Jose Magana
CA · Trustee, San José Unified School District Board of Education, Trustee Area 2
Jose Magaña is the board president and Trustee Area 2 member of San José Unified, a former kindergarten teacher and math coach who led education nonprofits. His priorities are student safety and academics, and preparing students for an economy reshaped by AI.
Where Jose Magana stands, based on their records
Supports
Public Education Quality (3 records), Civil Rights (1 record), Public Infrastructure (1 record)
Opposes
Government Spending Reduction (2 records)
Track record
Track record — Government Spending Reduction
Government Spending Reduction · 2 oppose
Voted to adopt San José Unified’s Local Control and Accountability Plan and school district budget. The board approved both 5-0.
June 26, 2025Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com
Voted to place a $1.15 billion bond for school improvements and educator housing on the November 2024 ballot. The board approved it 5-0.
July 25, 2024Opposes Government Spending Reduction
Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com
Track record — Public Education Quality
Public Education Quality · 3 support
Coauthored an article advocating sustained funding for teacher training, larger teacher scholarships and stronger teacher-retention support in California.
July 23, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: nasbe.org
Voted to adopt San José Unified’s Local Control and Accountability Plan and school district budget. The board approved both 5-0.
June 26, 2025Supports Public Education Quality
Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com
Voted to place a $1.15 billion bond for school improvements and educator housing on the November 2024 ballot. The board approved it 5-0.
July 25, 2024Supports Public Education Quality
Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com
Track record — Civil Rights
Civil Rights · 1 support
Publicly supported San José Unified’s adopted Pride resolution protecting LGBTQ students and staff from discrimination.
August 24, 2023Supports Civil Rights
Source: sanjosespotlight.com
Track record — Public Infrastructure
Public Infrastructure · 1 support
Voted to place a $1.15 billion bond for school improvements and educator housing on the November 2024 ballot. The board approved it 5-0.
July 25, 2024Supports Public Infrastructure
Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com
Track record — General
General · 9 records
Voted to approve a partnership with the Stanford Center for Racial Justice for the Roses Talk student-voice project, at no district cost. The board approved it 4-1.
September 10, 2026
Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com
Received the Santa Clara County Democratic Party’s endorsement for the November 2026 San José Unified Area 2 election. The party also endorsed Tomara Hall in the same race.
September 3, 2026
Source: sccdp.org
Voted to consolidate elementary schools, redraw school attendance boundaries and relocate special programs. Resolution 2026-03-26-01 passed 3-2.
March 26, 2026
Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com
Voted to appoint Joseph Heffernan as assistant principal at San José High School, after voting against rescinding the appointment. The appointment passed 3-2.
June 26, 2025
Source: simbli.eboardsolutions.com
Served as chair of San José’s Library and Education Commission and participated in a focus group on library facilities and customer experience.
June 18, 2025
Source: sjpl.org
Co-signed a letter supporting replacement of the San José Library Commission’s City Council liaison, citing the liaison’s absence from public duties.
October 18, 2024
Source: sanjose.legistar.com
Joined San José State University’s Latino Advisory Council as a charter member representing Latinos for Education.
April 22, 2024
Source: sjsu.edu
Publicly opposed keeping school resource officers on San José Unified campuses, citing disproportionate police contact with students of color, disabled students and low-income students.
June 24, 2021
Source: sanjosespotlight.com
Led City Year San José/Silicon Valley’s education programs as managing director of impact, managing more than 20 office staff and 90 corps members supporting 14 schools.
May 19, 2020
Source: cerescourier.com
Track record — Candidate Ethics
Candidate Ethics · 1 record
Received a $200 campaign-finance fine jointly with his 2018 campaign committee and treasurer for filing a semiannual campaign statement late. California’s Fair Political Practices Commission approved the penalty in case 20/506.
August 20, 2020
Source: fppc.ca.gov
Past race Jose Magana ran in:
- San José Unified School District Governing Board Member, Trustee Area 2 · November 3, 2026 · San José Unified School District Trustee Area 2 · incumbent