Get the Schools Right, Get the City Right.

About Me

Hi, my name is Lefteris Eleftheriou and I am running for San Francisco Unified School District’s (SFUSD) Board of Education. I have a bachelor’s degree in engineering, a master’s degree in education, and owned and operated an art school in Belmont for several years.

I live in the Parkside / West Portal neighborhood in District 7 with my wife, Jane. We have a deep respect and endearment for all children, and want to watch them thrive. We are very active in our six-year old nephew’s life, having helped to raise him from the time he was a newborn. We also joined with several neighbors in 2022 to oppose a cannabis dispensary from opening on our block, as it is heavily populated with children and children-related businesses and services.

I attended public schools and universities throughout my entire life. My parents are Greek-Cypriot immigrants and I was born and raised in Ypsilanti, Michigan. I’ve lived in the Bay Area since 2005 and now consider San Francisco my home.

More ways to learn about me:

• Short YouTube clip I made

• Brief Interview with John Rothmann from The Voice of SF

• Feature article on School Board election from SF Examiner

• Bi-weekly questions from MIssion Local

• Questions for the School Board Candidates from The Frisc

Why I Am Running

Our political and educational leaders seemed to have lost touch with what it means to educate and raise a healthy child, who will have the knowledge and emotional maturity to become a successful adult. I am running for school board, because I believe I have the skill set and experience to help get us back on the right track.

For example, most politicians in San Francisco are concerned with their career path and being elected, so they put their constituents’ needs second after their own ambitions. This is not working. The constituents or stakeholders, which include teachers, parents, and children, must come first.

Second, backroom deals, money, and favors are baked into the political process. These influences dominate and drive how politicians vote, draft policies, and make decisions that are generally best for them, and not in the interest of the stakeholders. This is not working either.

Third, conversations are one-way; typically, it’s the politicians, motivated by money, favors, and personal gain, telling their constituents what is best for them, instead of the other way around. While I ran my after-school programs at Lascaux Academy, I made it a priority to have regular discussions with my teachers, students, and the parents to learn what it is they want in a quality education. I took their feedback seriously, and although we could not always agree and the conversations were sometimes difficult and uncomfortable, I did my best to listen.

Similarly, as an elected official of your public school board, I will do my best to listen to you, my constituents. If you have a problem or concern and we can agree on the solution, that’s great. If we cannot agree, then that does not mean our conversation ends. In fact our conversation is just beginning, and we will continue to discuss and follow up with each other. For example, I will reach out to other stakeholders to see if they have similar concerns, and try to build consensus for you. If necessary, I will conduct surveys, visit parent and neighborhood groups and ask their opinions, or organize town hall meetings, if enough constituents feel the same way as you.

I will do this, because that’s my job. As a public servant, I work for you. Being honest and transparent and letting you know where I stand on issues, along with putting your needs first and having two-way conversations, are laying the groundwork for getting our public education system back on the right track. And by getting our schools right, we will get San Francisco right, because, ultimately, it is our youth who will lead and govern our city.

I am proud to have received the endorsement of Judge Quentin Kopp, former San Francisco supervisor, senator, and retired Superior Court judge.

One last thing….please Vote No on Prop K and let’s keep the Great Hwy open for all to enjoy, including our neighbors who drive cars.

Thank you for visiting my site and please let me know if you have any questions or comments or would like more information about me. You can reach me below.