Two incumbents face challengers as Area 5 becomes an open race
Apple Valley, Calif. (High Desert News Online) – Three AVUSD trustee areas will elect their members to the school board on Nov. 3, 2026, General Election. There will be 11 candidates who are going to compete in three seats of the five-member board. The trustees running for reelection are Amanda Buchanan in Trustee Area 2 and Maria U. Okpara in Trustee Area 4, and there will be an open race for Trustee Area 5 because the current board member, Rick Roelle, was not listed on the San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters’ unofficial candidate list (updated Aug. 21).
Apple Valley Unified educates one of the biggest geographical regions in the Victor Valley, which is described in district documents as covering more than 200 square miles. The district operates elementary schools, TK-8 academies, two high schools, alternative education and adult education programs, employs over 1,500 people.
The following candidates are introduced in this order for the races with incumbent candidates in consideration of the order. This order reflects the identity of the candidate as incumbent and does not express any preference.
Trustee Area 2: Four candidates
Amanda Buchanan — Incumbent
Buchanan is the president of AVUSD Board of Trustees and serves in Trustee Area 2. She was elected to the board in November 2022 and won 1,620 votes (45.72%) in a three-candidate race. By the date of the 2026 election, she will have spent about four years on the board.
In 2026, Buchanan will run as Teacher / Board Member. During her tenure as a trustee, Buchanan has contributed to the regional school boards governance as the representative of California School Boards Association’s Region 16 delegate structure.
Public campaign contact:
Phone: (442) 229-6156
Email: amandabuchananforschools@gmail.com
AVUSD public office contact: (760) 247-8001.
Kendall Graham Pontier
Pontier runs for the board with the ballot designation Retired Teacher. Public employment information that could be matched with the name of Pontier has identified Kendall G. Pontier as an Apple Valley Unified history and psychology teacher before retirement.
According to the registrar’s 2026 candidate filing, Pontier has not listed a campaign telephone number, email address, website or social-media presence.
Public campaign contact: No campaign contact information was listed by the Registrar of Voters.
Kevin A. Skelton
Skelton is running for the board with the ballot designation Teacher. According to the current Social Studies Department directory of Adelanto High School, Kevin Skelton is on the social-studies staff of the school, giving a publicly verifiable education background that does not belong to AVUSD.
Public campaign contact:
Campaign website
According to the Registrar filing, Skelton has not listed a campaign telephone number and email address.
Tanya Ortegon
Ortegon runs with the ballot designation Mother / Non-Profit Director. According to the candidate filing, she has listed both an email address and campaign social-media accounts.
Public campaign contact:
Email: Tanya@littlelambsmin.org
Facebook: Tanya Ortegon for Apple Valley School Board
Instagram: @Tanyaforapplevalley.
No information about this candidate except the Registrar filing and publicly listed campaign information could be found online.
Trustee Area 4: Three candidates
Maria U. Okpara — Incumbent
Okpara is now the clerk of AVUSD Board of Trustees and serves in Trustee Area 4. She was first elected in November 2018 and defeated Richard L. Saurs by winning 1,836 votes (51.8%). She was reelected in 2022, when there was no contested race in the area. As of November 2026, she will have about eight years of board service.
Okpara’s background with Apple Valley’s schools goes way before her tenure as a trustee. As previous election materials indicate, she was a retired school administrator who worked in AVUSD. Now in 2026, her filing lists her just as the Incumbent.
Public campaign contact:
Mail: P.O. Box 1192, Apple Valley, CA 92307
AVUSD public office contact: (760) 247-8001.
The Registrar filing does not list a campaign phone number, email address, website or social-media page for Okpara.
Roman Mora Aguilar III
Aguilar is running for the board with the ballot designation Parent / Assistant Director.
Public campaign contact:
Email: Romanmaguilariii@gmail.com.
No information about this candidate could be found beyond the Registrar filing.
Ruben Hermosillo
Hermosillo is running for the board with the ballot designation Information Technology Manager. The public records of San Bernardino County identify Ruben Hermosillo as Business Applications Manager employed with Human Services Information, Technology and Support Division of the county. A 2024 county agenda document confirms his occupation as well.
Public campaign contact:
Email: hermosillo2@msn.com.
Trustee Area 5: Four candidates for an open seat
There will be an open race in Trustee Area 5 because Rick Roelle who previously held the seat will not participate in the election. Four candidates are going to compete in this contest without being incumbents.
Marc Lacey
Lacey is running for the board with the ballot designation Assistant Superintendent.
According to the public records of Silver Valley Unified School District, Marc Lacey is the assistant superintendent of administrative services. He is a veteran of the education administration in Silver Valley, having served as the school principal before getting to the position of district-level administrator. In December 2024, according to the Silver Valley board, Lacey is the assistant superintendent of administrative services.
Public campaign contact:
Email: marclacey@icloud.com
Facebook: Marc Lacey for School Board.
Angela Rincon
Rincon runs with the ballot designation Therapist / Parent.
Public campaign contact:
Email: angelarinconforschoolboard@gmail.com.
No information about this candidate could be found beyond the Registrar filing.
Mike Ricotta Jr.
Ricotta is running for the board with the ballot designation Classroom Teacher.
Public campaign contact:
Phone: (442) 446-7446
Campaign website
No information about this candidate could be found beyond the Registrar filing and campaign information listed above.
Josh Justice
Justice is running for the board with the ballot designation eCommerce Director / Consultant.
Public campaign contact:
Instagram: @justice4avusd
LinkedIn profile
No information about this candidate could be found beyond the Registrar filing and publicly identified professional information.
History of Apple Valley Unified
Apple Valley school system existed before the town was incorporated.
The Congressional records of 1990 say that the Apple Valley School District was an elementary system until unification in 1987. Unification changed the nature of local school system into that of the district capable of offering wider range of educational services.
This happened almost a year before the town got incorporated in November 1988. Since then, the growth of Apple Valley and surrounding High Desert communities has enlarged the area of educational responsibility of AVUSD.
Today, the district operates education from preschool through high school and beyond with alternative programs and adult education included. These programs include AP courses, AVID, concurrent enrollment, visual and performing arts, Career Technical Education and many other pathways for college and careers. The district also cooperates with Victor Valley College adult-education programs.
Additionally, Apple Valley Unified operates its own police force that was created in 2002 to give the district a law-enforcement agency focusing on campuses and district facilities.
Numbers of AVUSD
The district documents show the difference in student count based on programs and reporting periods. According to the About page, AVUSD serves over 13,000 preschool-through-12th grade students. According to 2025-26 Local Control and Accountability Plan (LCAP).
The district’s footprint is as follows:
– Over 200 square miles in Apple Valley and surrounding unincorporated area.
– Little over 13,000 students when the LCAP count includes preschool through adult education programs.
– Over 1,500 employees.
– 5 TK-6 elementary schools.
– 6 TK-8 academies.
– 2 comprehensive high schools.
– 1 alternative education center.
– Virtual, independent study and adult-education programs included.
The district is divided into five geographical trustee areas with one board member to be elected in each area. In 2026, the races will be held in Areas 2, 4 and 5, while Areas 1 and 3 will be on a different cycle.
Geographically, AVUSD encompasses most of Apple Valley and parts of surrounding unincorporated area. Usually, the description provided by the County places AVUSD to the east of the Interstate 15 corridor in a big area of the High Desert, divided by major roads like Highway 18. Today, according to the district documents, the footprint exceeds 200 square miles.
Leadership of the district
Superintendent: Trenae Nelson
Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services: Patrick Schlosser
Assistant Superintendent, Administrative Services: Matthew Schulenberg
Public Information Officer: Zoee Widener
District headquarters: 12555 Navajo Road, Apple Valley
Main telephone: (760) 247-8001.
The current board of five members includes Amanda Buchanan, Maria Okpara, Anita Tucker, Renee Longshore and Rick Roelle.
What has been accomplished by AVUSD during the 2022-26 board term
During this four-year term, AVUSD made progress in the graduation outcomes, developed the program of Career Technical Education, built facilities, supported students and received recognitions for them.
These accomplishments and outcomes were achieved under the leadership of the current board and cannot be attributed to any single trustee.
Graduation rate
According to the 2025-26 LCAP of AVUSD, the district graduation rate increased from 89.4% in 2023 to 91.3% in 2024, that is, gained 1.9 percentage points.
High-school results (2023-2024)
– Apple Valley High School: 95.2% (2023) to 97.9% (2024), +2.7 points
– Granite Hills High School: 92.0% (2023) to 91.0% (2024), -1.0 point
– High Desert Premier Academy: 71.2% (2023) to 78.8% (2024), +7.6 points
Currently, AVHS offers 16 career technical education pathways and 28 articulated courses with Victor Valley College to receive the credentials in Adobe software, health care, manufacturing and automotive technology.
Arts, facilities and student support
The San Bernardino County report on the State of the District in 2024 mentioned restoration of arts and music programs in the elementary schools, facility improvements such as HVAC renovations, restroom health improvement project and large shade structures for playgrounds, as well as facilities improvements to be done at Granite Hills High School. The district operates five Family Centers delivering fresh food to about 300 families every Friday, as well as providing school-linked mental health and counseling services. The LCAP mentions extended learning opportunities at all sites, and Care Solace gives 24/7 access to mental health and substance use resources for students, staff and families.
School recognitions
According to the AVUSD directory, there are several campuses with current recognitions: Sycamore Rocks Elementary School (National Blue Ribbon, Best of the High Desert), Rancho Verde Elementary (California Distinguished School), Yucca Loma Elementary (California School Boards Association Golden Bell Award), Rio Vista School of Applied Learning (Golden Bell Award), Sitting Bull Academy (California Distinguished School, Best of the High Desert), Phoenix Academy (California PBIS Coalition recognition, AVID Schoolwide Site of Distinction), Vanguard Preparatory School (Schools to Watch), Apple Valley High (Best of the High Desert), and Granite Hills High (Special Olympics Southern California Unified Champion School, CDE Arts, Media and Entertainment Demonstration Site). Also, the current SkillsUSA and FFA results show additional recognitions achieved in the current term.
Financial and governance context
The term was marked with financial planning, negotiations and operating costs. The AVUSD Budget and Negotiations materials include Financial Health Risk Analysis by the Fiscal Crisis and Management Assistance Team, as well as district financial reports and bargaining updates. The trustees work on policies, budget adoption, superintendents supervision, major contracts and strategic direction for the district.
What voters are going to decide on November 3
The voters in AVUSD will not vote for all five trustees in 2026. Only the residents of Areas 2, 4 and 5 will vote in these races.
As of the Aug. 21 update, the candidate list of San Bernardino County Registrar of Voters includes the following candidates:
– Area 2: Amanda Buchanan, Kendall Graham Pontier, Kevin A. Skelton, Tanya Ortegon
– Area 4: Maria U. Okpara, Roman Mora Aguilar III, Ruben Hermosillo
– Area 5: Marc Lacey, Angela Rincon, Mike Ricotta Jr., Josh Justice
The ballots will start mailing on Oct. 5, and early voting will start at the same time. The deadline to register to vote is Oct. 19 and the Election Day is Nov. 3, 2026. The canvass starts on Nov. 4, and certification will be done by Dec. 3.
The voters in AVUSD have to choose between keeping two experienced incumbents in Areas 2 and 4 and supporting challengers, or in Area 5 choosing a new board member.
The three winners will become part of the district that managed to improve graduation rates, to earn good state and national results in Career Technical Education, to extend students’ and families’ services and to receive recognitions, while managing finances, staffing, facilities and academic performance in a large High Desert district.
