Sandra Virginia Buendia, Ed.D.

I was born and raised in East Los Angeles, California. My parents immigrated from Mexico and later became citizens of the United States of America. They instilled in me the belief that education is the key to accessing personal and professional opportunities and success.

I was a teacher for over 10 years, with my experience spanning three states: California, Illinois, and Utah. I moved to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1997. I dedicated 27 of my 37 years in education to serving in the SLCSD. I held many leadership roles that gave me a deep understanding of how to better serve and support students, families, and teachers in the city and district. 

My daughters attended the district, and now my grandchildren are enrolled in local schools. I believe in public schools.

To achieve the highest outcomes for all students, I know that there is work to do. I believe that SLCSD has great teachers, counselors, administrators, and support staff. I believe that we have strong communities that care about students and schools. 

Being part of the school board for precinct 5 will allow me to leverage my experience, expertise, and district knowledge to create a more effective school board that centers actions and decisions on students’ best interest and needs.

The future is bright for SLCSD. Through partnerships with families, educators, businesses, and community leaders, we can create learning environments that set up all students for success in life and career.