Sonja Shaw, president of the Chino Valley Unified School District board, is running for California superintendent of public instruction in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.

She faces Richard Barrera in the nonpartisan statewide race, according to the California Secretary of State’s voter guide. California voters will help choose the state’s elected education leader, whose responsibilities include advocating for public schools with the Legislature and governor.

The Burlingame-Hillsborough Times candidate questionnaire was sent to Sonja Shaw’s campaign. No response was received as of Oct. 26, 2026. The policy positions below are drawn from her public campaign website and public records.

Candidate information

  • Office sought: California superintendent of public instruction, a nonpartisan office.
  • Hometown: Chino.
  • Education: Graduate of Ayala High School.
  • Professional background: Previously operated fitness-training and photography businesses and held a California real estate license.

Her education and business background are described in her school district biography.

Experience and public service

Shaw was elected to the Chino Valley Unified School District board in November 2022. The district currently lists her as board president.

Her district biography says she grew up in Chino and lives there with her husband, Chris. It also describes her as a mother of two district students and a leader of a community Bible study.

On the issues

The following positions come from Shaw’s campaign website.

Literacy and academic standards: Shaw supports emphasizing reading, writing and math, alongside recruiting and retaining teachers. Her platform also calls for instruction focused on practical skills.

In her statement in the state voter guide, she calls for restoring academic standards and greater scrutiny of school spending.

“My plan is simple: restore high academic standards in reading, writing, and math; protect Title IX, ensuring fairness and safety for girls; cut wasteful bureaucracy; and demand fiscal transparency to ensure money reaches classrooms where it belongs, supporting our students and our great teachers,” she states.

Parental involvement and pandemic policies: Shaw criticizes prolonged pandemic school closures and mask and vaccine mandates. She argues that parents should have a greater role in education decisions and says her local advocacy would guide her approach statewide.

Gender policies in schools: Shaw opposes allowing transgender girls to participate on girls’ sports teams or use girls’ locker rooms. She frames those positions as matters of fairness, privacy and parental involvement.

Her campaign also argues that schools should place greater emphasis on academic instruction and reduce political conflict in classrooms.

Endorsements

Shaw’s campaign website lists supporters including:

  • California Republican Party
  • California Republican Assembly
  • California Congress of Republicans
  • California Rifle & Pistol Association PAC
  • Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association PAC
  • Steve Hilton
  • Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco
  • Riley Gaines

Her campaign also lists endorsements from newspaper editorial boards, including the Orange County Register and Inland Valley Daily Bulletin. Bianco’s endorsement is listed as his individual support, rather than an endorsement by the sheriff’s department.

Voters can find additional information about Shaw’s background and proposals on her campaign website.