CUSD GOVERNING BOARD • TRUSTEE AREA 2
Art
Fernandez
Strong schools. Accountable leadership.
A community voice.
NEARLY FIVE DECADES WITH CUSD
CUSD has been part of my life for nearly five decades.
I entered Carmel Unified schools at six years old and graduated from Carmel High School. Today, I’m raising my own child in the same district where I grew up.
I’ve experienced CUSD from very different perspectives — as a student and graduate, as a parent, as a special-education parent, and as someone who has spent years volunteering in our schools.
That history gives me both a deep appreciation for what makes this district exceptional and a clear view of where it can do better.
MY PRIORITIES
Three Priorities.
One Purpose: Better Decisions for Every Student.
Trust, Transparency & Accountable Governance
Families, staff and the community deserve clear answers and a meaningful voice before important decisions are made. I believe the Board should ask hard questions, communicate openly and independently evaluate the recommendations brought before it.
Fiscal Responsibility & Long-Term Stewardship
CUSD has significant resources — and a responsibility to use them wisely. That means looking beyond the next budget cycle, understanding the long-term consequences of today’s choices, and making thoughtful investments in facilities, technology and programs that deliver lasting value for students.
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Serving Every Student & Supporting Educators
Every student should have a real opportunity to learn and thrive. That requires responsive systems for every learner — especially students who need additional services, are vulnerable, or are at risk of falling through the cracks. It also means giving teachers and staff the resources, clarity and support they need to do their best work.
What better decisions look like
Families get clear answers.
Questions are addressed directly, and families understand how and why decisions affecting their children are made.
Teachers have the support to teach.
Teachers and staff have the resources, tools and clarity they need to focus on students and learning.
Students get support when they need it.
Systems respond early and effectively, particularly when a student is struggling or needs additional services.
The community has a voice while decisions are being shaped.
Engagement should help shape important decisions — not simply explain them after the fact.
WHY I’M RUNNING
I believe CUSD can be exceptional — and still do better.
I’m running because I care deeply about this district and the community it serves. CUSD has been part of my life since I was six years old, and today I’m experiencing our schools from a very different perspective — as a parent.
I know what this district can make possible. I’ve also seen what happens when systems don’t respond as they should, families struggle to get clear answers, or the people most affected by a decision don’t feel heard.
Those experiences are part of why I decided to run.
I believe good governance starts with listening, asking thoughtful questions and looking carefully at the evidence. It also requires being willing to challenge assumptions when something isn’t working — while never losing sight of the students, families and educators affected by the decisions being made.
ABOUT ART
Local roots. Professional experience. A parent’s perspective.
I’m a CUSD graduate, current district parent and longtime Carmel-area resident. Professionally, I’ve spent my career leading product and engineering teams, making decisions in complex organizations and working across technical, financial and people challenges.
I’ve also served in our schools as a Site Council member and River School PTO Treasurer. Those experiences have reinforced something I learned long ago: strong organizations depend on good people, clear goals, sound information and leaders willing to listen before they act.
Have a question or want to get in touch? CONTACT ART →