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Days after current Superintendent of Schools Nancy Magee announced she would not seek re-election in 2026, two candidates from the San Mateo County Office of Education have declared they are entering the race for the superintendent seat in the June 2026 election.
Héctor Camacho, executive director of Equity, Social Justice and Inclusion of the San Mateo County Office of Education, and Chelsea Bonini, county Board of Education trustee, are vying for the elected position.
The superintendent of schools oversees the San Mateo County Office of Education and provides support to 23 school districts in the county. The elected individual is responsible for reviewing school district budgets and monitoring its compliance with state and federal laws.
For the remainder of Magee’s term, she said she will be focused on implementing initiatives to increase access to youth mental health services and to accomplish the Office of Education’s strategic goals. Magee’s term will end in January 2027.
Chelsea Bonini
Bonini, who was elected in 2020 and re-elected in 2024, carries over a decade of experience in educational leadership from her service on the Office of Education’s Personnel Commission and as a San Mateo Foster City School Board Trustee. She began her career in education in 1994 as a kindergarten teacher in the South San Francisco Unified School District.
“Strong schools are the foundation of thriving communities,” said Bonini in a press release. “I am committed to ensuring that every student in San Mateo County has access to inclusive and high-quality educational opportunities.”
In her campaign, Bonini states her intentions to prioritize reading accessibility for all students and expanding access to mental health resources.
“Our children cannot learn effectively if their mental health needs are not addressed,” said Bonini. “Our mental health supports for students and families need to become more proactive, seamless, empathetic, and stigma-free.”
Bonini has also led efforts to increase transparency and accountability for the office’s $100 million budget through policy revisions and adoption of a governance handbook.
Currently, there is a $20,000 per student funding gap that exists among San Mateo County school districts. Bonini stated her plans to continue efforts toward securing increased and sustainable funding for school districts through regional collaboration.
For more information on Bonini’s campaign visit votebonini.com.
Héctor Camacho
Camacho began his career in education as a bilingual instructional aide 26 years ago. He said that sparked his passion for teaching. Since then, he has held positions in teaching, counseling and administration. Camacho also served as a San Mateo County Board of Education trustee for 11 years.
In 2022, he worked with Reach University on a project that focused on addressing the teacher shortage and creating affordable pathways for non-teaching school staff in rural areas to pursue a teaching career.
After working for decades in education, Camacho said he is running for superintendent of schools because he cares about the students and believes that “every child should feel safe, seen and supported.”
If elected, Camacho will be looking at how the county can support the expansion of early childhood education, childcare services and addressing the teacher shortage in these classrooms.
With ongoing conversations about the lack of teachers, Camacho said he has met many classified employees who have been working for decades as custodians, office assistants, bus drivers and paraprofessionals and would make great teachers, but have not been able to finish school and obtain a degree.
Camacho also wants to look into innovative pathways for these staff members to complete their degrees, earn their teaching credentials and begin their careers in local schools.
“I’m hoping to recruit folks because we need teachers who are supported and respected and who are empowered to lead from the classroom,” he said.
“This isn’t a political position,” said Camacho. “This is a position for people that have worked in schools, know the issues that schools and students are facing, understand the communities that they work in and how to make really positive change.”
For more information on Camacho’s campaign visit votehector.com.
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