Student Volunteer: Could you state your name and what you’re running for?

Amy Dudich: Hi, my name is Amy Dudich. I’m running for Fullerton Joint Union High School District, Area 5.

Student Volunteer: What is one skill or experience every student should leave high school with that isn’t currently getting enough attention in schools?

Amy Dudich: Students need to learn how to advocate for themselves. In the working world, they’ll have to be their own advocates. They need to learn how to stand up for themselves and be a voice for themselves in order to succeed.

Student Volunteer: What would you do to support students who are missing too much school or falling behind?

Amy Dudich: The school needs to talk to the parents and find out why their child isn’t going to school. I believe things start at home. If needs aren’t being met, like food or clothing, those need to be addressed as soon as possible. A student’s basic physical needs have to be met before they can succeed in school.

Student Volunteer: What would you do to help students feel more prepared for college or a career after high school?

Amy Dudich: Students need classes that prepare them for life after high school, like career development classes and classes in the trades. We do have an auto program and a cooking class, but we should offer a wider variety. That way students feel comfortable going on to a trade school or a union program, and they have more avenues to success.

Student Volunteer: What’s your stance on cell phones and other personal devices in classrooms and on campus?

Amy Dudich: Cell phones can be good and bad. In the Fullerton Joint Union High School District, students put their phones in a pouch as soon as they walk into the classroom. But I do think students need phones to contact their parents, by text or call, to make sure everything’s okay, if that’s how their family communicates. Phones can get in the way of homework, or lead to misusing AI. Still, I think it’s okay for students to have phones, as long as they’re not using them in class.

Student Volunteer: How could the district expand programs that teach students who aren’t planning to attend college about different job opportunities?

Amy Dudich: Schools should bring in representatives to talk to students about trade schools, and specifically unions, so students become more interested in that path. Students should know they can potentially make a lot of money after a one- or two-year program. We should explain what that routine looks like, going to class and working with your hands, and how union dues help them later on. We could give real examples, or even take students on a field trip to a union so they can see what they would learn and do after graduating.

Student Volunteer: What role should schools play in students’ physical and mental health?

Amy Dudich: Students need health education. Right now, it’s taken on a Chromebook as a short course during the summer, and every student has to complete it before graduating. My son took it before his freshman year. It needs to go back into the classroom. Students should learn how to take care of their bodies, support their emotional health and make smart choices. Bringing it back to the classroom would help them prepare for the working world and learn more about who they are as people, instead of just getting through a week-long online program before school starts. I would make it a new class, because I don’t believe the district is doing what California law requires. Students are supposed to take an in-person class about taking care of their bodies and exercising. And it should cover more than the physical side. It should teach the whole person, mind and body, instead of just telling students to eat healthy.

Student Volunteer: How would you reassure families who are afraid to send their children to school?

Amy Dudich: We need to reassure families that their students are safe, and also provide more resources for families who are struggling to send their kids to school. We can let them know we have mental health counselors ready to support their student if they’re hesitant. Many families have been scared or nervous to send their children to school because they fear ICE will be at schools, even though they’ve been reassured it won’t be. Having the principal call families personally, instead of just sending an email or text, would be more comforting. Families would know someone is advocating for them.

Student Volunteer: Who has endorsed your campaign?

Amy Dudich: I’ve been endorsed by Connor Traut; Jose Medrano, the mayor of La Habra; Derek Tran, who is running for Congress; the Democratic Party of North Orange County; and Sharon Quirk-Silva.

Fullerton College Hornet Interviews can be seen on the FCHornet YouTube channel under Meet the Candidates 2026.