Leandra Blades: The Extremist Threat to Public Education
Leandra Blades is no stranger to controversy, extremism, and chaos. Since her election to the Placentia-Yorba Linda Unified School District (PYLUSD) board in 2020, she has cemented herself as a divisive figure whose actions and affiliations have raised alarm bells across the community. Her tenure epitomizes the far-right Christian nationalist push to undermine public education by infiltrating school boards with culture war zealots. From blatant ethics violations to partisan politicking, Blades’ record is a masterclass in why she is unfit to serve as a trustee and a danger to public education.
Who is Leandra Blades?
Blades emerged on the political scene in 2020, propelled by far-right activists opposing progressive educational reforms like AB 1266 (The Student Success and Opportunity Act) and the California Healthy Youth Act. Running on an anti-ethnic studies, anti-BLM, and anti-LGBTQ+ platform, she appealed to conservative groups eager to turn public schools into battlegrounds for their culture wars. Her support base included figures like Jack Hibbs, the politically charged pastor of Calvary Church in Chino Hills, and the notoriously corrupt Orange County Board of Education (OCBE).
Her extremist leanings were evident before her election and only exacerbated into her term. In January 2021, Blades attended the rally that preceded the violent attack on the U.S. Capitol. She dismissed the event as a “girls’ trip” and deflected criticism by blaming “Antifa” for the violence. Over 6,600 people signed a petition demanding her resignation, arguing that someone aligned with anti-democratic forces should not oversee children’s education. And yet, Blades has remained unapologetic.
Her history is littered with troubling incidents. In 2017, as a police officer, Blades was involved in the fatal shooting of a homeless man, claiming self-defense. More recently, she was caught encouraging her minor son to commit voter fraud at a recall campaign booth. While attending the 2024 Orange International Street Fair with her stalwart Frank Rodriguez of the SPLC extremist group Gays Against Groomers, she had her son sign a recall petition under a fake name, violating California Elections Code. The stunt was to undermine the recall, and when confronted, the teenager panicked and tried to erase his name. It’s a fitting metaphor for Blades’ political career—reckless, unethical, and ultimately indefensible.
Even her home decor has sparked outrage. Visitors report seeing Nazi medals displayed on her walls, allegedly relics of her husband’s grandfather’s service as a medic in World War II Germany. Whether intended as historical artifacts or not, their presence raises serious questions about her judgment. Adding to her pattern of deception, Blades has also been implicated by her own campaign staff in the vandalism of her own campaign signs to frame her opponents, showcasing her willingness to stoop to absurd lengths for political gain.
Her Record as a School Board Trustee
Blades’ tenure on the PYLUSD board has been a whirlwind of partisan extremism, corruption, and incompetence. Once elected, she wasted no time in thrusting the district into national and state-level partisan politics. Her opposition to mask mandates during the pandemic became a flashpoint for community division. She championed resolutions against Critical Race Theory (CRT) and implemented parental notification policies while systematically dismantling diversity programming. Under her leadership, Black History Month initiatives were removed, and the district rejected a proposal to bring Dr. Victor Rios, a respected advocate for underserved students, to speak at El Camino Continuation High School.
Her crusade against multicultural and LGBTQ+ literature led to attempts to ban books like *Persepolis* and others that promote inclusivity. She even overhauled the district’s literary review process to place decision-making power in the hands of the board rather than educators. Blades also spearheaded efforts to withdraw PYLUSD from the California School Board Association, further isolating the district from state-wide educational best practices.
The chaos doesn’t end there. Alongside Superintendent Dr. Alex Cherniss, she pushed through the Universal Sports Institute (USI), a vanity project costing the district \$3 million. With only 85 students enrolled, the program has been widely criticized as a waste of taxpayer money and a hotbed for allegations of self-dealing. To shield herself and Cherniss from accountability, Blades orchestrated contract amendments requiring a supermajority vote to dismiss him and his executive team, making it nearly impossible for the board to enact oversight. Cherniss happens to be Blades handpicked superintendent who conveniently donated $150 to her re-election campaign, further demonstrating the pay to play dynamic of Blades leadership and the relationship between Cherniss and Blades.
The Recent Power Shift
In November 2024, Blades narrowly won re-election, but her political influence took a significant hit. Her hopeful board candidate, Moms For Liberty endorsed Ryan Miller lost miserably, and that election result flipped the board majority against her, leaving her and her allies, including Todd Frazier and Cherniss, in the minority. Faced with impending accountability, Blades scrambled to secure her agenda before the new majority took over.
Her desperation was on full display during the November 19 board meeting. Blades and Cherniss attempted to hand control of the Orange County School of Computer Science (OCSCS) and USI to an independent governing board, shielding them from oversight. They scheduled two additional board meetings to ram through these measures before losing their majority. However, public opposition was fierce. Of the eleven speakers at the December 10 meeting, nine opposed the charter revision, citing legal violations and conflicts of interest, including the fact that Blades’ son worked at OCSCS.
The turning point came when Shawn Youngblood, a longtime ally of Blades, unexpectedly voted with the minority to delay the charter revision. His defection left Blades visibly shocked, as her carefully orchestrated plan collapsed in dramatic fashion. The delay ensured the new board majority could take over in January and address the charter revision with proper oversight.
Although Blades is now in the board minority, she will undoubtedly continue to leverage her connections to far-right organizations and extremist allies in her role as a school board trustee. Pictured above, Blades poses alongside a group of like-minded extremist school board trustees from various Southern California districts, all involved in culture war politics. The photo was taken after they participated in a panel for the Leadership Institute, a far-right nonprofit known for routinely violating its tax-exempt status and acting as an extension of the right-wing think tank, the Council for National Policy. Leandra Blades is deeply tied to top down organizations that have made school boards a battle ground for conservative politics.
Conclusion
Leandra Blades’ tenure on the PYLUSD board has been a relentless assault on public education, characterized by divisive politics, unethical behavior, and a blatant disregard for democratic principles. Her actions have cost the district financially, eroded trust, and marginalized students and educators alike. While she managed to cling to her seat in 2024, her diminished influence marks a welcome turning point for a community ready to move past the chaos she’s sown. Blades’ legacy serves as a cautionary tale of what happens when extremist ideology takes precedence over the best interests of students.
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