Andrew Knaack

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Andrew Knaack

Nonpartisan

Elections and appointments

Last election

November 3, 2020

Personal

Profession

Commissioner, City of Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Commission

Contact

Campaign Facebook

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Andrew Knaack ran for election to the Santa Clara Unified School District school board to represent Trustee Area 3 in California. Knaack lost in the general election on November 3, 2020.

Knaack completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography=

Knaack's professional experience includes working as Commissioner of City of Santa Clara Parks and Recreation. He is also affiliated with the Ronald McDonald House, City of Santa Clara Task Force of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, LifeMoves Homeless Service, and Americorps.

Elections

2020

See also: Santa Clara Unified School District, California, elections (2020)

General election

General election for Santa Clara Unified School District school board Trustee Area 3

Incumbent Michele Ryan defeated Andrew Knaack in the general election for Santa Clara Unified School District school board Trustee Area 3 on November 3, 2020.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Michele Ryan (Nonpartisan)	53.5	25,810
		Andrew Knaack (Nonpartisan)	46.5	22,437

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 48,247
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

To view Knaack's endorsements in the 2020 election, please click here.

Campaign themes

2020

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Andrew Knaack completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2020. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Knaack's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Deeply Rooted in SCUSD

When I was a child, my mother made the tough decision to move in with my grandmother, allowing my brother and me to attend SCUSD schools. Growing up in a cramped three-generation household was challenging but gave me the opportunity to learn from all the District had to offer. Graduating from Millikin Elementary, Peterson Middle, and Wilcox High (my mom's alma mater) prepared me for college and a lifetime of service.

A Lifetime of Service

After returning to the South Bay post-college, I joined AmeriCorps and from then on devoted my career to helping vulnerable children and families through local nonprofits including AACI (a community health center), LifeMoves (a homeless shelter network), and my current role at Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area (provider of housing and supportive services for families with critically ill children).

Over the years, I have given back through many community-focused organizations, including Rotary International, Japantown Community Congress of San Jose, and Women's Empowerment International. I stay engaged in my local community including as a six-year member and current chair of the Santa Clara Parks and Recreation Commission. I am currently founding the City of Santa Clara Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion with support from Santa Clara City Council.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Options for hybrid and distance learning that prioritize the safety of our students and staff
• Closing the achievement gap and ensuring all students have sustained internet access while schools are closed and beyond
• Holistic outcomes for student success including academic success, physical and mental health, and opportunities after high school

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Business, as usual, is failing and students are being left behind as a result. In this quickly changing political and educational landscape, students, families, and staff need innovative leaders reflective of the community. If elected, I would be the only district alumnus and Asian American trustee. As SCUSD navigates a global pandemic that has exacerbated socioeconomic, racial, educational, and health disparities, my nonprofit leadership experience (spanning children's health care access, housing insecurity and homelessness, and holistic health services for marginalized and vulnerable ethnic communities in Santa Clara County) is critical to meet the moment. My unique demographics, proven commitment to community service, and community-centered policy positions are vital to building bridges between the School Board and students, staff, and communities of color.

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

See also

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