Kristina Ravo
CCSS 2026 ELECTION
At-Large Candidate
Kristina Ravo
Bio
Kristina Ravo serves as Coordinator of History–Social Science and Civic Engagement at the Santa Clara County Office of Education, where she partners with districts, schools, educators, students, and community organizations to advance equitable, culturally sustaining History–Social Science education. With more than 18 years of experience as a teacher, Activities Director, assistant principal, principal, and district-level leader, she brings a systems-level perspective grounded in student voice, civic engagement, and educational equity.
Kristina's work focuses on strengthening civic learning, supporting implementation of the California State Seal of Civic Engagement, expanding access to culturally sustaining curriculum, and helping educators leverage students' cultural and community assets as strengths. She is deeply committed to creating learning experiences that foster belonging, agency, critical thinking, and civic participation while ensuring that diverse histories, perspectives, and voices are reflected in classrooms.
She holds a Master's in Educational Leadership with a Social Justice emphasis and has completed the ACSA Equity and Personnel Administrators Institutes. Kristina regularly presents at regional and statewide conferences and collaborates on numerous county, regional, and state-level initiatives focused on History–Social Science, civic engagement, ethnic studies, and culturally sustaining education. She is a previous CCSS Region 5 Representative and is passionate about supporting educators in preparing students to be informed, engaged, and empowered participants in a diverse democracy.
Position Statement
I am seeking to continue serving on the California Council for the Social Studies Board because I believe high-quality History-Social Science education has never been more important. In a time of increasing polarization and misinformation, our students need opportunities to develop critical thinking skills, engage thoughtfully with diverse perspectives, and see themselves reflected in the stories we teach. CCSS plays a vital role in supporting educators as they prepare students to be informed, engaged, and empowered participants in our democracy.
Throughout my career, I have remained committed to ensuring that students are at the center of educational decision making. As Coordinator of History-Social Science and Civic Engagement at the Santa Clara County Office of Education, I work with districts, educators, students, families, and community partners to advance equitable, culturally sustaining learning experiences. My work is grounded in the belief that students bring valuable cultural knowledge, lived experiences, and assets that should be leveraged as strengths within our classrooms and educational systems.
I would bring to the Board strong organizational and communication skills, strategic leadership experience spanning the classroom to the county level, and a proven ability to build relationships across diverse stakeholders. In addition to my local leadership work, I actively participate on regional and statewide committees, which provides me with a broad understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing History-Social Science educators throughout California.
I believe I am a strong candidate because I bring both a practitioner’s perspective and a systems-level lens. I am deeply connected to educators' day-to-day realities while also helping lead larger initiatives related to civic engagement, culturally sustaining pedagogy, ethnic studies, and equitable access to high-quality instruction. Most importantly, I bring an unwavering commitment to ensuring that every student experiences a History-Social Science education that fosters belonging, agency, inquiry, and civic action.
I would be honored to continue contributing to CCSS's mission and working alongside fellow board members to strengthen social studies education for students across California.
What strengths will I bring to the CCSS Board of Directors?
I would bring a strong student-centered perspective to the CCSS Board of Directors, grounded in more than 18 years of educational leadership at the school, district, county, regional, and state levels. Throughout my career, I have focused on ensuring that students, families, and communities are not only represented in decision-making processes, but are active partners in shaping educational experiences and outcomes.
My primary strengths are collaboration, strategic leadership, communication, and systems thinking. In my current role at the county level, I work across multiple districts, educational organizations, tribal partners, institutions of higher education, and community-based organizations to advance high-quality History-Social Science instruction, civic engagement, and culturally sustaining practices. This work requires building consensus among diverse stakeholders, facilitating difficult conversations, and keeping student needs at the center of planning and implementation.
I am also highly organized and skilled in managing complex initiatives that involve multiple partners, timelines, and priorities. Whether coordinating countywide professional learning, developing curriculum resources, supporting educational policy implementation, or leading regional networks, I bring a thoughtful and strategic approach that balances vision with execution.
A particular area of expertise I would contribute to the Board is my commitment to culturally sustaining education and community cultural wealth. I believe students' cultural identities, lived experiences, languages, and community knowledge are powerful assets that should be reflected in curriculum, instruction, and educational leadership. I bring experience helping educators and systems move from compliance-focused approaches toward meaningful learning experiences that foster belonging, agency, civic engagement, and academic success for all students.
In addition, I currently serve on several regional and statewide committees, which has strengthened my understanding of governance, coalition building, policy implementation, and cross-organizational leadership. These experiences have taught me how to navigate complex systems, build relationships across diverse perspectives, and advocate effectively for equitable opportunities for students and educators.
As a Board member, I would also welcome opportunities to grow. While I have extensive experience leading educational initiatives, I would appreciate continued learning around nonprofit board governance, long-term organizational sustainability, and the financial stewardship responsibilities that support an organization's mission. I also value learning from colleagues with different professional backgrounds and expertise, and I look forward to deepening my understanding of how effective boards balance strategic vision, operational realities, and community impact.
Above all, I would bring a collaborative spirit, a commitment to listening and learning, and an unwavering focus on ensuring that the decisions we make ultimately serve students and the communities we are entrusted to support.