuring all schools right-size their staffing ratios to match the number of students they serve. I advocate for long-term budget planning so the workforce is prepared for necessary reductions. I am promoting “upskilling” initiatives and scholarship opportunities to help impacted staff remain competitive in an evolving job market. I will also continue to invest in career education programs, such as our new nationally certified welding center, so that students can start their careers and families right here in Ventura County.
Karen Sher
Occupation: Director of teacher recruitment for the California Department of Education
Age: 56
Party affiliation: Democrat
Education: Bachelor’s degree in English and secondary education from Buffalo State University, master’s degrees in developmental reading from the State University of New York at Albany and in instructional leadership from National University, doctoral degree in organizational change and leadership from the University of Southern California.
Elected office: Oxnard Union High School District Board of Trustees member from 2014 through present
Criminal convictions, bankruptcies or pleas: No
Campaign website: www.sherforschools.com
What is your top priority as superintendent, and how do you plan to accomplish it?
My top priority as superintendent is to finally deliver true fiscal transparency and rebuild public trust by ensuring every dollar supports student success. I will end excessive executive compensation, honoring my pledge to reduce pay for the superintendent and executive cabinet and redirect those resources to classrooms where they have the greatest impact.
I will implement clear, public-facing budgets, measurable goals and built-in accountability through the VCOE Board of Trustees so our community can track progress in real time. I will also establish long-overdue practices like televising board meetings and translation services to ensure all families can access, understand and engage.
Strong governance is essential. I will implement clear ethics standards, including anti-fraternization policies, to uphold professionalism and integrity.
By prioritizing student-centered investments like mental health supports and services, enriched learning opportunities and well-supported classrooms, we create the conditions every student needs to succeed, thrive and graduate career-ready and college-prepared.
How do you plan to respond to the challenge of declining enrollment?
Declining enrollment is driven in large part by a housing crisis. Families and educators simply cannot afford to live where they work. I am already doing this work, partnering with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and the California School Boards Association to advance affordable workforce housing, support educator housing initiatives and promote smart use of public land so working families can stay in our communities.
In the largest district in Ventura County, I have a proven track record of results, raising graduation rates from 79% in 2014 to 93% in 2025 by expanding career and technical education pathways and academies that ensure students are both career-ready and college-prepared.
Stabilizing enrollment starts with stabilizing communities. When families can afford to stay and students see clear pathways to their future, our schools and our communities grow stronger together.
Makena Huey is an investigative and watchdog reporter for the Ventura County Star. Reach her at makena.huey@vcstar.com. This story was made possible by a grant from the Ventura County Community Foundation’s Fund to Support Local Journalism.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Meet the 3 Ventura County superintendent of schools candidates
Reporting by Makena Huey, Ventura County Star / Ventura County Star
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