Linda Henigin, a Duveneck Elementary instructional aide and fixture in local PTA circles, filed papers today to run for the Palo Alto Unified School District board. Her move drops a vocal critic of trustee Rowena Chiu into a race that already includes Chiu allies, and she says she wants the board to zero in on students who are falling behind while still tackling safety and community issues that have energized parents.
According to the Palo Alto Daily Post, Henigin, 56, is running against John Craig and Avery Wang and has publicly accused Chiu of running a “permanent campaign.” At a board meeting last year, she told trustees, “I hope that this does not become normalized behavior. I hope this board trustee stops campaigning.”
District records list Henigin as an instructional aide at Duveneck Elementary, and local nonprofit filings show she serves as treasurer on the board of Pathwise (formerly DreamCatchers). The Pathwise program runs after-school mentoring and homework support for middle-school students, and Henigin has spent years in site councils and PTA leadership. PAUSD and Pathwise list her roles.
Chiu’s social post and the fallout
Trustee Rowena Chiu became the focus of a heated public debate in early 2025 after she reposted a message from an account called “Asians Against Wokeness” that singled out a district administrator; the repost drew racist replies and staff complaints. Palo Alto Online reported that the board responded by reassigning some of Chiu’s committee and liaison duties, following calls from employees and former trustees for stronger action.
Where the candidates differ
Policy divides in Palo Alto over ethnic studies, advanced math and placement have helped shape the emerging field. As reported by the Palo Alto Daily Post, Henigin says the board should focus on students who are not reaching their potential and resist treating advanced courses as the only measure of success, while candidates such as Craig and Wang have pushed to restore multivariable calculus and expand options for students looking for more rigor.
Track safety and local ties
Henigin has also been visible in rail-safety efforts. Her public profile lists her as a co-coordinator of TrackWatch, a parent volunteer effort that seeks to deter suicides on local train tracks. She has urged the closure or redesign of the Churchill Avenue crossing as part of the city’s long-running grade-separation work, and the City of Palo Alto’s rail-grade separation pages describe ongoing planning for Churchill, Meadow Drive and Charleston Road as part of that project. LinkedIn and the City of Palo Alto project pages document those ties.
With two board seats open this fall, Henigin’s entry signals that the campaign season is likely to sharpen fast around academic standards, equity and student safety. The contest could help set the tone for how the district navigates community concerns over coursework, social studies requirements, and the fallout from the governance fights that have roiled the board over the past year.
