Celeste Kafri

Celeste is a candidate for the Santa Barbara Unified School Board with a vision to enhance the educational experience for all students. With a background in volunteerism and advocacy, Celeste co-founded a parents' group dedicated to advocating for science-based reading instruction in the Goleta Union School District. This initiative led to significant improvements in reading proficiency among students.

Drawing from her experience as a volunteer, including her service in the Peace Corps in Ethiopia and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate, Celeste understands the importance of effective school board leadership in driving student success. Her educational background includes a degree in Economics from Swarthmore and an MBA from UCLA Anderson, complemented by operational and finance expertise gained from her work at BlueLabs.

If elected, Celeste plans to collaborate with the Board to establish clear and achievable goals, promote family and community engagement, and advocate for a thriving academic environment within the SBUSD. In her leisure time, she enjoys outdoor activities and spending time with her family.