Gov. Jerry Brown has reappointed Nicolasa “Niki” Sandoval, the education director for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, to the state Board of Education.
Sandoval, who’s been director of the tribe’s education department since 2009 and a lecturer at University of California, Santa Barbara since 2007, was first appointed to the state board in 2013.
“We are living in a time of great promise and rapid change in education. It’s a great honor and responsibility to be involved in the work,” Sandoval said in a press release. “I have profound respect for each member of the state board. Each person works to ensure inclusion and transparency throughout the reforms taking place.”
The state Board of Education is the K through 12 policy-making body for academic standards, curriculum, instructional materials, assessments, and accountability. It adopts instructional materials for use in kindergarten through eighth grade, and it also adopts regulations to implement a wide variety of programs created by the Legislature, such as charter schools and special education.
“We’re proud of the work Niki has done with our tribal youth, in the community and at the state level,” Vincent Armenta, tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, said in the press release. “The success of our education department is a prime example of her hard work and dedication.”
This article appears in Feb 4-11, 2016.