Published December 12, 2024
BY ZANA BALABAN
In recent history, Carmel Unified School District has experienced innumerable controversies, leading to seven superintendents in nine years and the complete replacement of the high school administrative team. Throughout these changes, the CUSD school board has remained center stage in decision-making and the target of community frustration. Yet on Nov. 4, four board seats were on the ballot–a lot of change for any organization.
This year the board transitioned from at-large to trustee-area elections, which will be staggered going forward. With Trustee Area 1, 3 and 5 up for election, Carmel Valley local Jason Remynse was reelected alongside three new members. Recently, The Sandpiper sat down with Rita Patel, Matt Glazer and Jake Odello–the newest CUSD board members–to ask about their experience and goals for the upcoming term.
Matt Glazer, Area 3
Representing the Big Sur community, Matt Glazer steps onto the board with a commitment to equity, resource allocation and thoughtful governance. Glazer became involved in district discussions during the redrawing of trustee-area voting lines, advocating for Big Sur and Cachagua to remain distinct. He stressed the need for fair representation of these unique and outlying communities, noting that the map-drawers failed to recognize the ecological and cultural divide created by the mountains of the Santa Lucia Range.
Though new to the board, Glazer approaches the position with humility and curiosity. He aims to show up with inquiry first, before separating what’s story from what’s real and actionable. Because he puts faith in students to know what’s best for themselves, Glazer explains, he is a huge proponent of maximizing open-session board meetings.
“In governance, there’s a way to do it compassionately,” says the Captain Cooper Elementary parent. “There’s a way to be judicious and to adjudicate two sides of a dispute by hearing everything. I show up with an openness to learn, understand, and also a confidence to really stand my ground if something is unethical, against policy or just outright wrong.”
While small in numbers, the Big Sur community contributes an extensive portion of the district’s cultural diversity and property tax. Glazer aims to speak and act on behalf of this minority voice.
For Glazer, equity is more than a buzzword; it’s a principle rooted in his lived experience witnessing disparities in resources and opportunities. Drawing comparisons between his New Orleans upbringing and the disparities of Carmel Unified, the community member sees a chance to bridge gaps in resource allocation and opportunity.
“They say you can judge the quality of a society by how it cares for its poorest or most underserved people,” relays Glazer, the executive director of Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn. “Just to care for your neighbor is a sensibility I got from my childhood. So when I ask, ‘What is it that you need?’ that’s a genuine question.”
Jake Odello, at-large
Driven by positivity to present a unifying front, Jake Odello hopes to serve as a young and optimistic board member for the upcoming term. Graduating from Carmel High School in 2009, Odello aims to use his local experience to bring balance and a fresh perspective to the district.
While he pursued a career in agriculture science, Odello remained inspired by his high school trip to Barack Obama’s presidential inauguration and stayed involved in community leadership through advisory and action committees. His motivation to run for the board heavily encompassed his need to give back to a district that did so much for him.
Concerning recent CUSD struggles, Odello expresses that the community desperately needs stability and the way to reach this is by empowering current staff.
“We have some of the best staff and teachers,” says the Carmel native. “Let’s give them the resources to be tomorrow’s leaders. If we provide a path for upward mobility, when there are leadership changes at the top, we bring people from within. That is going to help us weather the storms.”
Odello, who served as the student board representative during his time as a CHS student, emphasizes the importance of listening to students. With the day-to-day experience of a CUSD student under his belt, he says he understands their challenges and is committed to advocating for their needs.
“I know how hard it is to do all of the balancing,” Odello says. “[Students have] got to go to class and play sports and be a leader, and at the same time, you want to be heard. That’s the reason why any of us [board members] do this. It’s to support the student population.”
Rita Patel, Area 1
A familiar face to be sworn in this December is Rita Patel, a former CUSD parent who will bring extensive experience to the table from her tenure as a board member from 2011 to 2019. Patel seeks to bring stability to a district facing significant and constant change.
“I like to listen,” says Patel, who explains how important it is to make sure the community feels heard. “I am a data-driven person. I want to hear all voices so we can make the best decision for the students.
All four of her children were CUSD students, from Carmelo to CHS, and Patel describes how this gives her a leg up in understanding what happens at the student level and grants her a personal stake in the district’s success.
Among her many aspirations lies the goal to refine a process known as vertical articulation–the seamless flow of learning from one educational stage to the next. With a focus on preparing high school students for their future paths, whether that be college, trade school or the workforce, Patel says she strives to ensure students are ready for every step of their academic journey.
“When I shook students’ hands at graduation, I always wanted to make sure the kids launched into what they wanted to do,” Patel says. “Inside I thought, ‘Did I really do my job? Is my job to help with the direction of the school and kids K-12? Well, what happens after 12?’”
Patel’s hands-on approach to leadership and dedication to research led her to travel around districts in California during her earlier terms, studying innovative school practices and leading to initiatives like the CHS Wellness Center and College & Career Center. The seasoned board member aims to bring her student-centered perspective to guide CUSD through ongoing challenges.
