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About Heidi Hernandez Gatty
Passionate Community Advocate
I grew up exploring Shell Ridge on my bicycle and catching tadpoles in the Walnut Heights Nature Area.
My husband Paul and I decided to raise our family here because we wanted our children to have the same sense of community that we both enjoyed. As an adult, I’ve learned that community does not just happen, it is built brick by brick, relationship by relationship on a foundation of trust.
I served as a parent leader for 7 years at Walnut Heights, WCI, and on the Walnut Creek Education Foundation before joining the governing board 8 years ago and I would be privileged to continue in this role. I’ve learned that Education is the long game. Many of the discussions and decisions take many years to come to full fruition and that decisions are stronger and better when they take into account various, sometimes opposing viewpoints.
The board is responsible to ensure that our families and community experience schools as safe and welcoming environments where every opportunity is available so all our students can reach their fullest potential.
Accomplishments & Priorities
I have long believed that education is the cornerstone of community. School gives us our first glimpse of what the world looks like and shows us our place in society. The quality of our education and our community shapes not only who we are, but also, who we think we might become.
It is critical that the Walnut Creek School District continue to align resources to student need. Our board recently recruited a dynamic new superintendent who will maintain the strengths of the district while continuing to focus on high achievement and equitable outcomes for students.
Together, our community can continue to drive excellence and achievement. We can support our teachers, staff and families to thrive as learners.
Fiscal Responsibility
The district completed Measure D construction projects on time and on budget, and is midway through our Measure J projects that will bring our elementary campuses to the same modern standards of our middle schools.
Our focus on careful planning and fiscal responsibility has allowed these projects to flourish in parallel with rising student achievement and a comprehensive wellness program that is a model for school districts across the county and the state.
Equity in Education
Every student deserves an excellent education. Our community has the resources to provide this for every one of our students.
The programs that support our most underserved families raise the bar for all our students and allow our English language learners, socio-economically disadvantaged, and special education students to reach their full potential.
As a board member, I have been a strong advocate for the Early Learning Opportunities Program (ELOP) and our Wellness program which is a model across Contra Costa County.
Support Measure W
Students from our Walnut Creek School District enter Las Lomas High School in the Acalanes Union High School District. This measure is critically important to provide the continued support our students deserve.
About Measure W:
Measure W is a parcel tax measure on the November 3, 2026 ballot seeking voter authorization for locally-controlled funding to protect the quality of AUHSD's high-performing local high schools.
Measure W requires two-thirds, or 66.67%, voter approval to pass.
A “YES vote” is a vote in favor of the District's funding proposal to levy a $168 parcel tax for eight years to address its instructional needs; a “NO vote” is a vote to reject the proposal.
My campaign is not receiving donations. If you are compelled to support me, please donate to Measure W instead.
Contact
Get in Touch with Heidi
For questions or to learn more about Heidi's campaign and initiatives, please reach out at heidi4wcsd@gmail.com