TEMECULA, CA — Longtime educator and community advocate Karen Poznanski is taking the next step: running for the Temecula Valley Unified School District Board of Education, Trustee Area 3, according to her campaign.
She will face off against the seat currently held by Board Trustee Jen Wiersma, Board Vice Clerk, whose term expires in December 2026.
"I've had a lot of positive feedback, I think the families here in Temecula are becoming exhausted by the division and the chaos," Poznanski said. She has lived in Temecula for eight years and is a resident of Trustee Area 3. She has lived in the valley for 23 years and has raised her family in the public education system.
She is working toward her doctorate in education policy, which she believes will equip her to impact classrooms through policy.
"Students first is my top priority," she said. "After four years of this leadership, we are not putting students first. Taxpayer dollars should be going into classrooms and not legal issues. Every decision that I will make will always have students at the center. We have to stop the division, the distractions and the students' academics."
"For me, this was never about political theater or division," Poznanski said in a recent news release. "It was about policy, process, and the responsibility elected officials have to follow the law, even when it is unpopular."
A public school teacher with 15 years of classroom experience, Poznanski said her decision to run came after watching increasing conflict and legal controversy dominate board meetings while community trust eroded, according to her statement.
"I stood at that podium because I believed the community deserved to be heard," she said. "I may not always agree with every person who comes before the board, but I absolutely believe they deserve respect, transparency, and leadership grounded in lawful governance."
Poznanski emphasized that her campaign focuses on restoring professionalism, improving communication with families, and ensuring that decisions remain centered on students rather than on political agendas.
"One of the biggest lessons I have learned throughout this process is that school board members are not elected to govern based solely on personal beliefs," Poznanski said. "They are elected to serve the entire community while operating within the law. As a board member, I will listen carefully to parents and community members, but I will never knowingly support actions that place the district, its students, or taxpayers at legal risk."
Her campaign platform centers on:
• Strong academics and student achievement,
• Fiscal responsibility and transparency,
• Safe and supportive schools,
• Respectful engagement with families and staff,
• Legally sound and accountable governance.
Poznanski says her campaign represents a shift away from chaos and toward stability and trust.
"Our community deserves leadership that can disagree respectfully, listen thoughtfully, and govern responsibly," she said. "This campaign is about bringing the focus back where it belongs: students, schools, and the future of this district." For more information about Karen Poznanski’s campaign for TVUSD Trustee Area 3, visit www.VotePoz.com.
The TVUSD Governing Board Member seats currently held by Emil Barham, Trustee Area 2, and Dr. Joseph Komrosky, Trustee Area 4, the sitting board president, will also expire in December.
Sign up for free local newsletters and alerts for the
Temecula, CA Patch
Patch.com is the nationwide leader in hyperlocal news.
Visit Patch.com to find your town today.