Rod Ehsani is running for the Walnut Creek School District Governing Board in the Nov. 3, 2026, general election.
Six candidates are competing for three seats in the nonpartisan race. The other candidates are Aileen Ong, Eryn Holl King, Geetha Ganti, Heidi Hernandez Gatty and Wenlei Johnson, according to KQED’s voter guide. Voters may choose up to three candidates.
Ehsani responded to the Walnut Creek Record candidate questionnaire on Oct. 5. Unless otherwise noted, the information and responses below come from that questionnaire.
Asked why he is running, Ehsani emphasized student learning, teacher support, parental involvement and financial oversight.
“I am running for the Walnut Creek School District Governing Board because strong schools require putting students first, supporting teachers, listening to parents, and being responsible stewards of taxpayer dollars,” he said.
He said parents and teachers should have opportunities to weigh in before major decisions.
“Our district must also address financial challenges with transparency, discipline, and long-term planning,” he said.
Candidate information
Residence: Ehsani said his family has lived in Walnut Creek for more than 10 years.
Family: Ehsani said he and his wife have been married for more than 20 years and have three daughters. All three have attended Walnut Creek public schools, and their youngest currently attends WCSD.
Education: Ehsani reported a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Ottawa and accounting studies at Carleton University. He said he holds CPA credentials in California and Canada and the Chartered Global Management Accountant designation.
Party affiliation: Ehsani reported no party affiliation. The school board race is nonpartisan.
Family in politics or government: Ehsani said no family member works in politics or government.
Experience and public service
Ehsani described himself as a CPA, business executive, entrepreneur and real estate investor.
He said he began his career in public accounting before moving into corporate leadership. From 2008 to 2023, he held executive roles at VSP Vision, including chief audit executive and senior vice president of supply chain.
His responsibilities included internal auditing, risk management, operations, strategic initiatives and oversight of teams and budgets.
Since 2023, Ehsani said, he has focused on his real estate investment business and consulting in mergers and acquisitions strategy, business integration and supply chain.
His community and governance experience includes serving as an associate board member at Travis Credit Union. He said he currently serves on its Risk Committee and previously served on its Audit Committee.
He also reported serving as president of the Institute of Internal Auditors’ Sacramento Chapter and holding leadership positions with homeowners associations, including as treasurer.
Ehsani said he previously served as a PTA vice president of fundraising and has remained involved in school fundraising, including as an auctioneer.
On the issues
Financial sustainability and educational quality: Ehsani identified maintaining educational quality while managing financial pressures as the district’s biggest challenge.
“Students should come first when resources are allocated. Spending decisions should be tied to measurable educational outcomes,” he said.
He supports multiyear financial forecasting, cost controls, grants and partnerships with the Walnut Creek Education Foundation and community organizations.
Teacher support and parent involvement: Ehsani supports competitive teacher compensation, manageable workloads, professional development and classroom resources.
He said parents should be engaged early when the district considers significant educational or financial decisions.
Future funding: Ehsani said planning for a potential district funding measure in 2028 should begin well in advance.
He said the district should establish the need, involve the community early, explain how the money would be used and provide clear accountability.
Balancing priorities: Ehsani said academic achievement, student mental health, safety and teacher support should be addressed together.
“Academic achievement should remain the district's central mission, but students cannot learn effectively if they do not feel safe, supported, and ready to learn,” he said.
He supports early mental health intervention, timely student services and school safety measures that combine secure campuses with prevention and preparedness.
Budget approach: Ehsani said he would evaluate spending through economy, efficiency and effectiveness.
“Economy asks whether we are obtaining resources at the right cost,” he said. “Efficiency examines whether those resources are being used wisely. Effectiveness measures whether a program is actually achieving its intended results.”
He said staffing, facilities and administrative costs should be evaluated alongside their effects on students.
What sets him apart: Ehsani cited his financial expertise, executive leadership, governance experience and perspective as a current WCSD parent.
“I know how to ask questions, evaluate information, listen to different perspectives, and make responsible decisions,” he said.
Accomplishments
Ehsani said he built VSP Vision’s internal audit function into a global organization of more than 40 professionals. He reported that his teams recovered more than $50 million through fraud investigations.
He also said he led operational and transformation initiatives that improved annual financial performance by approximately $70 million. Those figures are his account of his work.
Ehsani cited building his real estate investment business as further experience in budgeting, financing, long-term planning and accountability.
Advice that guides him
“You have to do whatever it is you have to do to make it happen,” Ehsani said.
He described that advice as a call for perseverance, personal responsibility and finding a way forward when circumstances are difficult.
He also cited his family’s motto: “Never give up.”
This profile draws primarily on Rod Ehsani’s responses to the Walnut Creek Record candidate questionnaire, with additional election information from published reporting. Responses have been excerpted and paraphrased; direct quotations retain his wording. Statements about his qualifications, experience and accomplishments are attributed to him.
