La Mesa-Spring Valley School District Trustee Emma Turner Ascends to the Presidency of CSBA
Turner is joined on the Executive Committee by Azusa Unified School District Trustee Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez as President Elect and Cajon Union School District Trustee Tamara Otero as the new Vice President
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (January 9, 2019) -- La Mesa-Spring Valley School District Vice President Emma Turner has taken the reins as President of the California School Boards Association, a group representing more than 1,000 California school districts and county offices of education.
Turner brings decades of leadership experience to the position. She retired from the United States Navy in 2004 after serving 27 years and rising through the ranks to become an officer in the Judge Advocate General’s Corps. Along the way, she earned a doctorate in psychology while raising a family.
Upon retirement, she turned to civic service, and in 2008, became a trustee of La Mesa-Spring Valley SD — a San Diego County district of about 12,300 students in grades K-8. After her election to the school board, Turner also joined CSBA and received training in school governance and leadership, ultimately earning a Masters in Governance from the organization.
While serving her community as a board member, Turner has worked in many roles with CSBA and other educational organizations. At CSBA, Turner has served as a Delegate and Director-at-Large, African-American and as Vice President and President-elect. She has authored monthly newsletters to deliver best practices and other resources to school board members serving African-American students statewide. Elsewhere, Turner was elected as Pacific Region Director, secretary/treasurer, chair-elect and then chair of the National Black Council in 2016. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for the All Kids Academy Head Start program, which encompasses more than 20 schools, and on the Board of Directors for the National School Boards Association. In these positions, Dr. Turner continues her advocacy work, which includes publishing articles on the conditions and challenges faced by African-American students across the nation.
“I’m honored and grateful to have this opportunity to expand my work on behalf of California’s 6.2 million public school students and to continue my commitment to equitable student outcomes and the elimination of the achievement gap” Turner said. “I pledge to bring passion, focus and dedication to CSBA’s efforts to ensure students are college and career ready after high school.”
Joining Turner on CSBA’s 2019 Executive Committee are President-elect Xilonin Cruz-Gonzalez of the Azusa Unified School District and Vice President Tamara Otero of the Cajon Valley Union School District. Mike Walsh of the Butte County Office of Education 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