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Neician "Nikki" Thaxton

Ms. Neician Thaxton, chief of staff to the Riverside Unified School District superintendent, has more than 28 years of comprehensive experience across the educational industry, including at the private, public, county office of education and community college levels. With a strong background in management roles in business/educational services, she has effectively served as the liaison between the chief executive officer and the board of education.

Thaxton is a founding member of CSBA’s Executive Assistant Advisory Committee and played a key role in designing the Executive Assistant Certification Program. She also serves as a CSBA governance educator/consultant, leveraging her expertise to support statewide educational leadership and governance initiatives.

She holds a master's degree in organizational leadership from Capella University and a bachelor's degree in business administration and finance from California State University, San Bernardino. In addition, she completed the Association of California School Administrator’s School Business Academy in 2018 and earned a Navigating Difference: Cultural Competency Trainer of Trainer Certification from Washington State University.

As a dedicated advocate for education, Thaxton is committed to fostering positive and effective professional development for all educational leaders. She takes pride in supporting the outstanding programs and resources CSBA offers, furthering the organization's mission of advancing educational excellence throughout California.