Candidate Forum 2026: WJUSD

Chukwunedum “Chuck” Amajioyi is a parent, small business owner, and candidate for the Woodland Joint Unified School District Board of Trustees, Area 7. A Woodland resident for sixteen years and the proud father of four children attending Woodland public schools. Chuck has a personal stake in ensuring that every student receives an excellent education in a safe, welcoming, and supportive environment.

Chuck earned an Associate Degree in Mathematics from Contra Costa College and a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science with a Minor in Economics from UC Davis. He is currently completing a Master of Science in Business Analytics at Sacramento State. His education, combined with years of managing a local business, has strengthened his commitment to data-informed decision-making, responsible budgeting, transparency, and accountability.

Chuck’s priorities include improving academic achievement, strengthening early literacy and mathematics, supporting and retaining excellent teachers and staff, improving student safety, addressing chronic absenteeism, and ensuring that English learners, students with disabilities, LGBTQ+ students, immigrant students, and students from every background have the opportunity to succeed.

A major priority for Chuck is advancing the long-planned middle school on the site south of Pioneer High School. He supports developing a realistic funding strategy that brings together available Spring Lake developer-fee funds, future developer fees, eligible state school-facilities funding, bond and capital resources, and other legally available funding.

Chuck believes effective school-board leadership begins with listening. He will seek meaningful input from students, parents, educators, classified employees, and community members before making major decisions.

His approach is simple: put students first, support the people who educate them, spend taxpayer dollars responsibly, and plan for Woodland’s future.

Chuck is committed to bringing a parent’s perspective, collaborative leadership, and fiscal accountability to the WJUSD Board while working to ensure that every Woodland student has the opportunity to learn, grow, and succeed.

Dr. Eric Garber is an experienced educator running for the WJUSD School Board and a proud Woodland parent. In 2009, Eric and his wife, Anja, moved to the Spring Lake area of Woodland, where they have loved raising their four daughters. Their weekends are filled with youth soccer games, Girl Scouts, and frequent trips to the library. Deeply invested in the community, all four of their daughters attend WJUSD schools.

Now in his 28th year in public education, Eric serves as a school principal in a neighboring district, bringing a grounded, practical perspective to the board. His career spans roles as a classroom teacher, site administrator, and district leader. Holding a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from UC Davis, Eric combines a high-level understanding of educational policy with direct daily experience implementing it in the classroom.
Beyond his career, Eric has spent 14 years actively advocating for Woodland schools. He served on key community committees that established Spring Lake Elementary, shaped the Facilities Master Plan, and developed the WJUSD Graduate Profile. Over the last eight years, he has also been elected to chair three separate WJUSD School Site Councils.

Eric’s platform centers on three core priorities:
• Restoring Trust & Transparency through open, accountable governance.
• Supporting & Retaining Teachers by prioritizing competitive compensation and classroom resources.
• Providing Accessible Leadership that stays truly responsive to families and staff.
Combining the insights of a career educator with the passion of a dedicated parent volunteer, Eric is running to bring experienced, collaborative leadership to the WJUSD School Board.