The Walnut Creek Teachers Association Endorses Aileen Ong for School Board

WCTA backs current WCSD parent for her push to give educators and families a real say in district decisions, starting with clearer communication.

WALNUT CREEK, CA, UNITED STATES, September 23, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ -- The Walnut Creek Teachers Association (WCTA) has endorsed Aileen Ong for the Walnut Creek School District (WCSD) Governing Board for the Nov. 3 election. The association cited her respect for educators’ voices in district decisions.

Ong, a first-time candidate and current WCSD parent, says the Board needs more members who have kids in district schools right now, not just in years past. She also says the district needs to listen more to the educators and parents who see the impact of its decisions firsthand.

WCTA President Mikhail Ress-Nathans said the association's panel interviewed five candidates before endorsing Ong, citing her collaborative approach and genuine interest in community input.

“Aileen is a strong voice in our school community, and she's genuinely committed to great outcomes for all our kids,” Ress-Nathans said. “WCTA is excited about Aileen's commitment to making sure all stakeholders feel heard on many of the important issues we face as a district.”

Ong said she was inspired to run after seeing the need for better communication last spring, when the Tice Creek principal’s abrupt departure left parents and staff with unanswered questions.

“I kept hearing the same thing from parents and teachers: We just want to be heard,” Ong said. “Good communication should be the bare minimum when it comes to our kids' schools. I'm running to make sure educators, families, and everyone invested in Walnut Creek's public schools has a real say.”

On funding: Measure L, a school parcel tax, would have funded teacher retention, academic programs, and smaller class sizes. It won 64% of the vote in the June primary election, short of the two-thirds needed to pass.

Ong says the district should build the case for any future measure well before it reaches the ballot, being clear about what's needed and how the money would be tracked.

On her approach: Ong brings more than 20 years of strategic communications experience, translating complex issues for large audiences. She wants to bring that same clarity to the board.

“Good communication isn't just putting out information,” Ong said. “It's explaining things clearly enough that people actually understand what's happening and why. That's the discipline I want to bring to this board.”

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About Aileen Ong
Aileen Ong is a current Walnut Creek School District (WCSD) parent and first-generation Filipino American running for the WCSD Governing Board on Nov. 3. She brings more than 20 years of strategic communications experience, including work with eBay, Google, and PayPal.

She holds an undergraduate degree from UC Berkeley and an MBA from UCLA Anderson School of Management. She has lived in Walnut Creek with her husband and two daughters for eight years. Ong is a current school and classroom volunteer, crossing guard, and Girl Scout volunteer, and a former Tice Creek PTA board member.

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