California Superintendent Candidate Challenges Teachers Union

Sonja Shaw, a candidate for superintendent in California and president of the Chino Valley Unified School District board, has faced criticism from the United Teachers Los Angeles union (UTLA). A video showing a union leader labeling Shaw as a ‘real threat’ has surfaced. This comes amid concerns about her potential election causing issues for the union.

Shaw has openly criticized the union, pointing to poor academic performance in Los Angeles schools. She highlights that more than half of the students do not meet the state standards in English and nearly two-thirds fall short in math. The California Department of Education confirms these statistics, showing that in 2025, 46.46% of LAUSD students met English standards and 36.76% met mathematics standards.

‘I’m not surprised the Los Angeles teachers union sees me as a threat,’ Shaw said in a statement. She accused UTLA of focusing on protecting the education system rather than addressing poor student performance.

The recording suggested union’s opposition to her campaign.

Shaw remains firm in her campaign message of prioritizing children and families. She asserts that if this poses a problem to the union’s agenda, it underscores her commitment to her values.

Corey DeAngelis, from The Heritage Foundation, shared the video featuring a woman stating that Shaw poses a ‘real threat.’ The speaker, reportedly Julie Van Winkle, the vice president of UTLA’s affiliate, warns that Shaw’s election would cause issues for the union.

UTLA has endorsed Shaw’s opponent, Richard Barrera. They describe Barrera as having a strong record of working with educators to enhance education funding. Extensive spending has backed Barrera’s campaign, illustrating organized labor’s significant investment.

Republican Party Chair Roxanne Hoge connected the criticism with recent changes by Governor Gavin Newsom that reduced the superintendent’s power, hinting at Shaw’s disruptive potential.

Fox News Digital sought comments from UTLA and Newsom’s office. CJ Womack, an associate editor with experience in political journalism, contributed to the reporting.