Richard Barrera has served on the San Diego Unified School Board in 2008. Under his tenure, San Diego Unified students have achieved record-high graduation and college eligibility rates, record-low dropout, suspension, and expulsion rates. Richard has also secured $11.6 billion for school facilities through successful voter-approved bond campaigns. He has championed educators by advocating for increased salaries, affordable healthcare, enhanced training, and affordable housing for those working directly with students.
A first-generation San Diegan whose father immigrated from Colombia, Richard has worked to improve working families’ lives. As Secretary-Treasurer of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council, he led efforts to increase the minimum wage and provide paid sick days San Diego workers. Now, as Deputy Superintendent/Senior Policy Adviser at the California Department of Education, Richard leads initiatives on educator housing, reducing chronic absenteeism, protecting immigrant students, and supporting student wellness and mental health.Richard lives in South Park with his family. He serves on the boards of the Center on Policy Initiatives, the California Immigration Policy Center, and the Cesar E. Chavez Service Clubs. A graduate of El Cajon Valley High School, he holds a bachelor’s degree in history from UCSD and a Master’s Degree in Public Policy from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.