Board Members
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Term of Office: 2018-2022
TRUSTEE STATEMENT:
As a father of two children that will be attending a Centralia School, I care deeply about the future of
the Centralia School District. I'm committed to improving the high quality of education, retaining our outstanding teachers, and strengthening the district's financial stability. I will protect what we have worked so hard to achieve, while preparing us for upcoming challenges. I'm passionate about improving our children's future and I'm committed to serving our students. As a teacher at UCI, I bring my classroom experience and knowledge to better serve the needs of our students. I'm also an Executive Director at L.A. Care Health Plan. I earned an MBA from UCI and an engineering degree from USC. My past leadership experience includes: • City Councilmember • Public School Liaison Committee Member • Director, Orange County Library Advisory Board Centralia School District is a great area and I'm extremely proud to live here. I care about what happens in our community and I want to make a difference. |
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Term of Office: 2018-2022
TRUSTEE STATEMENT:
As a former Centralia school board member, I helped identify needed funds and grants to support our
schools, students, teachers and families. This resulted in millions of dollars for after-school, child-care, recreational, tutoring, academic, health and nutrition programs. Encouraging school partnerships with community organizations is important i.e.; Boys and Girls Club, boy scouts, girl scouts, soccer leagues and little league. As a businessman, I know the importance of managing taxpayer funds in an efficient and effective manner. Our schools need to be financially solvent. Reducing student absenteeism increases academic achievement resulting in additional funding for our school sites. Reducing school over-crowding, improving test scores and teaching students to learn English are my highest priorities: • Increasing math and reading test scores. • Investing your tax dollars in providing state-of-the-art school facilities. • Providing parental training programs empowering our parents to help their children succeed academically. • Advocating and supporting special education programs and services. • Increasing the number of students attending pre-school, summer school and after-school programs. • Increasing English instructional hours. • Expanding music and art programs. • Maintaining safe school environment for our students, families and employees. My children attended and graduated from Centralia schools. |
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Elizabeth A. Gonzalez
President, Area 3 Trustee 714-747-3301
Term of Office: 2016-2020
TRUSTEE STATEMENT:
Elizabeth A. Gonzalez currently serves as the Governing Board President for the Centralia School
District. Mrs. Gonzalez was elected in 2016 as the Trustee of Area 3. She has also served as the Governing Board’s representative on the Orange County Nominating Committee, Interdistrict Transfer Appeals Panel and the Greater Anaheim Special Local Plan Area (GASELPA) Board. Mrs. Gonzalez is a business woman, parent and a member of the Centralia School District community for over 14 years. Her children and grandnephew have attended San Marino Elementary School where she served on the PTA. She has also served on the PTSA in the Anaheim Union High School District, and as band mom for Loara High School and John F. Kennedy High School. Involvement in her children’s education has always been a priority. As a Centralia School District Board member, she is committed to ensuring children have access to an outstanding education and is extremely proud of the academic accomplishments and programs offered by the District including the Visual Arts and Performing Arts program, professional development for our teachers and school staff, a curriculum that our children can use as a foundation through middle school, high school, trade school, college and career, and affordable before and after school programs. The passage of Measure N has allowed us to modernize our campuses, provide our children and staff with safe school environment and provide 21st Century classrooms with the latest Technology. She is an advocate for smaller teacher to student ratios and Special Education programs. Mrs. Gonzalez is honored to serve the families in the Centralia Elementary School District community. |
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Ian J. Macdonald
Area 4 Trustee
714-883-4356
Term of Office: 2019-2020*
*Appointed as Interim Trustee Area 4 in 2019
TRUSTEE STATEMENT:
Coming from a family of educators, I’ve dedicated my time and energy to helping local schools by investing countless hours volunteering on our campuses and district committees. I have always been fascinated with public service’s crucial impact on society. This interest has led me to pursue public service in various ways: as a candidate for the Buena Park City Council; a delegate for California’s 65th Assembly District on the Environmental & Education Caucuses; and an advocate for the successful banning of toxic polystyrene (Styrofoam) in the cities of Long Beach, Buena Park, and now assisting with the Centralia school communities in an effort to protect our children.
My experience as a candidate for public office has enhanced my understanding of the issues affecting the communities in Buena Park, as well as gaining knowledge of the various statutes concerning government entities, including school boards. My goals as a Trustee include: • Implementing a Dual-Language Immersion Program that will give our students a competitive intellectual advantage. • Establishing Parent Academies at campuses with decreasing attendance for parents to support their children at home and provide resources for higher education and technical schools. • Collaborating with local governments and nonprofits to increase student safety through security cameras and enhanced lighting. As the Chair of our school district’s Measure N Bond Oversight Committee, I have ensured that tax dollars are being spent appropriately and in alignment with the promises we made to voters. My experience in special education as a Behavioral Interventionist for children on the Autism Spectrum, a board director of an education nonprofit, as well as my community involvement and volunteer work with Children’s Hospital of Orange County, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and our Neighborhood Resource Center have given me great insight and prepared me well to serve as a Trustee for Centralia School District. Our children are the key to the future therefore, they deserve the best from public education. I believe that our district has the potential for even greater heights and I am excited to help build the new doors for our children to open. |
AREA 5
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Luis "Jerry" Flores
Clerk, Area 5 Trustee 714-760-2104
Term of Office: 2018 - 2022
TRUSTEE STATEMENT:
As a first-generation college student, I understand how important early childhood education is to the future success of our students and as a district I believe it is our responsibility to provide our students with the educational foundation needed to be successful. As your trustee I am committed to helping our students achieve their academic goals through the use of after school programs and other social services. Our kids are the future and investing in their education will secure our country for generations to come. I also firmly believe that in order to provide our students with the best education possible we must also provide our teachers with the tools necessary to allow them to bring out the true potential in each one of our students. My goals as a trustee include:
I have had the pleasure of serving on the 65th Assembly District, and previously served as Chair of the Citizens Oversight Committee for Measure N where I worked to ensure our tax payer dollars where used responsibly by our district to help improve learning conditions for our students. Representing you as your trustee will be one of the greatest honors of my life and I look forward to working hard to ensure our kids have the high-quality education they deserve. |
Role and Responsibilities of the Board*
The role of the school board is to ensure that school districts are responsive to the values, beliefs, and priorities of their communities.
Boards fulfill this role by performing five major responsibilities:
- Setting direction
- Establishing an effective and efficient structure
- Providing support
- Ensuring accountability
- Providing community leadership as advocates for children, the school district and public schools
These five responsibilities represent core functions that are so fundamental to a school system’s accountability to the public that they can only be performed by an elected governing body. Authority is granted to the board as a whole, not each member individually. Therefore, board members fulfill these responsibilities by working together as a governance team with the superintendent to make decisions that will best serve all the students in the community.
*California School Boards Association