Vote for Karey Shaffer

Election Day - November 3, 2026

Carmel Unified School District
Governing Board
Trustee Area 2

Honoring Our Legacy.Building Our Future.

Our students are entering a world shaped by rapid technological change, evolving career demands, and rising costs. To prepare them, we need thoughtful leadership—a balance of forward-thinking innovation and disciplined fiscal responsibility that keeps students at the center of every decision.

I am running for the Carmel Unified School District Governing Board (Trustee Area 2) to help guide our district through these opportunities and challenges. CUSD’s legacy of academic excellence is built on dedicated educators, engaged families, and strong community support. My goal is to preserve those core strengths while responsibly preparing our schools for the future.

I bring collaborative leadership, deep experience in budget and program management, a commitment to transparency, and an unwavering focus on student success.

As we make crucial decisions regarding facility modernization, emerging technologies, fiscal sustainability, and student well-being, we must avoid both stagnating in the status quo and abandoning what already works. By adapting thoughtfully, supporting our educators, and investing wisely, we can ensure Carmel Unified remains a point of pride for generations to come.

Karey Shaffer, candidate for CUSD Governing Board Trustee Area 2

About Karey

A lifelong learner and experienced program leader.

Collaborative leadership, budget and program management experience, and a commitment to education and student success.

“Lifelong learners don’t pretend to have all the answers. They ask good questions, seek out mentors, experiment, adapt, and keep moving forward.”

Learning, Adapting, and Building Partnerships

Education has always been part of who I am. As the daughter of a math teacher, I learned early on the power of strong schools. Throughout my career, I have focused on building forward-looking initiatives in higher education—work that requires discipline, collaboration, and persistence to turn good ideas into lasting success.

Key Experience & Background

Founding Program Manager & Research Associate | Naval Postgraduate School (20+ Years)

  • Lead a forward-looking research initiative managing multimillion-dollar annual budgets.
  • Oversee strategic planning, fiscal responsibility, program compliance, and stakeholder engagement across government, industry, and academia.
  • Managing competing priorities: In managing a multimillion-dollar public program, I have had to weigh competing priorities when available funding could not support every worthwhile project. I work to identify essential requirements, understand the tradeoffs, phase work when appropriate, and keep spending connected to clear goals and responsible follow-through.

First Operations Manager | Montana World Trade Center (University of Montana)

  • Built and launched the first-ever campus-hosted World Trade Center supported by federal appropriations.
  • Developed operational strategy, refined processes, and cultivated key regional partnerships without an existing blueprint.

Education & Community Commitment

  • BA, Business Administration, University of Montana
  • MBA, San Francisco State University
  • Firm believer that strong schools build strong communities, and every student deserves access to an exceptional education.

I Bring …

A Student-Centered Perspective

  • Core Question: How does every decision directly benefit our students?

A Focus on the Future

  • Responsible stewardship for facility modernization, technology investments, student readiness, and long-term financial sustainability.

Listening & Collaboration

  • Transparent governance that actively engages students, families, teachers, staff, and community members in the decision-making process.

Proven Fiscal & Operational Leadership

  • Over two decades of experience managing public resources, large budgets, and complex programs with discipline and transparency.

How I Will Make Decisions

Good governance means asking clear questions before casting a vote. For every significant decision, I will use these five tests:

Does it benefit students?

  • Will this decision strengthen student learning, well-being, safety, opportunity, or readiness for the future?

What does the evidence show?

  • I will look for sound information, ask thoughtful questions, and learn from the experience of educators, families, students, and staff.

Have we considered the alternatives and tradeoffs?

  • Every choice has consequences. I will consider reasonable options openly and be clear about what each one asks of our schools and community.

Can CUSD afford it and implement it well?

  • A good idea must fit the district’s resources, staffing, timeline, and long-term responsibilities—not just its immediate appeal.

How will we measure progress and follow through?

  • I will support clear goals, regular public updates, and a willingness to adjust when results do not match what students and families need.

These questions will not make every decision easy, but they will help keep the Board’s work focused, transparent, fiscally responsible, and accountable to students and the community.