Educator Diana M. Perez was appointed to the Santa Maria Joint Union High School District board on Feb. 12. In statement to the media, she said she is honored to serve the community.
“I understand the challenges for students in our schools,” Perez said in the statement. “Every student should have an opportunity to achieve their post-secondary dreams. Our students need to be prepared for the jobs and careers of tomorrow because they are our future leaders.”
She graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in political science, and holds a master’s degree in Educational Counseling and Student Services from Cal State Fresno.
From 1996 to 2000, Perez was an admissions counselor at UC Santa Barbara, where she was responsible for increasing UC system admissions. During that time, she also operated a four-year college transfer center at Santa Maria High School.
She also worked as a transfer counselor at Allan Hancock College’s University Center and performed career academic and advisement duties from 2000 to 2002.
She has served as director of the California Student Aid Commission’s Central Coast Cal-SOAP (California Student Opportunity and Access Program) at Hancock since 2002.
“We are excited to have [Perez] as part of our governance team,” Superintendent Mark Richardson said in a press release. “Her interest in student learning and experience makes her a perfect fit.”
The seat previously belonged to Dean Reece, who retired at the end of last year after 50 years as a teacher, administrator, superintendent, and board member for the district.
Perez will be up for re-election in November 2014.
This article appears in Feb 20-27, 2014.
