Hi, I'm Michelle Fernelius. 

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I’m a wife, mom, advocate, and proud Hayward community member. My husband and I are raising two children in HUSD, and like a lot of families, we’ve experienced both the strengths of our public schools and the challenges that can come with navigating them.

 

My roots in the East Bay run deep. My husband and I both attended schools in the San Lorenzo Unified School District, and education has been important in my family for generations. My grandfather earned a master’s degree in Special Education and worked as a special educator in Fremont. My grandmother worked as an administrator in the business department at Cal State East Bay, where my father attended and where I later earned my master’s degree in Biostatistics. My aunt attended Chabot College before transferring to San José State University, where I also earned my bachelor’s degree in Mathematics.

 

My husband is Puerto Rican, and that heritage is an important part of our family. Our daughter is one-quarter Puerto Rican, but if you ask her, she’ll tell you she’s 100%—just like her grandma. I love how proud she is of that part of who she is.

 

My connection to Hayward goes back decades too. I joined Job’s Daughters in Hayward in 1994, where I made lifelong friendships and learned a lot about leadership, service, and helping young people build confidence. This year, my daughter became a member too, which has made that connection even more special.

 

My path into education advocacy started simply: as a parent trying to make sure my kids had what they needed to succeed. I spent years in IEP meetings, learning about services and supports, asking questions, and working with educators and staff. Along the way, I saw firsthand how much communication, inclusion, and strong relationships between schools and families matter.

 

Over time, I became more involved in our school community. I’ve served as Parent Ambassador Lead, Special Education Advocacy Alliance (SPEDAA) Vice Chair, and in leadership roles with School Site Decision Making, School Site Council, and the PTO at Eldridge Elementary. Those experiences have given me the chance to work alongside families, educators, staff, and district leaders and to better understand the district from more than just my own family’s perspective.

 

They’ve also helped me grow. As a parent, I will always advocate strongly for my children. But serving on the Board requires something broader. It means thinking about all students, listening to people who may see an issue differently, respecting the expertise of educators and staff, asking good questions, and making decisions based on what is best for the district as a whole.

 

The visual and performing arts have also been an important part of my family’s educational experience. I was in band throughout school, and my husband was involved in choir. We both know how much the arts can give students: confidence, creativity, discipline, connection, and a place to belong. I believe they should be treated as an important part of a well-rounded education, not as an extra.

 

Professionally, I work in data and analytics, helping turn complex information into something people can actually use to make decisions. My education and career have taught me to look closely at the facts, ask questions, recognize patterns, and consider different perspectives while remembering that there are always real people behind the numbers.

I’m running for the HUSD Board of Education because I care deeply about our schools and the students and families they serve. I believe every student deserves the opportunity to succeed, every family deserves to feel heard, and our educators and staff deserve leaders who will listen to them, work with them, and make thoughtful decisions.

 

I don’t expect to have every answer. I do promise to ask questions, listen, keep learning, and do the work.

 

I want to help build an HUSD where students feel supported, families feel welcome, educators feel valued, and every child has the opportunity to thrive.

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— Michelle