Oficina de Educación del Condado de Contra CostaCandidato para Superintendente Escolar del Condado

Ron Leone is a man who is passionate about education. From humble beginnings, Ron and his four siblings were raised in the Bay View/Hunter’s Point district of San Francisco. Despite his mother having never graduated from high school and his father dropping out of Junior High, Ron found early success in the classroom. Ron started school strong; he skipped a grade level and was placed in an advanced reading program. He was also a member of the National Honor Society in high school and became the

first in his family to go to college, graduating with a bachelor’s degree and a teaching credential from San Francisco State University. He went on to obtain a master’s degree and an administrative credential from Saint Mary’s College in Moraga. Ron now has over forty years of experience in education. He’s been a teacher (and was awarded Teacher of the Year in the San Ramon Unified School District), a coach, a principal, and held several administrative roles, including his work as the Director of Student Services in the Antioch Unified School District.

Throughout his career, Ron has believed in the principle that, “every student counts,” and he’s

worked diligently to ensure that every student he encounters has the same chance for success that he had. In recent years, however, Ron has witnessed a decline in the quality of education in the County and has become aware of some troubling statistics. Currently, less than half of Contra Costa students meet the state standards for English and math. Also troubling, the Grand Jury reported that Contra Costa County has the worst school attendance rate of all nine Bay Area counties. There are also budget problems, including the County Office of Education failing to pay its unfunded retirement liability debts. Beyond that, a “one size fits all” approach has led to declining enrollment and lower performance in some districts. As a result, other districts have become impacted as parents move their children between schools to increase their chances for success. 

For these reasons, Ron has declared for the position of Contra Costa County Superintendent of Education, and his name will appear on the June ballot.

Ron’s platform includes moving away from the cookie-cutter approach to education that is increasingly

prevalent. At a lunch meeting recently, Ron said, “Not every student wants to take the same path to success. One of the things that I’d like to do is create more opportunities for vocational training. As

it stands now, there are very limited options for students. One district might promote woodworking, another mechanical engineering. I’m proposing that we establish a Regional Occupation Program (ROP), where school districts come together, combine resources, and provide a multitude of options for those who desire to learn vocational skills. I saw, first-hand, the benefits of this approach when the Fremont Unified, Newark, and New Haven school districts worked to establish their joint ROP.”

As County Superintendent, Ron will work to expand programs that offer the 21st century

training in coding, robotics, and 3-D technology. He will also work to implement stronger intervention programs to help students who are struggling to keep up with their classmates. Ron will ensure that budgets are carefully managed, and that teachers are provided with the tools and support

they need to be successful in the classroom. 

With school safety a major concern, Ron is endorsed by the local police and District Attorney’s associations. 

To learn more, contact Ron at RonaldLeone@comcast.net.