CMEA 2026 Fall Election
- Information about each candidate. Open each dropdown box to read their biographies and their responses to specific questions each candidate was asked,
- A Q&A video with the President-elect candidates.
2026 CMEA President-Elect Candidates
Mike Mangonon
Biography
Mike Mangonon is currently an Elementary Vice Principal in the Elk Grove Unified School District (EGUSD). Prior to this, Mike had been a Curriculum Specialist on the EGUSD Arts Education Team at the district level for three years. During this time, Mike brought his 20 years of experience in EGUSD to support music and arts educators and their programs/curriculum for all students TK-12 across the district. The most recent experiences in that role centered around arts integration and general music training for TK-6 classroom teachers, along with providing professional development for K-12 music and arts educators. Mike also serves as the President for the Capitol Section of the California Music Educators Association (CMEA-CS), along with being a Commissioner for the Elk Grove City Arts and Creative Economy Commission. His involvement in educational, professional, and city leadership allows him to pursue his passion for finding ways for all three groups to connect and collaborate for the advancement of Arts and Arts Education.
Prior to his most recent post, Mike was the founding music director at both Cosumnes Oaks High School and Elizabeth Pinkerton Middle School (est. 2008) and eventually grew the department into the multifaceted programs they have today including multiple choirs and concert bands, jazz bands, orchestra, and general music & AP Music. It was during this time that Mike was named “Outstanding Band Educator of the Year” by the CMEA-CS in 2020, and was invited to be the CMEA-CS Middle School Honor Band Conductor for 2023. Mike was also invited back to the Cazadero Music Camp for the fifth time to guest conduct the Junior High Concert Band (week 2) in July, 2025!
Earning his Administrative Services Credential through the Sacramento County Office of Education Leadership Institute in 2023, Mike also holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from the Florida State University, and a Master of Music degree from the Peabody Conservatory of Music. An avid performer, Mike currently holds the 2nd trombone post with the Auburn Symphony Orchestra, and subs with the Folsom Lake Symphony Orchestra. Mike currently resides in Elk Grove, CA with his wife and fellow music educator, Jaime Mangonon, and enjoys FaceTiming his three grown children, John, Ben, and Catie.
Responses
What do you see as the major challenges music education will face during your term as a CMEA Executive Board member?
The major challenges facing music education in California will continue to stem from the major opportunities presented by AMS (Prop 28) Funding. These challenges include the ongoing work of bringing clarity to local educational agencies and their specific school sites around how the money should be allocated. Additionally, we continue to be challenged in providing enough new music educators to fill the needs across the state; and once in place, these new music educators, especially in the elementary realm, will create a larger demand for support with everything from establishing solid classroom management, to delivering high quality instruction. Furthermore, once schools have their sites set on staffing additions, they are challenged with finding space for these new hires, both in classrooms and in master schedules. Lastly, with the burgeoning of new music educators in schools, site administrators will be more challenged than ever to provide effective and meaningful instructional leadership to their new music teachers.
What do you see as the major challenges facing CMEA?
I view CMEA’s challenges as opportunities – the opportunity to balance our identity as an organization (mission, vision, and strategic plan) with the flexibility and creativity that will be needed to respond to the major challenges we will be facing as music educators in California in the coming years; the opportunity to support the vital grass-roots efforts of each of our sections in meeting the diverse needs of communities throughout their regions; the opportunity to grow in our responsiveness to the everyday needs of individual music educators across California, who remain the single most important asset in every classroom.
How should CMEA respond to these challenges?
Through collaboration, connection, and creativity, CMEA will continue to rise to meet the challenges/opportunities on the horizon. Our collaboration with Create CA and other Arts Education Organizations across the state gives us a good foundation to continue the work of advocacy and leadership in the area of AMS Funding and future policy making. Our connections with our regional communities at the section level give us the ability to better meet the needs of our individual music educators and their site leaders (e.g.-professional development, mentorship, community, etc.). Our future creativity in extending our connections and collaborations into the greater Arts Ecosystem (i.e.-the nexus of arts education, business, and governance that leans into the realm of California’s Arts and Creative Economy) may just be what will enable us to rise to meet the challenges/opportunities ahead of us.
Elisha Wells
Biography
Elisha Wells is the Director of Bands and Orchestra at Fresno City College, the Conductor of the Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra, and is now the Horn Instructor at Fresno State. Before serving at FCC, Elisha taught horn at Sacramento State, Stanislaus State, Delta College, and the College of Sequoias. Her formal studies include a Bachelor and Master of Arts with an emphasis in Horn Performance from California State University, Fresno (2009). Ms. Wells is a D.M.A. student in pursuit of candidacy for a degree in Instrumental Conducting at the University of Nevada, Reno, studying with Dr. Reed Chamberlin.
Ms. Wells served as the Music Director & Conductor for the Visalia Opera Company from 2012 to 2015, has conducted for the California Opera Association, and throughout her college teaching career, has been asked to serve as the Guest Conductor for FMCMEA (Fresno-Madera Counties), TKMEA (Tulare/Kings Counties), Sonoma County CMEA (Bay Section CMEA), KCMEA (Kern County), CMEA-CCS (Central Coast), Visalia All-District, Fresno All-District, San Joaquin County, and SCMEA (Stanislaus County), for both Junior High and High School Honor Bands and Orchestras. Elisha is currently Past President of CMEA Central Section (Merced/Mariposa to Kern County) and past President of Friends of the Arts at FCC. She is also a member of the Local 12 Musicians Union, NAfME, CMEA, CBDA and CBDNA.
In addition to conducting, Ms. Wells is contracted with the Fresno Philharmonic Orchestra, Principal Horn in Sequoia Symphony, and is a regular sub for regional orchestras like Stockton Symphony and Modesto Symphony. Early in her career, Ms. Wells performed as a Horn soloist and dancer in the Tony Award-winning Broadway show, “Blast!” from June 2002 – December 2003, has performed throughout the West Coast and Europe as a horn soloist, and is also a noted Artist and Endorser of Robinson’s Remedies-Lip Renew.
Ms. Wells feels fortunate to have studied with world-class hornists such as Brian Drake (LA Phil), Nancy Goodearl (Houston Symphony), Dr. Tom Hiebert (Fresno State), David Krehbiel (San Francisco Symphony), and reveres Dr. Larry Sutherland, Dr. Gary Gilroy, Dr. Leanna Primiani, Noe Marmalejo, and Professor John Koshak as conducting inspirations and/or former ensemble instructors.
Responses
What do you see as the major challenges music education will face during your term as a CMEA Executive Board member?
I think that keeping music education within the school schedule across the state is a huge priority, and alarmingly, we are still seeing these challenges, even in 2026. The lack of accountability upon districts to uphold the law (California Education Code 51210) states that students grades 1-6 and grades 7-12, respectively, are to have instruction in music, art, dance, and theater.
We need to continue to protect the funding that has been prioritized for music education, and continually secure equitable access for all students in music education. School districts in rural areas suffer the most with the “Access” part of DEIA. The CMEA definition of Access states all students should have free and equitable access to music education. The recent passing of AB2440 in California was a huge win for music educators, even if only for the use of pooled funding in rural areas. But meaningful action means that CMEA can offer administrative structure and support to the rural areas that don’t necessarily have VAPA or even Musical Arts Administrators. I’d like to start an initiative that offers schools and districts customized arts initiatives that directly serve their areas with a structured tier of support, carefully thought out by a seasoned music educator, so that administrators can put the plan into action. The goal is to offer a structured and practical plan for any rural area struggling with an overarching guide to administer the musical arts.
What do you see as the major challenges facing CMEA?
I foresee that as we are slowly shifting away from this post-Covid era, the need for connectivity has been misplaced by streaming services and YouTube videos. Increasing membership, participation, and creating a sense of urgency to actively implement CMEA’s strategic goals is a challenge that must be met. The state board and its connectivity to the sections, and the sections to the regional groups, is critical to keeping CMEA alive and thriving in the state of California.
How should CMEA respond to these challenges?
Membership grows when personal connections are made. Membership is always a concern, and as our state grows, we want CMEA to represent the state more thoroughly. Utilizing the skills of the section presidents and boards to initiate contact and personally connect with all first year teachers, is something I’d like to propose. It’s critical that our new teachers get an email, phone call, or a text message, inviting them to join CMEA. This would utilize the educators who want to be of use through the mentorship program, and new teachers would have a direct line to the CMEA organization, giving the mentors a directive in their role, as well.
The mentor program is a great tool that CMEA offers to any teacher who seeks help or guidance. If brand new teachers could start off with a personal contact from day 1, it gives that new teacher a sense of foundational support from a seasoned mentor. Rather than waiting for the teacher to ask, initiating the conversation to offer help as a mentor could transform many new educators’ first years of teaching.
How does anyone start a movement? By gathering two or more like-minded people who are passionate about making a change. There is no elected member who can bear the responsibility alone. Rather, the intentional changes made by individuals and groups collectively bring forth change. That’s how we start a movement, and CMEA is on its way to achieve much progress in this upcoming season!
Watch interviews with the two candidates for President here: