Incumbents face four challengers in Areas 2, 3 and 5
Hesperia, Calif. (Our Hesperia) — Hesperia Unified School District Board of Trustees is up for the November 3, 2026 election where incumbents Christian Steen, Eric Swanson, and Mark Dundon are running to extend their service. According to the updated list on the San Bernardo County Registrar of Voters’ website of August 21, all of the three races are contested. So voters in Trustee Areas 2, 3, and 5 will have to select three representatives, who will serve on the board that oversees the district serving 23,000+ students.
This election comes after a four-year period that saw Hesperia earn two California Distinguished School recognitions, a California Exemplary Arts Education Award, a Model Continuation High School honor, and expand community-school services, perform arts facilities’ construction and opening, career and dual enrollment preparation, superintendent change, and graduation of the 2026 class of nearly 1,900 students. All of those achievements happened under the current term of 2022-2026 of the three incumbents, but they are all districtwide achievements involving the students, teachers, classified, administrators, families, and community partners and policies and budget decisions of the elected board. Thus, it would not be right to attribute them solely to any one of the trustees.
Three of HUSD’s Five Trustee Areas are on the Ballot
Hesperia Unified School District has a five-member Board of Trustees elected from geographical trustee areas. In 2026, three trustee seats are:
– Trustee Area 2: Christian Steen (incumbent) is facing Thomas Joseph Kerman and Genevieve Johnston.
– Trustee Area 3: Eric Swanson (incumbent) is facing Caitlin Jones.
– Trustee Area 5: Mark Dundon (incumbent) is facing Francis “Fran” Herdlein.
Trustees Maria Gomez (Area 1) and Manny Lin (Area 4) serve terms until 2028 and are not on the 2026 ballot. The county Registrar specifies the date of Election Day as November 3. Candidate filing period was July 13 to August 7. Mail ballots start arriving on October 5 and the voter registration deadline is October 19.
HUSD’s History Goes Back to Unification in 1987
Hesperia Unified School District was formed in 1987 in a response to rapid population growth in the Victor Valley. Prior to unification, the elementary education in most of Hesperia took place in Hesperia Elementary School District, and high school students were enrolled in Victor Valley Union High School District. In 1987, Hesperia’s elementary schools and some portion of the high schools were united into a K-12 system. HUSD is described by the district as a district serving Hesperia and parts of Oak Hills, Victorville and neighboring unincorporated areas.
As the city and the nearby communities continued growing, the HUSD kept adding elementary, middle, and high school campuses, as well as alternative education, independent study, career-technical, and adult education programs. On the district’s web site, it is mentioned that HUSD operates 25 schools sites: 15 elementary schools, 3 middle schools, 3 comprehensive high schools, 2 alternative high schools, an independent study school, and a career/adult education center. The district serves more than 23,000 students from pre-kindergarten to high school, plus adult learners, employing over 2,500 people and making it one of the major employers in the High Desert. The service area is about 140 sq mi including the City of Hesperia, the City of Victorville and parts of unincorporated San Bernardo County.
Current HUSD Leadership
HUSD is headed by the Superintendent Dr. Michelle Smith, succeeding the long-time Superintendent David Olney who retired June 30, 2025. Dr. Smith started as superintendent on July 1, 2025. As per district materials, Dr. Smith’s appointment is the first appointment of a woman in the position of HUSD superintendent. HUSD’s executive management includes: Dr. Amanda Arceo (Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services); Daniel Polmounter (Assistant Superintendent of Personnel Services); Candace Reines (Assistant Superintendent of Business Services); Isaac Newman-Gomez (Assistant Superintendent of Innovative Technology and Communication), and Jon Billings (Chief of the Hesperia School Police Department).
Achievements of the HUSD During the 2022-2026 Board Term
During the 2022-2026 term, HUSD achieved a number of milestones in academics, student services, facilities, and recognition. In 2024, Hesperia High School and Oak Hills High School received the honor of becoming California Distinguished Schools, which is a well-recognized program reflecting student achievement, growth and overall school performance. In 2025, Mojave High School was designated a California Model Continuation High School emphasizing on its alternative education focus. Hesperia High School also received a facilities milestone, with a groundbreaking of a 500-seat auditorium and the opening of the Center for the Arts in 2023 and completion of a performing arts facility by spring of 2026.
Expansion of the community-schools approach by HUSD included designation of every one of HUSD’s 25 campuses with the Family Community Liaison, and 9 campuses being developed as the community hubs under the Community Schools grants program. Services provided included family assistance and referrals, healthcare and counseling and others to reduce barriers for attendance and success. Career preparation remained a focus of HUSD, including micro-internships and experiential learning programs for juniors and seniors where students are expected to do internships totaling 20-30 hours. Starting with the Class of 2024, the HUSD board has been implementing new graduation requirements incorporating the college and career pathway, with the following options: completing A-G course work, completing Career Technical Education pathway, dual enrollment, obtaining industry certification, internship, community service, work experience, and others.
The Class of 2026
The HUSD information for 2026 offers a tangible measure of the senior achievements. HUSD reported 1,885 graduates of the Class of 2026 where about 75% have completed A-G college entrance requirements, and over 60% have completed a Career Technical Education pathway. More than 8,400 students have completed dual enrollment college credits (nearly 4,000 increase), and over 5,000 college credits through CTE articulation have been earned. Additionally, 122 seniors have earned an Associate Degree while still in high school (a district record). At 2026 senior awards ceremony, the students received nearly $6 million in scholarships to use over the next four years.
Recognitions and Student Achievements of the Individual Campus
HUSD achievements include the comprehensive, alternative, middle and elementary schools:
– Hesperia High School: 2024 California Distinguished School and 2026 California Exemplary Arts Education Award recipient (one of 19 schools statewide). Hesperia High lists on its homepage 99% graduation rate but does not specify the cohort year so cannot be regarded as verified Class of 2026 rate. School mentions its Arts recognition and Early College Academy. In 2026, 179 Hesperia High seniors have received 179 awards with about $2.1 million in scholarships received over four years;
– Oak Hills High School: 2024 California Distinguished School. At the 2026 awards, 111 seniors were recognized and received roughly $2.2 million in scholarships over four years. At Oak Hills, 20 student-athletes continue their athletic careers in colleges and universities, and students received the Best High School Film recognition at HUSD’s 2026 Innovation Expo.
– Sultana High School: 95 seniors received 151 awards in 2026, with about $423,000 in local scholarships, more than $1.2 million in university scholarships over four years, and nearly $100,000 in athletic scholarships.
– Mojave High School: 2025 California Model Continuation High School. Ten seniors have been recognized in 2026 senior awards with nearly $10,000 in scholarships;
– Shadow Ridge School: 50 seniors have received 50 awards in 2026, with about 90% of the senior class receiving award or scholarship. 72% of the Class of 2026 have completed A-G course work.
– Canyon Ridge High School: Class of 2026 graduation at Oak Hills High School was scheduled on May 20. No Class of 2026 campus graduation rate for Canyon Ridge was reported.
– Ranchero Middle School: 2022 Best of the Desert middle school winner, the beginning of the current board cycle.
– Maple Elementary School: 2022 Best of the Desert elementary school winner, a Maple student was selected as HUSD’s 2026 Elementary Student of the Year;
– Krystal School of Science, Mathematics and Technology: Engineering Champions at HUSD’s 2026 Innovation Expo, recent district esports wins in Super Smash Bros. and Mario Kart were mentioned;
– Cedar Middle School: HUSD’s 2026 Middle School Athlete of the Year from Cedar, the Cedar girls’ soccer team won its third consecutive High Desert Athletic League championship.
Trustee Area 2
Christian B. Steen – Incumbent
Steen is currently representing Trustee Area 2 and is serving as clerk of the HUSD Board of Trustees, with the term of 2022-2026. He ran for the position of Trustee Area 2 in 2022 as an appointed member and won a four-year term. As per the official results, he received 1,617 votes (43.77%) in 2022 Trustee Area 2 race.
Public contact: County Registrar and district materials list his phone number as (760) 553-4443 and his district email as christian.steen@hesperiausd.org. County candidate filing does not list any campaign website or campaign social-media account.
Thomas Joseph Kerman – Challenger
Kerman is challenging Steen and is listed by the County Registrar with ballot occupation of retired school teacher. CTA materials mention 25 years of teaching experience in Detroit and Hesperia in elementary and middle school, including instructional leadership, teacher professional development and local association leadership. He is not currently a HUSD trustee.
Public contact: (760) 662-8551 and tjkerman@gmail.com. No campaign website or social-media account listed by the county.
Genevieve Johnston – Challenger
Johnston is the third contestant for the Trustee Area 2 seat. County Registrar lists her ballot occupation as educator and principal. Currently available information at the Adelanto Elementary School District lists Genevieve Johnston as a Mesa Linda Middle School principal, having connection to Oak Hills High School materials and Hesperia school administration. She is not currently a HUSD trustee.
Public contact: GLSFROG05@gmail.com; no campaign phone number, website or social-media account listed. Staff directory at Mesa Linda Middle School lists genevieve_johnston@aesd.net.
Trustee Area 3
Eric Swanson – Incumbent
Swanson is the incumbent and is serving as a President of the HUSD Board of Trustees. His term in the Trustee Area 3 is 2022-2026 and he has the longest HUSD board history among the incumbents on the 2026 ballot. Public records list his HUSD service starting in 2001, with a break after 2006 and a return in 2010. He won the position in 2018 and 2022.
In 2022, Swanson received 1,138 votes (46.07%). Currently available information mentions that Swanson is a board president, with assignments related to regional school boards and district finances.
Swanson represents HUSD on following committees: Delegate for the California School Boards Association, executive member for San Bernardo County District Advocates for Better Schools, Legislative Chair for San Bernardo County School Boards Association and representative for HUSD on the Hesperia Tri-agency committee.
Swanson and his wife Rebekah have lived in the City of Hesperia for over 37 years and is the CEO of CISO, LLC, an Internet solutions company.
Public contact: The County Registrar lists his campaign mailing address (15555 Main Street, Suite D4-547, Hesperia, CA 92345), phone (760) 617-1143, and email eswanson@ciso.com. Campaign website is www.VoteEricSwanson.com, and there is a Facebook page of Eric Swanson Hesperia School Board. HUSD lists his district email as eric.swanson@hesperiausd.org.
Caitlin Jones – Challenger
Jones is challenging Swanson for Trustee Area 3. The County Registrar lists her ballot occupation as nonprofit leader and parent and provides a campaign email and an Instagram account, but no phone number or separate campaign website. Available public social media materials connect her with nonprofit community work, although materials are less extensive than for other candidates at this point.
Jones is not currently a HUSD trustee.
Public contact: caitlinjones4husd@gmail.com; Instagram @caitlinjones4husd. No additional contact information listed.
Trustee Area 5
Mark Dundon – Incumbent
Dundon is representing Trustee Area 5. Dundon was first elected in 2018 receiving 3,165 votes (63.58%), and was reelected in 2022, and thus will have about eight years of service by the end of 2026. In 2022, Dundon received 1,873 votes (43.26%). Professional materials list him as an educator with science and special education experience. 2021 biography by California School Boards Association mentions 15 years of teaching experience, including 9 years in special education. HUSD lists Dundon as a board member with various assignments including regional education and HUSD Financing Corporation.
Public contact: County Registrar lists his campaign phone (442) 242-0444, email markdundon4schoolboard@gmail.com, and Facebook page Mark Dundon Hesperia School Board. HUSD provides official contact at (760) 373-6885 and mark.dundon@hesperiausd.org.
Francis “Fran” Herdlein – Challenger
Herdlein is challenging Dundon for Trustee Area 5. County Registrar lists his occupation as teacher. Materials of California Teachers Association connect him with the Victor Valley Teachers Association, including representation and committee work. He is not currently a HUSD trustee. Public contact: County candidate filing does not list any campaign phone number, email, website or social-media accounts. Victor Valley Union High School District community schools publication mentions the professional email fherdlein@vvuhsd.org.
Decision that Voters Are Making
The 2026 HUSD races are taking place after the district has recovered from the disruptions of the 2020s, focusing now on the college and career preparation, attendance and student support, workforce recruitment, school safety, facilities, and long-term impact of changing technology on education. Incumbents’ records reflect a common four-year term of 2022-2026 where two comprehensive high schools received Distinguished School recognition, Mojave High School received the state recognition as a continuation school, community services have been expanded, new performing arts facility opened, dual enrollment resulted in a record number of associate degrees, and the Class of 2026 graduated 1,885 students.
Challengers come with background in classroom teaching, school administration, nonprofit work, and teacher association leadership. Since the school board members are working collectively, voters are not choosing a superintendent or a single manager; trustees approve budget, policy, labor agreements, major contracts, curriculum-related issues permitted by the state law, facilities priorities and superintendent employment, while setting the district’s direction and providing public oversight.
– Voters in Trustee Area 2 will have a decision between an incumbent who entered the last election as an appointed trustee and two challengers with educational background;
– Voters in Trustee Area 3 will have a choice between keeping the longest serving current trustee of the district and a nonprofit-focused challenger;
– Voters in Trustee Area 5 will have a decision between a two-term incumbent educator and a teacher engaged in Victor Valley education community.
At the moment, the San Bernardo County Registrar of Voters keeps describing its August 21 candidate document as unofficial, and thus, ballot information should be cross-checked with the subsequent updates before Election Day. Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, 2026.
