Stacy Rouse, an incumbent member of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District Board of Education, is running for re-election on Nov. 3, 2026.

The nonpartisan race has four at-large seats. Rouse is one of five certified candidates, along with Alicia Mignano, Harry Leshner, Laurie Lieberman and Robbie Staenberg. Rouse describes herself on her campaign website as a "Community Leader, Conflict Specialist, and Parent" with the tagline "Listening | Collaborating | Putting Students First."

Candidate information

Residence: Malibu. Rouse said in a 2022 Santa Monica Democratic Club interview that she has lived in Malibu since 2002 and has been connected to the community through Pepperdine University since 1998. She lives on the Pepperdine campus.

Education: Abilene Christian University; master of dispute resolution and conflict engagement from Pepperdine University.

Family: Rouse said she is a mother of two children who attended Malibu public schools from kindergarten through 12th grade, graduating from Malibu High School in 2017 and 2021.

Experience and public service

Rouse serves on the SMMUSD Board of Education. She works as assistant ombuds at the University of Southern California's Office of the Ombuds, according to The Ombuds Blog. She has also served as director of operations at Dynamic Team Solutions.

In community roles, Rouse said she served as president of the Malibu Schools Leadership Council, PTA president at Webster Elementary School and a member of the Malibu Facilities District Advisory Committee.

Endorsements

Rouse's campaign website lists endorsements from the Los Angeles County Democratic Party, the Santa Monica-Malibu Classroom Teachers Association, the Santa Monica Democratic Club, the Stonewall Democratic Club, the Malibu Democratic Club, the Westside Young Democrats, Santa Monicans for Renters' Rights and Community for Excellent Public Schools. Elected officials listed include state Sen. Ben Allen, Assemblymember Jacqui Irwin and Malibu City Council members Doug Stewart and Haylynn Conrad.

On the issues

The positions below are drawn from Rouse’s campaign website.

Class sizes and academic progress: Rouse supports a multi-year plan to reduce class sizes, beginning with a board study session and a working group of teachers, staff and families to evaluate costs, classroom space and effects on existing programs. She also supports dual-language programs, collaborative classrooms and project-based learning to address achievement gaps. On assessment, she wants the district to reconsider additional tests that do not sufficiently improve outcomes and expand portfolios, student-teacher conferences and other measures of academic progress.

Student well-being and inclusion: Rouse prioritizes student mental health, culturally responsive instruction and protection for immigrant and LGBTQ+ students. She wants stronger coordination between student services and instructional staff, a greater social worker presence and more consistent mental health support in Santa Monica. She supports clear limits on law enforcement’s role on campus, with school discipline remaining the responsibility of educators.

Early education, special education and staffing: Rouse supports expanding early childhood education, while acknowledging that doing so would require changes in district resources and spending priorities. She also calls for closer coordination among families, teachers and district staff on special education placements and greater recruitment of qualified paraprofessionals, particularly in Malibu. To address teacher burnout, she supports more time for individualized instruction, collaboration and staff feedback that leads to changes.

Technology and student privacy: Rouse supports limits on screen time and the district’s school phone policies. She says young students do not need phones or generative AI during the school day, while middle and high school students could use AI with teacher guidance and instruction in AI literacy. She supports clear district guidelines, accommodations for students who rely on digital tools and strict protections against companies collecting student data.

Budgeting and district separation: Rouse supports maintaining financial reserves, setting clear spending priorities and avoiding redundant staffing as costs rise. She also supports creating separate Santa Monica and Malibu school districts, provided the arrangements protect students in both communities and give each district financial stability. Her stated approach emphasizes negotiated agreements, protections for teachers and a final decision by voters.

The SMMUSD Board of Education governs the district's schools in Santa Monica and Malibu, setting policy on budgets, curriculum, facilities and personnel.

Board members serve four-year terms.