The Beverly Hills Education Association (BHEA) endorsed two candidates for the Beverly Hills Unified School District (BHUSD) Board of Education. Dr. Amanda Stern, current president of the Board of Education, and Dela Peykar Ronen, a local estate planning attorney, were chosen after the association conducted a review and interview process for both candidates.
The BHEA is an affiliate of the California Teachers Association and is the union that represents BHUSD teachers. They reached out to all candidates for an interview, but only two went through with the process.
“We decided to endorse Dela (Peykar) Ronen and Amanda Stern because they believe in partnerships with parents, teachers, the schools and the school board,” BHEA President Katherine Warren told the Courier. “We believe that these candidates set high expectations for academic progress and student safety.”
Peykar Ronen is a BHUSD alumna who has a daughter in first grade at El Rodeo Elementary School. She has been a member of the Beverly Hills Education Foundation since 2023, where she spreads its mission and raises funds through donations. “I am currently really involved in getting more sponsorships again, like having our name be recognized as a big part of the community—a big supporter of our schools—and bringing back its purpose,” she told the Courier. As an estate planning attorney, Peykar Ronen explained, she is a skilled advocate for her clients and knows a thing or two about navigating legal issues. “I think I have a very good understanding of different perspectives,” she said. “And with that, I’m hoping that I will be a fresh point of view for the board and bring in more knowledge that can serve in that role.”
Besides BHEA, Peykar Ronen was also endorsed by two-time Beverly Hills Mayor Barry Bucker, two-time Beverly Hills Mayor Jimmy Delshad, City Treasurer Howard Fisher, Next Night Chair Tiffany Davis and multiple members of the BHUSD community.
Stern is the current President of the BHUSD Board of Education and has spent her time advocating for an increased focus on math, especially taking into consideration the post-COVID achievement gap. “Math is the gateway for some of the most promising and relevant careers that young people can have,” she told the Courier. As she explained, math is an important skill for acceptance into programs for advanced degrees and it is a cornerstone for careers in the health sciences. As an experienced school psychologist who holds a master’s degree from the Harvard School of Education, math has been fundamental in Stern’s career.
Besides BHEA, Stern has also received endorsements from former Beverly Hills Mayor Bob Wunderlich, Next Night Chair Tiffany Davis, Human Relations Commissioner Noelle Freeman and other members of the BHUSD community such as parents and former board members.
If reelected, Stern will continue as a regular board member, since her term as president is almost finished. “I look forward to serving as president again, but my current presidency will conclude in December,” she said. The current Vice President, Rachelle Marcus, will take her seat in the next term.
Two other candidates for the BHUSD Board of Education, Russell Stuart and Sigalie Sabag, were asked to interview with the BHEA for an endorsement, but they both declined.
“It’s a conflict of interest for me to seek an endorsement from the teachers’ union, because, as a board member, we negotiate with the teachers’ union,” said Sabag. “My priorities are to our students, not endorsements. I want to earn the votes by engaging directly with the residents of Beverly Hills so you can get to know me.”
Although she declined an interview to be endorsed by BHEA, Sabag is currently endorsed by ICAN, the California Disabilities Network.
Stuart, who stated he is not seeking any trade union endorsements, declined an interview with BHEA for similar reasons to Sabag. “In my opinion, I didn’t even want to take the interview to have the opportunity to be endorsed by a group of people that we need to work with, but also be critical of if there are any issues, and of course the people that we negotiate our contracts with,” he said.
As a father to a daughter in first grade, Stuart’s main priority is protecting the students and their environment. “We’re planning on raising our daughter in this, city and district through her entire grade schooling,” he said. “I want to make sure of every single thing, not only for my daughter but for all kids in the district, for their safety for their prosperity and for the relationships that they have.”
