The Reality: California’s public education system depends on educators who are overworked, underpaid, and increasingly priced out of the communities they serve.

Josh’s Commitment: Treat education like the foundation of opportunity it is — by supporting teachers and staff, strengthening public schools, and making it easier to choose a career in education.

Josh attended California public schools from kindergarten all the way through law school, and as a Pell Grant recipient he worked multiple jobs to put himself through college. 

He and his wife, Mollye, are raising three kids in California public schools. Mollye is a public school teacher. Every day, their family sees how much educators give, and how much the system asks of them in return. 

Right now we expect too much and don’t provide nearly enough resources for teachers and staff. California consistently ranks among the worst states for student-teacher ratios, often last or near last. Josh will prioritize reducing the classroom ratio, supporting community schools, and modernizing classrooms to provide the tools teachers and staff need to educate our kids. 

Josh believes California’s future depends on getting this right. His plan focuses on support, stability, and real pathways into the profession. Josh will:

• Pay educators more so they can afford to live in the communities where they teach
• Fully fund public education — because strong schools aren’t optional
• Take the teacher and staff shortage seriously by recruiting and retaining a sustainable workforce
• Lower the cost of becoming a teacher by reducing student debt
• Expand College Corps to every UC, CSU, and community college so students can earn money for college through service
• Build clear pathways from college into the classroom for future educators
• Bring down the cost of living by building a million new homes — including on underutilized public lots — for teachers, classified workers, and our workforce.

Josh created College Corps to make a simple promise real: if you’re willing to serve your community, California should help you pay for college. Expanding it to every community college and university in the state will help more students graduate with less debt — and make education a viable, sustainable career choice for anyone who wants to teach.

Strong public schools are the foundation of strong communities. Josh will bring an education-first perspective to state leadership, and fight for educators, students, and families across California.