Candidate for
Trustee; Coast Community College District; Trustee Area 5

Joel Flores has been an Orange County teacher, parent, and student-advocate for eighteen years. During his career, he has taught at every level possible, including: elementary, high school, adult education, community college, and university.

Joel's leadership and commitment for quality education is evidenced by his activism in our schools and communities. He is well known by friends, colleagues and administrators as a leader who is constantly seeking to improve education and secure funding for our schools so all students can receive the quality education they deserve.

In 2011 he partnered with teachers and students to organize local support to pass Governor Brown's education funding measure, Proposition 30, to strengthen and restore California's schools by investing in Kindergarten through college, ensuring funds go to the classrooms, kept far away from career politicians.

Whether Joel is in Sacramento, representing students and calling on legislators for more counselors and nurses, or on campus helping students succeed, Joel has a clear vision for helping people achieve their education and career goals.

Born in the San Francisco Bay Area, Joel is the oldest of four boys. His father, a Hawaiian native, moved to the Bay Area in 1966, where he has been a pastor of a church for over thirty years. Joel's mother is a Bay Area social worker, who works with disadvantaged youth. Joel credits his parents' influence for teaching him the values of compassion and service to others.

In 1992, Joel moved to Orange County to pursue higher education. He earned his B.A. in English and an M.A. in Education from Vanguard University, Costa Mesa. He later earned his M.S. in Administration from Pepperdine University's Graduate School of Education and Psychology.

Joel has always had a love for the ocean. His hobbies and interests include surfing, swimming, and diving. For over a decade, he coached and taught surfing to high school students in Costa Mesa.

Joel and his wife Katie live in Costa Mesa with their two daughters, Emily and Abby. Katie is a fundraiser for a hospital, Emily is a community college freshman, and Abby is a high school sophomore.