California School Boards Association Elects Susan Henry as New President
Sixteen-year veteran of the Huntington Beach Union High School District assumes leadership of state’s top advocacy organization for school districts and county offices of education
SACRAMENTO, Calif., (January 3, 2017) – Huntington Beach Union High School District Trustee Susan Henry has taken the reins as President of the California School Boards Association. Henry, a registered nurse, artist and lifelong supporter of public schools, was elected CSBA 2017 President by the organization’s delegates, a group representing nearly 1,000 California school districts and county offices of education.
A 16-year veteran and past president of the Huntington Beach Union High School District, Henry joined CSBA in 2006 and, since 2012, has represented Orange County on the organization’s Board of Directors.
“My vision for public education in California is to provide the children entrusted to our care a safe, supportive, effective environment in which to learn and grow,” Henry said. “My vision includes an educated, empowered organization of school board members that ensure there are no obstacles to that goal and I am honored to be working with CSBA and its members to help make that happen.”
Henry brings with her more than 15 years of school governance and leadership experience. At CSBA, she has been a member of Linked Learning Task Force, the Golden Bell Review Committee, and CSBA Bylaws Committee. In Huntington Beach, she served as HBUHSD’s representative to the Coastline Regional Occupational Program, participated in numerous district committees and co-chaired a successful $236 million bond campaign in 2003.
In 2017, funding adequacy, local control of public education and school choice are expected to be at the forefront of the education dialogue. With these issues in mind, Henry said she will work to strengthen and promote school board governance and help mobilize grassroots advocacy to address adequacy and achievement gaps.
“This very important work is essential to further the mission and vision of CSBA,” Henry said. “We will work respectfully and collaboratively with the legislature and this state’s residents to make public education California’s highest priority.”
Also elected as CSBA officers for 2017 are Bill Newberry from the Corona-Norco Unified School District as CSBA’s new vice president and Mike Walsh from the Butte County Office of Education as President-elect. Chris Ungar of the San Luis Coastal Unified School District will serve as Immediate Past President.
CSBA is a nonprofit association representing nearly 1,000 PreK-12 school districts
and county offices of education throughout California.
www.csba.org