Alexandra Valladares

“I come from a line of hardworking and beautiful women. The matriarchs in my family have sacrificed so much, but have been steadfast in grace, purpose, and dignity. Their love and prayers supported me during this campaign run,” says Alexandra Valladares. 

Valladares made headlines on March 3, 2020, becoming the first Latina member of Durham Public School’s Board of Education. As Valladares puts it, this race was not only important for her, but for Hispanic children and families across Durham who needed to see themselves represented in a position of power and by someone advocating for their issues. “Our 81% of Black and Brown student body, including my own two children, will see someone who is accountable, who looks like them, speaks like them, and determinedly fights for them on the Board.” “Ya es Hora! It is time!” Valladares says. 

A graduate of Durham Public Schools and a first-generation college student, Valladares was inspired to run for school board by the hope that Hispanic families would feel more comfortable approaching the Board with their issues and concerns. Bringing years of experience as a community activist, Valladares desires to foster necessary community conversations that will heal divides and bring more unity and purpose to political conversations during her time serving on the Board. 
 
Building momentum from a grassroots campaign that harnessed a solid group of supporters helped Valladares lead a successful first race, finishing as the top vote-getter on Election Day.  Valladares spent many years fostering parent networks within Durham Public Schools, which she explains, has expressed itself through coordinating regular forum discussions with Superintendent Dr. Pascal Mubenga to hear concerns and build a coalition of historically underrepresented community members. Valladares says, “the coalition’s goal is to address the unique needs presented by our families so that our children can succeed.” Additionally, Valladares served as one of the five Hispanic representatives on the Superintendent’s fifty-two-member Strategic Planning Committee aimed at identifying priorities and setting goals to direct resources, empower students, and strengthen community engagement across schools in Durham. 

As a newly elected board member, Valladares intends to continue advocating for access to equitable and inclusive education for all students in Durham Public Schools. Closing achievement gaps is the first task on her agenda. Valladares believes that addressing inequities will help close achievement gaps between students in our schools. Excited to take on her first term, Valladares is committed to working with her fellow board members to develop and implement a long-term strategy that prioritizes student wellness and outcomes for all demographics while holding Durham Public Schools accountable to all of the stakeholders in the community. Fighting long and hard as a parent, Valladares intends to fight for more as a board member to strengthen the connection between families, schools, and communities.