Ricky Aguirre
CCSS 2026 ELECTION
At-Large Candidate
Ricky Aguirre
Bio
I bring nearly a decade of experience in curriculum design, high school instruction, and regional teacher leadership to my work in social studies education. As a classroom teacher in San Jose, I brought culturally relevant pedagogy directly to continuation high school students. In 2021, I designed an Integrated Ethnic Studies course that became one of the first in California to earn UC "A" history credit certification. My collaboration with the UC Berkeley History-Social Science Project (UCBHSSP) began in 2016 as a Teacher Researcher; today, as a full-time staff member, I partner with districts across the Bay Area to implement Ethnic Studies and Action Civics programs.
Position Statement
I am committed to ensuring that every California student sees themselves reflected in their history-social science education. As a former South Bay teacher and co-founder of the Campbell Union High School District Ethnic Studies Coalition, I know firsthand what it takes to build inclusive, state-aligned frameworks from the ground up. On the CCSS Board, I will leverage my district-level implementation experience and partnership work with UCBHSSP to advocate for strong teacher support, equitable curriculum resources, and actionable civic engagement programs across the state.
What strengths will I bring to the CCSS Board of Directors?
I bring a combination of classroom experience, statewide curriculum leadership, and coalition-building to the CCSS Board of Directors. Having spent years as a continuation high school teacher before becoming an Academic Coordinator at the UC Berkeley History-Social Science Project (UCBHSSP), I bridge the gap between daily classroom realities and regional educational leadership. Through my work with UCBHSSP and the Integrated Action Civics Project (IACP), I partner with school districts and county offices of education across California. My leadership is rooted in equity and collaborative governance. As founder of the Campbell Union High School District Ethnic Studies Coalition and current Chair of the CCSS Equity, Inclusion & Social Justice Committee, I have facilitated statewide forums, built consensus among diverse stakeholders, and advocated for high-need student populations, including continuation, newcomer, and court school students. Having presented for CCSS, NCSS, and statewide conferences, I bring strong communication skills to help CCSS articulate its vision, support educators through policy shifts. While my background focuses heavily on district-level policy implementation and curriculum adoption, I look forward to deepening my understanding of direct state-level policy advocacy.