Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below.
Read more Katie McEwen, Irvine Unified School District Area 2 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
Name: Quan Vuong
Age: 39
Current job title: Attorney, CPA, and Educational Coach
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: N/A
City where you reside: Fountain Valley
Campaign website or social media: vote4quan.com
What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
First, we need to bring students, families, educators, and community partners together across elementary, intermediate, and high schools. Strong schools are built when families feel connected, informed, and empowered to participate. As a longtime PTO leader and parent, I have spent years working with families, teachers, staff, administrators, and students. I will continue building partnerships that strengthen communication, increase family engagement, and create a greater sense of community throughout our district.
Second, we must ensure that every student graduates prepared for the future regardless of whether their path leads to college, vocation, trade, entrepreneurship, or a combination of all four. The future is uncertain with new changes and the introduction of AI, so it is important to connect classroom learning to real-world skills and opportunities. Therefore, I will advocate for expanded career exploration, CTE pathways, skilled trades, internships, mentorships, and earning college credits while still in high school. Additionally, I also understand that students in special education also have their own needs, which means that the district should meet them where they are and help them succeed in their own way.
GGUSD prepared me for my future. I am ready to bring our community together and help prepare every student for theirs.
To you, what is the role of a school board in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
I believe the most important role of a school board is to represent the voices of our students, families, and community while working with educators to keep student success at the center of every decision. Board members should listen to the community, establish thoughtful policies, ensure responsible use of resources, and hold the district accountable for providing every student with a quality education and opportunity to succeed.
Most importantly, I believe success looks different for every child. Some students may go directly to university after high school, while others may choose community college, career and technical education, skilled trades, entrepreneurship, assistance into adulthood, or another pathway. Our responsibility is to ensure that every student receives a strong educational foundation and has access to opportunities that prepare them for the future they choose.
As a board member, I would bring the community together around a shared goal of providing an excellent education where every child is supported, challenged, and give the opportunity to succeed in their own way.
How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
Artificial intelligence is the future, and our students need to be prepared to use it effectively and responsibly. AI can be a powerful educational tool, but its use in the classroom must be intentional, age-appropriate, and focused on enhancing and not replacing student learning and critical thinking.
We need to teach students safe and responsible ways to use AI, including protecting their privacy, evaluating information for accuracy and bias, and understanding when AI is an appropriate tool. AI use should be introduced gradually and expanded as students progress through the grade levels. Younger students should have more structure and teacher-guided experiences, while older students can use AI more independently for research, brainstorming, feedback, and examples.
AI should be limited when students need to develop foundational skills, creativity and independent thinking. Our goal should not be to keep AI out of classrooms. Our goal should be to teach students how to use it responsibly so they are prepared for college, careers, and the future.
How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
Schools have an important role in teaching students how to respectfully communicate with people who may have different perspectives. Students are entitled to their own opinions, but they must also learn how to voice those opinions in a respectful and tolerant way. Civil discourse means listening to understand, asking thoughtful questions, supporting ideas with evidence, and disagreeing without disrespecting others.
I would like to see our district intentionally create opportunities for students to practice these skills across grade levels. Through classroom discussions, debates, and collaborative projects, students can learn how to express their ideas while considering different viewpoints.
Our goal should not be to teach students what to think, but how to think, communicate and listen respectfully. These are essential skills that will prepare our students to become thoughtful leaders, responsible citizens, and productive members in the future.
Some school districts around California are recruiting teachers by building subsidized housing. How would you suggest your district could better attract — and retain — educators? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
Read more Ron Scolesdang, Irvine Unified School District Area 2 candidate, 2026 election questionnaire
My wife is a teacher in GGUSD, so I see firsthand the dedication our educators bring to their classrooms every day. To attract and retain high-quality educators, we must make sure that they feel valued, supported, and invested in throughout their careers.
First, our district must continue to offer competitive pay and benefits so that talented educators choose GGUSD to start their careers. We should also strengthen mentorship and support pathways for new teachers, pairing them with experienced educators who can provide guidance as they progress in the profession. Strong mentorship and the teacher induction program can play an important role in teacher retention.
Retention also means investing in our current teachers through meaningful, ongoing professional learning, additional release time, and opportunities for career growth.
Ultimately, attracting great teachers is only the beginning; we must create a supportive community where educators feel respected, have opportunities to grow, and want to stay. When we invest in our teachers, we are investing directly in the success of our students.
What experiences and priorities do you bring to this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that makes you the person for the job? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
Garden Grove Unified School District is personal to me as a homegrown student who attended and graduated from schools in my trustee area. Today, I am a parent raising my own children in the same schools that helped shape who I am.
As an attorney and CPA, I bring experience analyzing complex issues, managing financial matters responsibly, and making thoughtful decisions focused on accountability and transparency. As a longtime PTO leader and current PTO president, I have learned that effective leadership begins with listening, building relationships, encouraging collaboration, and finding solutions. I also found that leading by example encourages and motivates others to want to help and be involved as well. Most importantly, being a GGUSD parent keeps me connected to what our students and families experience every day.
My priorities for this role are to build on GGUSD’s academic success, strengthen our school communities, and expand college and career opportunities for every student. GGUSD invested in me as a student, and now it is educating my children. I want to give back by helping ensure every GGUSD student has the opportunities and support they need to succeed.
If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
If my campaign had a mascot, it would be a penguin. Penguins are known for their strong sense of community, teamwork, and dedication to their families, which are values that reflect who I am and how I want to serve GGUSD.
Penguins thrive by working together and looking out for one another. That is how I view the district, where teachers, staff, parents, and community members work together with a shared purpose. As a parent, PTO president, and someone homegrown in GGUSD, I believe strong school communities are essential to helping every student succeed.
Penguins are also devoted parents who work together to protect and nurture their young. As a father of children attending GGUSD schools, this resonates with me because I want to approach every decision on whether it would be the best decision for my children and their classmates.
And finally, penguins always look like they are wearing tuxedos, so they are naturally best suited for the job.
A penguin represents my campaign perfectly because they are family-focused, community-minded, resilient, and best suited to serve.
Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.
The best book I’ve read this year is “The Anxious Generation” by Jonathan Haidt.
What made this so compelling was how closely it connected to what I see every day as both a parent and parent leader. Like many parents, my wife and I are trying to raise our children in a world very different from the one we grew up in. Technology and social media are everywhere, and the book made me think deeply about how important it is to have time to play, build relationships, solve problems, and connect with people face to face.
As a PTO president, I spend a lot of time on campus around students, parents, and educators. I’ve seen how much children benefit when families come together, when students feel connected to their school, and when they have a real sense of belonging. The book reinforced something I deeply believe in, which is that education is more than academics. The district’s responsibility to children goes beyond helping them earn good grades. We also need to help them grow into confident, resilient, kind young people who are prepared not only for school but also for life.
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