Jennifer Ballerini

Meet Jennifer

I’m Jennifer Ballerini, and I am honored to seek your support as I run for Area 6 Trustee with the Elk Grove Unified School District. My family and I have been active members of the Elk Grove community for over 37 years. We moved to this area to provide full-time care for my mother after she suffered a stroke, and since then we have deeply embedded ourselves in this vibrant community.

Professional Journey

My career in the Elk Grove Unified School District spans 31 years, beginning as a Yard Duty at a local elementary school. Inspired and encouraged by my colleagues, I pursued higher aspirations and became a Paraeducator, working with students of all abilities at both the elementary and middle school levels. As an active parent involved in the PTA and Site Council, I collaborated closely with the school Library Technician on various events, leading me to earn a Library Technology Certificate from Sacramento City College.

While balancing the responsibilities of caring for two young children, a disabled mother, and supporting my husband stationed overseas, I started working as a Library Technician at my children’s elementary school. My journey in libraries took me to elementary, middle, and high schools, including being part of the opening team at Franklin Community Library, the only joint-use library in the district. Later, I served as a Program Assistant in the Positive Youth Development Department, which supports student leadership, foster youth, drug and alcohol prevention, homelessness, and provided vaccination clinics for underinsured community members. My last position was as an Athletics/Facilities Office Technician, where I supported school athletic programs and recognized student excellence.

For the last 10 years of my career, I also served as President of AFSCME, Local 258, representing approximately 1200 Classified Staff in 150 different job classifications. My responsibilities included negotiating union contracts, representing employee's issues, participating in district committees like PIE (Partners in Education), and co-chairing the Joint Health Care Coalition (JHCC).

Family and Community Involvement

My family enjoys living in Elk Grove for its welcoming, diverse community and small-town feel. We participate in local events like the Annual Western Festival and the World Record for Christmas Caroling, and we are avid supporters of the summer reading program at the public library. My husband, a Veteran of the United States Coast Guard, retired after 20 years of service and from EGUSD. My son-in-law has worked in the EGUSD Classified workforce for 12 years. Both of my daughters attended Elk Grove Schools, graduated from CSU Sacramento, and taught in the district. My oldest daughter has been teaching at the elementary level for 18 years, while my youngest, after teaching math at Laguna Creek High School, now works as a Library Science Instructor at Solano Community College.

Pandemic Response

In December 2020, I made the difficult decision to retire to provide educational support for my autistic grandsons, who were struggling with the negative impacts of distance learning during the pandemic. The pandemic forced district leadership to adapt quickly, making unprecedented changes that continue to affect our community. One positive outcome was achieving a 1:1 student-to-technology ratio. However, the social, emotional, and learning deficits are still evident. As funding to address these issues dwindles, we must continue to provide support to close the achievement gap and build on our digital advancements.

Focus Areas

The area of Elk Grove that I will represent is facing some unique challenges and there are other challenges that affect the entire district. These are some of the challenges I will focus on as your trustee: libraries, facility equity, overcrowding in schools, college and career readiness, as well as improving everyone's educational experience. To look at these issues in more detail visit the Issues page of my site.

Campaign Pledge

I cannot make these changes alone. The EGUSD School Board is a team of dedicated leaders committed to making our district more inclusive, equitable, and welcoming. We must listen to our constituents, work together transparently, and manage the budget wisely. My experience, knowledge, and leadership uniquely qualify me to serve as your Elk Grove Unified School District Board Trustee, representing Area 6. I have the experience that matters!