Simi Valley Candidates Shared Plans at Forums
Residents heard from board hopefuls regarding their backgrounds and goals for Simi Valley schools.
Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in Administration
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Candidates for the Simi Valley Unified School District board recently participated in two public forums. These events allowed voters to assess the experience and priorities of those running for the Area D and Area E seats.
Why it matters
These forums provide a direct opportunity for families to understand how board candidates plan to manage local education priorities. The leadership choices made this cycle will shape the district's strategic direction for years to come.
Candidates bring diverse backgrounds, including Stephen Pietrolungo's 48-year education career and James Greenfield's experience managing a $50 million budget at LA Sanitation. Jodi Lewis cited her team's delivery of 180 change initiatives.
The players
Simi Valley Unified School District
The local educational agency responsible for managing district resources and student curriculum in Simi Valley.
Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce
An organization focused on local economic interests that hosted one of the recent board candidate forums.
PTA Council
A volunteer-led organization dedicated to supporting local schools and student welfare within the district.
The details
The forums, hosted by the Simi Valley Chamber of Commerce and the PTA Council, offered a venue for voters to weigh candidate qualifications. Candidates for Area D, Stephen Pietrolungo and James Greenfield, and Area E, Jodi Lewis and Ryan Rosuck, presented their professional histories and approach to school district administration.
Timeline
September 30, 2026: Chamber of Commerce candidate forum occurred.
October 5, 2026: PTA Council candidate forum occurred.
The Home Front
These forums follow a trend of increased community engagement regarding local school board governance. Decisions made by these officials directly impact district administrative policies and long-term fiscal planning.
Families should review the professional backgrounds of the candidates to determine who best aligns with their goals for local schools. Residents can look for recordings or transcripts from these forums to better inform their upcoming ballots.
The takeaway
Understanding the professional experience of board candidates is a critical step in evaluating who will best lead the school district. Voters should take time to research the specific qualifications presented by each candidate for their respective district areas.
Further reading
For more on how district leaders manage local schools, visit Simi Valley administration.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Simi Valley Acorn.
Live Poll
Do you prefer school board candidates with a background in business over those with classroom experience?
