Conservative California superintendent candidate Sonja Shaw is openly confronting the United Teachers Los Angeles union (UTLA). Shaw gained attention after a video surfaced allegedly showing a union leader calling her a ‘real threat’ and expressing concern that her election ‘would cause a huge problem for us.’
Shaw, who serves as president of the Chino Valley Unified School District board, criticized UTLA, claiming it prioritizes the education establishment over student achievement. She highlighted low student performance in Los Angeles, citing that more than half of students struggle with reading at grade level and nearly two-thirds face difficulties in math. Shaw accused the union of maintaining a system that leads to such results.
‘I’m not surprised the Los Angeles teachers union sees me as a threat,’ Shaw said. ‘Instead of helping kids, UTLA has worked to keep parents uninformed and excused failure.’
Recent California Department of Education data supports Shaw’s claims. In 2025, only 46.46% of LAUSD students reached or surpassed the English language arts standard, while 36.76% met the math standard.
Shaw remained firm in her approach despite the criticism, stating that her focus on children and families will continue. ‘If prioritizing children is a problem for their agenda, it speaks volumes. I won’t back down,’ she asserted.
The controversy stems from a recording shared by Corey DeAngelis, a research fellow at The Heritage Foundation. In it, a woman referred to Shaw as a ‘real threat’ and discussed efforts to prevent her from leading public education. The California Post identified the speaker as Julie Van Winkle, UTLA AFT vice president.
DeAngelis commented on the situation, viewing the criticism as proof of Shaw’s threat to union power. He described the audio as an endorsement for Shaw, stating, ‘When a teachers union calls you a threat to their agenda, you’re clearly on target.’
UTLA has endorsed Shaw’s opponent, Richard Barrera, president of the San Diego Unified School District Board. Barrera is backed by organized labor, with significant financial support directed toward his campaign.
California Secretary of State data revealed that the California Teachers Association Independent Expenditure Committee has spent over $5 million supporting Barrera, with only $10,000 directed towards Shaw.
Roxanne Hoge, Los Angeles County Republican Party Chair, linked the controversy to recent changes in the superintendent’s role following Gov. Gavin Newsom’s reforms.
Fox News Digital reached out to UTLA and Newsom’s office for comments regarding this matter.