Candidate for
Member of the State Assembly; District 79; Democratic Party

Pearl Quinones

Born and raised in a small farming community in Texas, Pearl Quiñones was the fourth child of five girls. Her father had no formal education, and her mother only attended school until the seventh grade. While working full time and raising her son Eric, Pearl graduated from San Diego State University with a bachelor's degree in political science and then earned a master's degree in public administration. Now a 28-year resident of National City, Pearl is only the second in her family to attend college.

Pearl Quiñones has spent her career as an educator. She is the first Latina to serve on the Sweetwater Union High School District Board of Trustees. First elected to the largest secondary district in California in 2000, Pearl has overseen explosive academic growth by district students and implemented a comprehensive health and wellness policy for students and staff. For the first time in 10 years, the district's cafeterias are turning a profit, while selling healthy food. The Sweetwater District was among the first in California to ban sodas and junk food from school campuses. Through a new district policy--that has served as a model for California--students emotional, psychological, and physical needs are cared for by a wide range of individuals on each campus.

Pearl Quiñones has balanced improving academic achievement with the ongoing decreases in state education funding to the district. During her tenure, the district dealt with cuts of more than $40 million, without laying off a single teacher, employee, or significantly reducing educational programs. Pearl nurtured programs that ensure all district graduates are prepared for college and the competitive job market while cutting waste and fraud in the bureaucracy. Her reforms have been popular with constituents, earning her re-election in 2004 and 2008 by wide margins.

Pearl Quiñones has positioned the district to become a leader in green technology, implementing nearly $1 billion in bonds for "LEED Gold" certified new construction and modernization. Pearl's oversight of school bond funding earned a nomination for a Golden Watchdog award from the San Diego Taxpayers Association.

In addition to her responsibilities on the school board, she has a full-time job as a Dropout Specialist in the San Ysidro School District. Pearl has a passion for helping at-risk students, those on the fringe of the school system. Her work in establishing a teenage pregnancy prevention task force earned the district a prestigious Golden Bell award for innovation from the California School Boards Association.

Pearl Quiñones is running for Assembly so she can bring the same common sense approach and hard work to change California's broken state government.

Pearl's Memberships/Affiliations (Partial List) Sweetwater Union High School District Board (elected 3 times; served twice as President) National Hispana Leadership Institute Delegate, 79th Assembly District Democratic Caucus Executive Board, National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) NALEO Health Leadership Program (NHLP). Hispanas Organized for Political Equality (HOPE) LEAD, California Elected Women's Association for Education and Research Vice President, California Latino School Board Members Association Executive Board, Border View YWCA Latina of the Year, Education-Trailblazer, US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce News10 Leadership Award Vice President, CSEA South San Diego County, Salute to Educators Award Dropout Prevention Board, California Department of Education * Executive Board, Community Youth Athletic Center Delegate Assembly, California School Boards Association