Julie’s Substack
Seats of Change: The Future of School Boards
An unplanned step – Transitioning from advocate to board member with Diana Carpio
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An unplanned step – Transitioning from advocate to board member with Diana Carpio

Welcome to the first episode where we connect with Diana Carpio, from Norwalk, CT. Diana has served six years on the board, including three as board chair. She’s served through some tumultuous times, including the COVID pandemic. In this episode, we explore her personal pathway to office, how her identity as the sole Latina board member in a heavily Latine/x community impacts her service, community engagement, and transparency. Diana discusses her efforts to bridge the gap between the school board and the community, emphasizing the importance of open communication and transparency in building trust.

Show notes:

  • Ashley, E., & Douglass, C. (2022). Empty seats at powerful tables: The state of school boards in America. School Board Partners. https://issuu.com/schoolboardpartners/docs/sbp_emptyseats_digital

  • Fraga, L., & Elis, R. (2009). Interests and representation: Ethnic advocacy on California school boards. Teachers College Record, 111(3), 659–682. https://doi.org/10.1177/016146810911100304

  • Fraga, L., Krimm, D., Neiman, M., & Reyes, B. (2010). Examining Latino representation on California’s school boards: Their impact on perceptions about district problems, priorities and policies. Public Policy Institute of California.

  • Kogan, V., Lavertu, S., & Peskowitz, Z. (2021). How does minority political representation affect school district administration and student outcomes? American Journal of Political Science, 65(3), 699–716. https://doi.org/10.1111/ajps.12587

  • Kogan, V., Lavertu, S., & Peskowitz, Z. (2021). The democratic deficit in U.S. education governance. American Political Science Review, 115(3), 1082–1089. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0003055421000162

  • Marschall, M. (2005). Minority incorporation and local school boards. In W. G. Howell (Ed.), Besieged (pp. 173–198). Brookings Institution Press. https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7864/j.ctt127xjr.11

  • Meier, K. J., Juenke, E. G., Wrinkle, R. D., & Polinard, J. L. (2005). Structural choices and representational biases: The post-election color of representation. American Journal of Political Science, 49(4), 758–768. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1540-5907.2005.00153.x

  • Meier, K. J., Polinard, J. L., & Wrinkle, R. D. (2000). Micheal Giles and Mancur Olson meet Vincent Ostrom: Jurisdiction size and Latino representation. Social Science Quarterly, 81(1), 123–135.

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