Ahead of the November general election, the Southern California News Group compiled a list of questions to pose to the candidates who wish to represent you. You can find the full questionnaire below.
Name: Vernon Miller
Age: 31
Current job title: Realtor
Incumbent: No
Other political positions held: Alternate Senior Citizens Commissioner (Cypress City Council appointed)
City where you reside: Cypress
Campaign website or social media: vernonforcypress.com
What are the top two needs of your school district, and how are you prepared to address them? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
Our district’s two most pressing challenges are maintaining long-term financial stability and addressing declining enrollment.
Earlier this year, the district shared the need for $3.3 million in ongoing budget reductions for the 2026-27 school year. Since then, our current board and district leaders have worked hard to address this challenge through staffing changes, reorganization, and careful budgeting. While progress has been made, we need to continue monitoring our finances to ensure the district remains financially healthy for years to come. My background in real estate has given me a strong understanding of budgets, evaluating costs, and making responsible financial decisions with long-term consequences. I would bring that same discipline to the board while prioritizing resources that directly support our students and classrooms.
Declining enrollment also plays a large role in our financial outlook. We should continue strengthening the student experience and exploring forward-thinking programs that make Cypress schools attractive to families. I have enjoyed hearing our new superintendent Dr. Litfin’s ideas for expanding opportunities for students and look forward to working collaboratively with district leadership to build on the progress already being made.
To you, what is the role of a school board in education? Is it driving policy, being involved in curriculum, something else entirely? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
I believe the school board’s role is governance, not day-to-day administration. Trustees should set policy and priorities, adopt a fiscally responsible budget, provide oversight, and hold the superintendent accountable while giving our educators and admin the ability to do their jobs effectively. Every decision should ultimately be centered around student success and ensuring they are educated to the highest standard.
That also means listening to parents and empowering them to be true partners in their children’s education. My priorities are to educate, empower, and energize: educate our students to the highest standards, empower parents to participate in their children’s education, and energize our community to rally behind our schools.
I’m not running to bring politics into the classroom or to micromanage our educators. I’m running to provide responsible leadership, ask thoughtful questions, make sound policy and budget decisions, and help create the conditions for our students, teachers, and school to thrive.
How do you feel artificial intelligence is, or isn’t, safe in the classroom? In what instances should it be expanded in the classroom? What about when it should be limited? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
Artificial intelligence has great potential in education, but it should be used as a tool to enhance learning, not replace it.
My biggest concern is that unrestricted use could prevent students from developing the critical thinking, writing, problem-solving, and research skills they need to succeed independently.
At the same time, AI will increasingly be part of the world our students enter, so I don’t believe ignoring or banning it entirely prepares them for the future. With appropriate safeguards, it can help teachers identify areas where students may need additional support, personalize learning, and introduce students to emerging technology in an age-appropriate way.
Its use should be limited when it substitutes for a student’s own work, compromises student privacy, or interferes with developing foundational skills. I would support clear, safe, age-appropriate district guidelines that give teachers and families confidence about how AI is being used while allowing our schools to responsibly embrace technology that can improve the student experience.
How do you believe schools can better teach or engage students in civil discourse? How would you like to see your district tackle this issue? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
We are living in a time when being able to respectfully and intelligently share our ideas is becoming increasingly important. The world we live in is constantly changing, and with that will naturally come disagreements between people and their beliefs. I believe it is imperative that we educate our students to their highest potential so they are equipped to be leaders one day, confident in expressing their ideas while also willing to listen to and respectfully consider the perspectives of others.
Civil discourse is a skill that can be taught and practiced. I would like our schools to create age-appropriate opportunities for students to discuss ideas, work through disagreements, collaborate with classmates, and learn how to support their positions with facts and thoughtful reasoning. Students should learn that disagreeing with someone does not require disrespecting them. Our goal should not be to teach students what to think, but to give them the knowledge, critical-thinking skills, and confidence to think for themselves, engage respectfully with others, and become thoughtful participants in their communities.
Some school districts around California are recruiting teachers by building subsidized housing. How would you suggest your district could better attract — and retain — educators? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
Attracting and retaining quality educators should be one of our district’s highest priorities. Teachers are at the heart of the student experience, and we should support them through competitive compensation, strong professional development, a positive working environment, and stable leadership that listens to and values their input.
While I understand why some California districts are exploring subsidized employee housing, I do not believe developing housing should be a priority for the Cypress School District at this time. With our district already facing a significant budget deficit and declining enrollment, our limited resources should remain focused on students, classrooms, educators, and maintaining long-term financial stability.
Orange County’s high cost of living is a real challenge for teachers and working families. Rather than taking on the financial responsibility of becoming a housing provider, I would look for creative ways to make Cypress a district where great educators want to build their careers. For example, by providing competitive compensation as resources allow, opportunities for professional growth, supportive administration, and a culture of respect and collaboration.
What experiences and priorities do you bring to this role? What have you learned in prior leadership roles that makes you the person for the job? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
I was raised to understand the importance of service to my community and responsibility to others. Growing up in the Boy Scouts of America and ultimately earning the rank of Eagle Scout taught me that leadership is rooted in preparation, accountability, and service. I also coach students of all ages in Muay Thai, a martial art that emphasizes discipline, respect, confidence, and perseverance. Last year, I had the opportunity to lead a martial arts clinic for our Cypress youth, introducing them to these values while helping them discover their own abilities. Coaching has taught me that good leadership isn’t about having all the answers; it’s about recognizing people’s individual strengths and helping them succeed.
Finally, as a Realtor, clients trust me to guide them through some of the largest financial decisions of their lives. That responsibility requires me to listen, communicate clearly, evaluate complex information, negotiate effectively, and always put the people I represent first. Cypress School District has gone through some big changes recently, and I look forward to working collaboratively with district leadership and our community as we enter this new chapter.
If your campaign had a mascot, what would it be and why? (Please answer in 200 words or fewer.)
My campaign’s mascot would be the tsuru, or Japanese crane. The crane represents balance, strength, and stability; qualities I believe are important in effective school board leadership. Our board needs balance to work productively, steady leadership when making difficult decisions, and the discipline to keep students at the center of every discussion.
The tsuru also has personal meaning to me. As a product of Landell Elementary and the Cypress School District, I can speak firsthand about the foundation and stability these schools provided me. I want today’s students to have that same opportunity and for our district to remain a place our community can be proud of for generations to come.
On a lighter note, I also feel the tsuru would look pretty cool as a mascot!
Bonus question: What is the best book you’ve read this year? Explain why you found it compelling.
The best book I read this year was “The Slight Edge” by Jeff Olson.
It is a personal development book built around the simple idea that small decisions and actions we make daily compound over time and ultimately determine the direction of our lives. What I found most compelling is the reminder that meaningful progress rarely comes from one major breakthrough. It comes from consistently doing the little things right, even when the immediate results may not be visible. We all experience periods of motivation, plateaus, and setbacks, but maintaining that “slight edge” can keep us moving in the right direction. Now I don’t think it’s realistic to expect ourselves to constantly move forward without setbacks, but what I took from the book is the importance of recognizing those moments, staying disciplined, and continuing to improve. The idea of simply trying to be 1% better than yesterday is something I’ve carried with me in both personal and professional life.