Meet Aileen Dinkjian, Ed.D. M.P.H.
Why I’m Running
The current federal administration’s efforts to weaken and dismantle the Department of Education place essential student supports at risk. When federal protections and funding disappear, states and local governments and school districts are forced to absorb the impact. That means fewer resources for English learners, special education services, working families, and the children who rely on these programs the most.
I have spent my career leading complex systems, securing funding, and advocating for vulnerable populations. I have built programs that work, formed the partnerships needed to sustain them, and delivered results for our community. I know how to navigate policy shifts, budget challenges, and public systems because I have done it before.
This is a moment that requires leaders with a experience who can anticipate change, secure the resources we need, and safeguard the future of public schools.
As a longtime resident of Area D and a proud mother of three, I am deeply invested in the future of our school district. As a public health professional, we respond to emergencies. I feel a moral urgency to act — not just to talk about test scores or salaries, but to help build a district that can withstand the storms ahead and ensure a resilient future for our children and theirs. As a systems thinker, I have witnessed multiple institutions go through financial storms and make tough decisions. However, I am experienced in bringing in revenue, writing grants (as a grant-writer), and managing multi-million dollar budgets. The formula is simple, where can we lead, where can we support and where can we collaborate. If there are no “margins,” there is no “mission.” Let’s keep these margins wide and solvent!
My priorities:
To continue strengthening the partnership between GUSD and our educators by supporting fair working conditions, collaborative labor-management relationships, and investments that allow teachers to thrive.
To ensure equitable student achievement, especially for English learners, and students experiencing academic, social-emotional, or mental health challenges.
To bring my experience in public health, data oversight and responsible budgeting to protect GUSD's financial stability and ensure resources are directed to classrooms, teachers, and student learning.
Students at the Center
Our students are not just the future — they are change-makers today. I will ensure youth voices are not only heard but amplified at the board level.
I support cradle-to-career-to-legacy pathways that open doors from early learning through college and into the workforce.
We need leadership who will continue to inspire the entrepreneurial spirit that spark early exposure to real-world careers, not only to address workforce shortages, but to empower students with direction, purpose, and hope.
Our parents, community, teachers and staff are the epicenter of ensuring all children thrive in school. I practice this in my professional career and personal life.
A Vision for Equity and Resilience
I bring an equity-focused lens to every decision — grounded in my experience as a public health advocate, daughter of immigrants, and community leader.
GUSD must move beyond survival mode. It’s time we thrive as a system that supports every teacher, staff and student, regardless of background, income, language, or ability.
We are facing an educational famine, with growing attacks on mental health, wellness, and inclusive curricula. We must respond by focusing on whole-child approaches that nurture both academic success and emotional well-being.
With a strong background in operations and strategic planning, I will help GUSD navigate financial uncertainties while prioritizing student health, wellness, and opportunity.
Fighting for the Voiceless
I’ve never been afraid to face the fire. If anything, I’ll walk towards it. When challenges arose at my children’s school, I didn’t stay silent; I picked up the phone, showed up, and engaged directly far before thinking of being a candidate.
I’m not asking you to believe in me; I’m here because I believe in you. The parents, educators, and students who make up this vibrant community.
I’m grateful for leaders like Shant Sahakian and the entire GUSD Board, whose commitment to equity has laid a strong foundation that I hope to build upon.
Public Health and Community Strength
As a public health advocate, I understand how education, health, and policy intersect from school-based Medicaid to mental health services.
The politicization of wellness spaces and social-emotional learning is harmful. We must bring the conversation back to what truly matters: caring for the whole child and their family.
I’ve also seen how aging in poverty affects our community’s elders. Our schools can play a vital role in fostering intergenerational learning and service and building empathy and community across generations.
Fiscal Responsibility and Shared Governance
As a member of the GUSD Budget Committee, I’ve seen the hard choices ahead. With potential cuts on the horizon, I’ll advocate for fiscally responsible leadership that avoids deficit spending and protects reserves.
I believe in shared governance and understanding where we lead, where we collaborate, and where we support. Our district doesn’t operate in isolation; it’s part of a larger ecosystem that thrives when we work together.
Personal Values
I am the proud daughter of union laborers, raised with values of solidarity, advocacy, and justice.
I’ve been featured on PBS’s RoadTrip Nation and KVCR’s IE Latino Voices, and I co-lead initiatives that bridge healthcare, education, and equity.
I do this work not just professionally, but personally — as a mom, neighbor, and proud product of public education who believes in healing, not division, and belonging, not exclusion.
