Our MISSION
Families Unified for Education in Laguna (FUEL) is a group of families and community members dedicated to supporting a collaborative, transparent, and student-focused education system in Laguna Beach.
FUEL aims to amplify family voices, prioritize student success, and create meaningful progress through community involvement and a commitment to academic excellence - all to build a better future for students and the wider Laguna Beach community.
Who We Are
WHY WE EXIST
WHAT WE DO
WHO IS BEHIND FUEL
JOIN US
ABOUT FUEL
FUEL — Families Unified for Education in Laguna — is a parent-led community organization dedicated to supporting transparent, accountable governance of Laguna Beach Unified School District.
We are not a political party. We are not affiliated with any outside organization. We are Laguna Beach parents, grandparents, teachers, former board members, and longtime community members who care deeply about our schools and the students they serve.
FUEL was founded in early 2025 by a small group of parents who became concerned after a shift in leadership and direction on the LBUSD school board. What began as a response to that moment has grown into something larger. In just one year, FUEL has become a trusted, independent voice for over 500 community members who believe our schools deserve better.
Laguna Beach Unified is an extraordinary school district. Our schools are among the top-performing in Orange County and the state. Our teachers and staff are exceptional. Our students are thriving in ways that go well beyond test scores — in their wellness, their creativity, and their sense of belonging on campus.
That success does not happen by accident. It is the product of years of investment, strong leadership, and a community that shows up. It requires a school board that governs with transparency, respects professional expertise, and puts students first in every decision it makes.
When we saw that standard being eroded — through board overreach, closed-session decisions made without community notice, and a pattern of sidelining the superintendent and staff — we could not stay quiet. FUEL exists because someone has to pay attention. An informed community is the best protection our schools have.
We attend every LBUSD school board meeting and publish detailed recaps so that families who cannot be there in person can stay informed. We break down complex governance issues into plain language. We ask hard questions and share what we find.
We are not here to obstruct. We are here to hold the line on the things that matter: shared governance, superintendent independence, fiscal responsibility, and a school board that listens to the community it was elected to serve.
We also believe in showing up for the people who make our schools great. Teachers, staff, and administrators give everything to our students every day. They deserve support, stability, and leaders who trust their expertise.
FUEL is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit advocacy organization. We are funded entirely by community members. No outside political money. No corporate donors. Contributions are not tax deductible.
Our leadership team is made up of Laguna Beach parents who volunteer their time because they believe this work matters. We have backgrounds in design, marketing, law, finance, education, and community organizing. Most of us have children in LBUSD schools right now. All of us have a stake in getting this right.
If you live in Laguna Beach, if you have children in our schools, if you are a teacher or a neighbor or someone who simply cares about what happens here — we want to hear from you.
Sign up for our newsletter. Come to a board meeting. Share our recaps with your neighbors. Show up when it matters.
Our schools are worth fighting for. So is the community around them.