What happens when a concerned mom stops complaining from the sidelines and runs for school board? Jessica Spaid says her fight for students, parents, and local control turned into a political battle she never expected. On this episode of the Powerhouse Podcast, host Topo Padilla sits down with Jessica Spaid, a Placer Union High School District board member and board president, to talk about California schools, parent involvement, COVID-era education policies, local government accountability, and why school board elections matter. Jessica shares what pushed her to run in 2022, how parents in Placer County organized around school closures, masks, learning loss, and student well-being, and what happened after she unseated a longtime incumbent. She also discusses the importance of faith, courage, transparency, teachers, Career Technical Education, adult education, and the district’s work with Placer County Jail programs that help inmates earn diplomas, GEDs, and job skills. This conversation is about more than one school district. It’s about parents, students, community leadership, and the power of getting involved where decisions are made closest to home. If this episode matters to you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share it with parents, teachers, and community members who care about the future of local education. Watch more from Sacramento Life TV and the Powerhouse Podcast for conversations about public safety, civic life, faith, community issues, and the stories shaping Northern California.
