California Principal is Back After Rigging Student Election to Ensure Her Child Became President

A Santa Barbara elementary school principal is back on campus after acknowledging that she helped override a student election in which her own child became president without receiving the most votes, according to the Santa Barbara News-Press.

Washington Elementary Principal Arielle Curry returned October 9 after being placed on administrative leave September 28. Her return came after a letter to families that addressed her role in the election.

Two positions were affected. In both cases, the runner-up received the office instead of the student who finished first.

The school’s official website lists Curry as principal and identifies Washington as a campus serving transitional kindergarten through sixth grade. Established in 1953, the school is part of the Santa Barbara Unified School District.

After the Count

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The election involved about 200 fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-grade students, the Santa Barbara Independent reported. Candidates needed an election form completed by their teacher and approved by the principal before getting on the ballot. They made campaign posters and delivered speeches asking classmates for their votes.

The offices carried responsibilities and privileges beyond a title. Student government members could leave class for meetings and help choose school events. The president also had the opportunity to deliver the graduation speech at the end of the year.

In the letter excerpts accompanying that report, Curry acknowledged leading deliberations after the ballots were tallied. She apologized for allowing the practice to continue and described a selection process that lacked fairness and transparency.

Back on Campus

The News-Press’s account also included Curry’s acknowledgment that having her children attend the school she leads requires objectivity in both her actions and how those actions are perceived. She pledged to lead changes to the process.

The district email accompanying her letter, excerpted in the same report, came from assistant superintendents Sonia Wilson and John Becchio. They acknowledged uncertainty and concern within the school community and identified priorities: supporting students and staff, strengthening relationships, and rebuilding trust.

“We are confident that Ms. Curry can lead this work,” they wrote.

In a separate response to the Independent, Becchio, the assistant superintendent for human resources, stated the district’s expectation: “The district expects that for student/ASB elections, the candidate with the most votes wins.” He also asked that the students’ privacy be protected.